Posted on 06/14/2006 7:14:28 AM PDT by WestTexasWend
House committee provision would cut federal funding for college tuition
WASHINGTON - States like Texas would be prohibited from using federal funds to provide in-state tuition to illegal immigrants at colleges and universities under a provision approved by a House committee Tuesday.
The provision sponsored by Rep. John Culberson, R-Houston, was included in the 2007 spending bill providing federal money for labor, health and human services and education programs.
The bill and Culberson's amendment still must be approved by the House and Senate and signed by the president to become law.
Culberson said his amendment would prohibit states from allowing students who are illegal immigrants to pay in-state tuition rates unless the same benefit is provided to students from all other states.
The federal government has prohibited states from charging illegal immigrant students in-state tuition rates, unless the state specifically passes a law providing that benefit.
Texas and eight other states have done so.
"These state laws must be repealed because they violate federal law and defy common sense," he said.
Some young people were brought to the country by parents who are illegal immigrants. After finishing high school in the United States, some find they cannot attend college because they can't afford out-of-state tuition.
States have provided in-state tuition under the argument that the students should not be punished for their parents' actions.
Opponents of the benefit say it attracts more illegal immigration.
A sweeping immigration bill approved by the Senate in late May would allow states to charge in-state tuition to illegal immigrant students with high school diplomas or GED and no criminal record. The students must also meet other criteria.
Common sense bump...if they're not legal citizens of a state, how can they qualify for in-state benefits?
Good.
Wow. If this actually makes it over to the White House Bush'll have to go hunt for that long-lost veto pen....
Why is this a federal issue? States bear most of the costs of illegal immigration. If the states choose to assume a further cost, it's not beyond the power of state voters to change the legislature.
I'm still outraged that illegal aliens are allowed in public schools. Along with higher wages, education and health care are also huge magnets.
Finally, the federal law forbidding benefits to illegals, unless they are
also extended to legal residents/citizens might be enforced.
What a concept.
I guess the House republicans do want to be reelected.
My kids worked, got loans and grants to attend college, why can't the kids of illegal aliens do the same? They would qualify for more grants than my kids did. And their parents could pay for some of the cost instead of sending that money back to Mexico.
I heard an American woman on a call to a Dallas/Ft.Worth radio talk show last night who told about having her second baby at the birthing hospital there. They wouldn't let her leave the hospital until she made payment arrangements. Then she found out that the illegal women are given FREE prenatal care, FREE hospital stays, FREE delivery, and then when they leave the hospital, they are given a FREE car seat.
It's the "one penny" rule: if the federal government provides even one penny of funding for an activity, they can make as many rules as they want dealing with that activity. Now this ignores whether that funding was Constitutional in the first place.
I would love to see a state government look at all the federal aid they receive and compare that to all the rules and expenses in complying with those rules and say "Not worth it. It's cheaper for us to refuse the funding and the rules."
One of the reasons why taxes are high and college tuition is outrageous is that they give these preferential benefits to illegal immigrants.
ping
Finally-someone-with-cajones BUMP
A few years back, one balmy Thursday evening, Xena's Guy and the Dread Boston Salty tangled over a pig ear (utterly the fault of XG), and Salty took a chunk out of XG's chin. We went to West Houston Medical Center to get him stitched up.
At the time, he wasn't insured, so we were ready to pay cash.
We spent four hours in that ER (three hours and 15 minutes waiting, and 15 minutes with an actual care provider), and another half-hour trying to find someone who knew how much we owed so we could pay it. I had my checkbook out and my pen ready, and when I said that yes, I intended to pay for the services we had received, the ER clerk didn't know what to do.
We got a bill about three weeks later.
I ask you, how long will this hospital be in business if it's habituated to not charging for its services?
If they're ILLEGAL aliens, why aren't they deported? Illegal means illegal. This is so illogical!
Legal immigration is an entirely different issue and shouldn't be confused with ILLEGAL immigration.
That's been my argument for years.
The State sends millions to the Fed government.
The Fed spends millions on their bureaucracy, then turns around and sends a portion of it back.
Why not cut out the 'middle man'.
("because some States can't support the same level of education as the rich States", so they redistribute it. )
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.