We were in the defensive in Utah, where the legislature just narrowly struck down a bill seeking to amend their existing in-state tuition exemption (think AB540) program. HB208 proposed to add one more prerequisite for those undocumented students who grew up in Utah and attended local schools. If they wanted to go to college, they had to sign an affidavit stating they had not worked in the state.
This unfair amendment would have once again tied in the overlying principle of equal access to education, with the botched system of immigration and employment. Thankfully, the necessary Republican votes were there to see the bill defeated, 40-34:
"Whatever the purpose of the bill is, the actual impact of this bill will be to narrow the opening of the schoolhouse doors," said Rep. Kay McIff, R-Richfield. He said the measure reminded him of then-Gov. George Wallace trying to block black students from enrolling in the University of Alabama.Full story, from the Salt Lake Tribune, is here.
"Can you think of any culture, any country, anyone who benefited from narrowing the opening of the schoolhouse doors?"
In Colorado, we were trying to gain ground, by pushing for tuition equity. The bill was not debated in the Senate floor, and instead heads to the Appropriations committee, where according to the Denver Post, "its prospects are shaky". The Post pays special attention to Committee Vice-Chair, Senator Maryanne "Moe" Keller, a Democrat who apparently has "said she doesn't support the bill". I called her office today, and they said that such statement had not come from the office and that it was purely speculation from the press. Her staffer clarified that the Senator does not state her intent to vote for or against a bill before the actual vote take place. We are sending her a book and an email today.
Pass the DREAM Act.
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