Susan Haigh
Associated Press
via The Providence Journal
5/24/2011
HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — The Senate gave final legislative approval Tuesday to a bill that will allow students who were brought to the U.S. illegally as children to pay the less expensive, in-state tuition at Connecticut’s public colleges and universities.
Gov. Dannel P. Malloy said he was looking forward to signing the bill, which passed on a 21-to-14 vote after nearly nine hours of debate.
“This bill isn’t controversial, it’s common sense,” he said.
A group of undocumented students cheered and hugged one another in the Senate gallery after the final tally was announced. The bill already passed the House earlier this month…
…About 200 students would be affected by the bill. Currently, because of their status, they do not qualify for the in-state rate, which can be thousands of dollars less. Proponents said the students shouldn’t be punished for their parents’ actions. They argued that educating these students will only help Connecticut.
“We don’t have a single life to waste in the state of Connecticut, not a single life to waste,” said Senate President Donald E. Williams Jr., D-Brooklyn. “Every life should be lived to the potential.”
But opponents said the legislation could hurt legal residents,
“This is not about fear of illegal immigration,” said Senate Minority Leader John McKinney, R-Fairfield. “It’s about an extraordinarily competitive education system in Connecticut.”…
Read the complete article at The Providence Journal.
