CA: Rescinding In-state Tuition for Illegal Immigrants - SB 349

tommcclintock.net ^ | June 19, 2006 | Tom McClintock

[calcowgirl]

My Note: The following was posted on the Tom McClintock's website on June 19, 2006.
SB 349 was blocked by Democrats the same day as the quoted speech (April 2005), never making it out of the Senate Education Committee
(there were only 3 Republicans on the Committee, out of 12).

Senator McClintock authored SB 349, which would rescind the in-state tuition subsidy for illegal immigrants attending state universities and community colleges that was granted by AB 540 in 2001. However, a bill by Senator Gil Cedillo, SB 160, would allow illegal immigrant students to receive state sponsored financial aid in addition to the in-state tuition.

This speech was given to the Senate Education committee on April 6, 2005.

This measure rescinds the in-state tuition subsidy for illegal immigrants attending state universities and community colleges that was granted by AB 540 in 2001.

Under current law, California taxpayers provide non-residents of the state of California – including foreign nationals illegally in the United States – the same in-state tuition subsidy as legal California residents – as long as they have spent three years in and graduated from a California high school.

On January 18th of this year, the Legislative Analyst’s Office estimated the total cost of the AB 540 waivers at the UC, CSU and Community College system at $120 million annually. According to the L.A.O., the University of California estimates that up to 13 percent of their waivers are for foreign nationals illegally in the United States and the Community Colleges estimate that up to 90 percent of their waivers are affected. Assuming a 13 percent rate at CSU as well, that brings the total cost to California taxpayers of providing the in-state tuition subsidies to foreign nationals illegally in the to as much as $75 million per year.

There are essentially three arguments made in favor of granting the in-state tuition subsidy to foreign nationals illegally in this country.

The first argument is that these students were innocent children when their parents illegally brought them to this country and had no choice in the matter. This may be true. But they are no longer children. They are of legal age. And as responsible adults, they have an obligation to obey the laws of this nation and that begins by establishing legal residency – as millions of legal immigrants have done.

And until they have established legal residency and agreed to abide by the laws of our nation, they have no claim on taxpayer funds.

The second argument is that these are largely disadvantaged young people who require a college education so that they can seek skilled jobs. But under federal law it is illegal to employ them in those jobs. The argument is self-defeating.

The third argument is that these are not recent arrivals to our country – many have been here for many years. That may be true. But why is it that the longer a person has broken a law the more excusable it is for them to continue to break that law?

In addition to costs of up to $75 million per year, this law creates absolutely indefensible inequities for legal immigrants to this country, and for out-of-state American citizens.

Consider two students from Mexico. One obeys every immigration law to come here legally. He files for the appropriate visas, he runs the gauntlet of the application process and he meets every requirement for legal status in the United States. The other has broken every immigration law for the last three years and is in the United States illegally.

The only difference is this: the LEGAL immigrant – who obeyed our laws -- will be charged nearly $23,000 to attend the University of California ; the ILLEGAL immigrant will pay $6,000 with California taxpayers contributing the remaining $17,000.

Or consider an American citizen who just moved here LEGALLY from Arizona . She will also be charged the out-of state tuition. And while she is waiting tables to pay her tuition costs, her taxes will be used to subsidize the illegal immigrant.

I recently read an appeal letter from the Department of the Navy protesting the non-resident designation by the University of California of a student named Lou-Anthony Palomique Limon.

He is the son of Chief Petty Officer Anthony Limon, stationed in Sigonella, Italy. Lou-Anthony graduated as valedictorian of his class from a DOD high school in Sigonella. The only American residence he has ever had is in California . But he was turned down for resident tuition last year, while thousands of illegal aliens were granted millions of dollars of taxpayer subsidies.

I do not think that it is unreasonable to ask that grown adults who are seeking thousands of dollars of taxpayer subsidies should be first asked to comply with our nation’s laws, starting with our immigration laws. This measure does so. And as representatives of the people of California , so should you.

[b9]

I wouldn't call that pandering.

Nor would anyone who truly supports McClintock.

[azhenfud]

"Too bad we'll have to wait until 2010 to elect McClintock governor."

Y'all could always recall Shortsneaker.

[Amerigomag]

The classification of Mexicans as a subset of European Caucasoids predates WWII by a long while.

Mongoloids are not known to established themselves that far south in the Americas and the influence of Europeans, both as a genetic admixture and as the decimator of native populations through introduced diseases, was the determining factor in this modal classification. Not a political request a century later.

From the Oxford English Dictionary: race - each of the major divisions of humankind, having distinct physical characteristics.

Notice that the number 3, has been eliminated from preceding the major divisions of humankind. Sadly this PC note has also been added in the last 5 years:

USAGE Some people now feel that the word race should be avoided, because of its associations with the now discredited theories of 19th-century anthropologists and physiologists about supposed racial superiority. Terms such as people, community, or ethnic group are less emotionally charged.

[Amerigomag]

Nor would anyone who truly supports McClintock

From the mouth of a Republican cultist.

Here's the question which simply begs to be asked: Would the doodlelady account still support the Senator if the Senator changed his party affiliation to Democrat?

[muawiyah]

Hunh? The Aztec were Na Dene speakers, just like the Navajo and other Northwestern Indians.

There are some bad boys even today down in the Amazon who look more Chinese than the Chinese.

I think you are confusing "Mongol" with "X Factor".

[goldstategop]

The Democrats don't care what we think because they're convinced we will put up with wealth transfer from American citizens to illegals. And until Americans put down their feet to stop it, the giveaways, like illegal alien tuition, will continue unabated.

(Denny Crane: "Every one should carry a gun strapped to their waist. We need more - not less guns.")

[b9]

I'd never vote for your beloved Democrats, Maggie dear, and neither would Tom.

[antceecee]

:-D