Bill on tuition break for kids of illegal immigrants debated
DENVER — For the sixth time in a decade, Democrats are running a bill that would give discounted college tuition to children of illegal immigrants.
The last attempt, in the 2011 session, failed in the Republican-controlled House of Representatives. This bill could meet the same fate. But maybe, this year will be different.
The bill, carried by Denver’s Sen. Mike Johnston and Pueblo’s Angela Giron, would create a new college tuition rate, for the children of illegal immigrants who meet certain criteria. Among other things, it would require them to have attended a Colorado high school for at least three years, and they would have to sign an affidavit promising to seek citizenship as soon as possible.
The bill was approved by the Senate Education Committee on a 4-3 party line vote, but not before some emotional moments.
Several students who testified choked up while telling stories about friends and relatives who either couldn’t get into college because they’re in the country illegally or couldn’t afford it because they couldn’t get in-state tuition rates.
Committee members then argued, with Democrats contending that children shouldn’t be held accountable for the illegal actions of their parents, and Republicans saying they would be ignoring federal laws.
Sen. Rollie Heath, D-Boulder, got his hackles up while arguing that the state is losing because they’re driving grade-A students out of the state. Those students, he said, would likely live and work in Colorado, and many would probably become business owners and help drive the economy.
“How stupid can we be?” Heath said, his voice raised.
Sen. Scott Renfroe, R-Greeley, took umbrage with the comment, saying that Heath was basically calling Republicans stupid. He demanded an apology, but he didn’t get one.
Sen. Keith King, R-Colorado Springs, charged that Colorado would be subsidizing illegal students with state money. He offered students a place at a charter school he founded in El Paso County — Colorado Springs Early Colleges.
“You can move to Colorado Springs. I’ll do everything I can. I don’t ask you whether you’re a citizen,” he said.
King said after the hearing that CSEC students can accrue college credits during high school courses. He said 23 students graduated last year with associate’s degrees and one with a bachelor’s.
Under the Democratic bill, college tuition for illegal immigrants would be slightly higher than for in-state students and much lower than for out-of-state. For the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, in-state tuition is $7,894 per year, and out-of-state is $17,414. The bill’s “standard rate” for UCCS would be $9,754.
The measure is expected to pass the Senate, but the House could be a different story. Rep. Tom Massey, R-Poncha Springs, said Thursday that he supports the measure, and Johnston said he knows of several other Republicans who may vote for it if it reaches the House floor.
But to get there, it must pass a committee hearing, and it’s up to Speaker Frank McNulty, R-Highlands Ranch, to choose which committee hears the measure. It may not wind up before Massey, who chairs the House Education Committee. In other committees, the bill would likely die.
