Posted on 02/24/2005 4:26:35 PM PST by kcvl
The Arkansas House of Representatives voted 63-31 to pass a bill that would allow illegal aliens who graduate from Arkansas high schools to qualify for in-state tuition rates and taxpayer-funded state scholarships at state universities. "We have allowed these kids to dream," said Rep. Joyce Elliott, D-Little Rock, in support of her House Bill 1525. "We have put them in our schools, we have urged them to dream, and then we cut them off the moment they get out of high school."
While seven lawmakers spoke in support of the bill during debate on the House floor, the measure drew silence from opponents. None of the 31 lawmakers who voted against the bill chose to speak against it. "I think most minds were made up," said Rep. Mike Kenney, R-Siloam Springs, who voted against it. "Speaking for myself, I didn’t see any point in belaboring the issue. It wasn’t going to change any minds."
Gov. Mike Huckabee, who included the bill in his legislative package, drew a contrast between Wednesday’s vote in support of illegal immigrants and the state’s handling of the 1957 desegregation of Little Rock’s Central High School. "They took a stand that Arkansas can be proud of," Huckabee said in describing the House. "I think if we had taken a similar one in 1957, it would have made us proud for a long, long time."
Elliott also compared the situation of illegal aliens in Arkansas today to that of black students in the 1950s. In speaking before the House, Elliott, who is black, recalled her childhood in Arkansas, saying she was born in 1951 and grew up with "the big boot of the government on my back and I was a mere child." "For these kids today," Elliott said of illegal aliens, "it is not a memory, it’s a way of life."
Her bill would give in-state tuition to illegal-alien students who have spent at least three years in school in Arkansas, have graduated from a school in the state and been accepted by a state college or university. It would also declare them eligible for state-funded scholarships. In-state tuition rates are cheaper by about $5,000 a year than rates for out-of-state students.
Federal law requires that states educate children of illegal immigrants in public schools, but that requirement does not extend to colleges, Elliott said. Instead, illegal aliens who graduate from high school lack documented legal status and are in a "legal purgatory," she said.
As part of her bill, Elliott required that illegal aliens who receive in-state tuition file an affidavit with the college or university they attend, stating that they intend to legalize their immigration status.
Between 1990 and 2000, the estimated number of illegal immigrants rose from 5,000 to 27,000 in Arkansas, according to a January 2003 report from the Immigration and Naturalization Service, predecessor to the Department of Homeland Security’s Citizenship and Immigration Services.
Elliott said about 600 children of immigrants will graduate from state high schools this year, of which about half are illegal. Elliott said her bill would cost the state $235,000 in its first year.
Speaking in support of the bill, Rep. Sam Ledbetter, DLittle Rock, said those who don’t receive an education are more likely to commit crimes and be sent to prison, where the state must pay for their custody. "If an undocumented immigrant commits a crime, we’re going to send him to the pen," Ledbetter said. "The financial impact of [granting in-state status and access to state-funded scholarships to illegal aliens] is the cost of 12 prisoners."
During debate, Rep. Bill Pritchard, R-Elkins, who voted against the bill, asked Elliott if the bill wouldn’t encourage illegal aliens to move to Arkansas. "Do we not encourage parents to bring their children here illegally?" Pritchard asked.
Elliott said she doubted immigrants would view Arkansas as "the promised land" if her bill becomes law. Even if parents moved to Arkansas illegally to take advantage of her bill, the children who would benefit from it aren’t breaking the law, Elliott said. "We’re not dealing with the parents, we’re dealing with the kids," Elliott said.
Rep. Stephen Bright, R-Maumelle, questioned whether the bill was needed, and if colleges and universities shouldn’t be allowed to decide if illegal aliens should receive in-state tuition. "Could we maybe have a ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ policy?" Bright asked.
Elliott said the state’s colleges and universities were comfortable with the bill’s requirements.
The bill now goes to the Senate for consideration.
EXACTLY!
And WalMart!
$$$$$$ political donations $$$$$$
Tyson is corrupt. I was recently heard something else about them although I cannot recall it now. I will get back to you.
It always is. The fact is politicians veiw illeagal aliens as a cheap source for nannys and other domestic help.
Illegal aliens are CRIMINALS and potentially terrorists.
Jail them, deport them, KEEP THEM OUT IN THE FIRST PLACE.
This is all building to getting them able to vote - the Democrats are already trying. The Republicans will try if Bush gets his 'Guest Worker' insanity.
What a bunch of "panty waste", lazy, worthless bastards. IT'S THEIR chance to stand up and be heard, to debate or dissent such blatantly obvious circumventing of the WILL OF THE PEOPLE. Feel Confident ? Put it to a VOTE of the people.
What a bunch of Hooey........
"Gov. Mike Huckabee, who included the bill in his legislative package, drew a contrast between Wednesday’s vote in support of illegal immigrants and the state’s handling of the 1957 desegregation of Little Rock’s Central High School."
I find that embarrassing. There is no parallel.
Report Finds Meatpackers Abuse Immigrants
snip
Tyson Foods, located in Springdale, Arkansas, and employing 114,000 people, beat out the HRW on Monday by issuing its own workers' "Bill of Rights," in which it emphasized the right to a safe, discrimination-free workplace, fair salaries, the right to organize a union and training workshops.
A company spokesman Gary Mickelson told EFE on Tuesday that the firm began to draft the document "six months ago," and he rejected claims made in the HRW report.
Tyson Foods released a communique emphasizing the measures it had taken to help immigrant workers, among them offering English classes, pastoral and advisory services and making an investment of "millions of dollars" in labor safety and ergonomic products to reduce on-the-job injuries.
The firm - the world's largest processor of chicken, beef and pork - also said that it was moving toward installing automated equipment to help factory workers, as well as hiring nurses and labor safety experts.
Michelle Waslin, an analyst for the National Council of La Raza, said that the report was particularly timely "because it emphasizes the link between worker exploitation and migration status."
"Many of these employees are undocumented and do not complain about the abuses or form unions for fear of being fired or deported. It's time that Congress corrected this vulnerability through migratory reform," Waslin said.
People in the Ozarks have more sense than the people in Little Rock.
EXACTLY!
DITTO! Too many damned POLITICIANS and LOBBYISTS!!!
Gov. Huckabee has gone over to the dark side. I don't think I can ever trust him again.
sw
If the voters put up with this BS thay are insane
Teachers unions and college have to find a way to stock their institutions
I know that I won't. I hope he isn't thinking about running for higher office because he is done as far as I am concerned!
I guess this is part of the seismic shift toward conservatism that the November election portended
Unfortunately, even in this reddest of red states, Texas, we have the same law. There is no excuse for the lawmakers passing such a law. If they are ILLEGAL -- don't reward them, DEPORT them !!
File it under: A local self-governance/separation of powers issue.
I'm done with him.
sw
"Sounds exactly like the program California put into place a year or so ago. Not very popular but it went through nonetheless.
"
I was ging to say this surprises anyone? Texas has been doing this for years.
All these does is encourage more illegal immigration. Maybe that what the elites want.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.