New Jersey's Lame Duck Democrats are at it again. Not only are they trying to squeese in Gay Marriage before the first of the year they are now trying to give In State Tuition to Illegal Immigrants in the state. See story below:

N.J. bill would grant in-state tuition for immigrants

By Trish G. Graber

December 10, 2009, 3:39PM

Tim Farrell/The Star-LedgerA September rally in Morristown for immigrants rights, held outside Margaret's Church.TRENTON -- Immigration rights advocates are making a push for long-stalled legislation that would qualify undocumented immigrants for in-state college tuition rates in New Jersey.

Advocacy and faith-based groups organized roughly 100 of their members at the Statehouse today to lobby lawmakers to pass the bill before January, when Democratic Gov. Jon Corzine leaves office.

Shai Goldstein, executive director of New Jersey Immigration Policy Network, called the issue one of “fundamental justice.”

“How can we, the great state of New Jersey, not allow -- not allow -- access to our great universities, our great public universities, when other states like Oklahoma and Utah have done so?” Goldstein said. “We are denying these students equal access to education. Period.”
Undocumented immigrants currently pay out-of-state tuition at the state’s public colleges and universities, a much higher rate than the in-state amount. Advocates for the legislation said the high cost prevents children -- many who have lived nearly their entire lives in New Jersey -- from going to college.

The legislation would make students who attended at least three years of high school in New Jersey eligible for in-state college tuition. The student must also have graduated from a state high school or attained the equivalent of a high school diploma in New Jersey. It also would require undocumented students to file an affidavit with the college or university stating that they filed an application to legalize their immigration status or will do so as soon as they become eligible.

Lawmakers have debated the issue for nearly a decade, but it gained traction recently when a panel created by Corzine to study immigration issues in New Jersey recommended passage of the legislation.

Christine Thurlow Brenner, an academic adviser to the Governor’s Blue Ribbon Advisory Panel on Immigrant Policy, said enacting it would ensure a highly educated labor pool, and would contribute to economic growth.

“Now more than ever, New Jersey needs all it’s graduates to contribute to the economic health of the state,” she said.

The groups stressed the need to get the legislation posted for a vote before Corzine leaves office. He supports the measure and has said in recent months it is one he would “put high on the agenda” for the lame-duck session.

Advocates said the issue is one of equal rights.

“It wasn’t that long ago when money prohibited so many talented African-Americans from going to college,” said the Rev. R. Lenton Buffalo Jr., of Union Baptist Church in Elizabeth. “If a student has bought into the American dream, it should not become a nightmare when it’s time to go to college.”

“They are not asking that anyone make it easier for them to be accepted,” said Allyson Gall, New Jersey area director for the American Jewish Committee. “They are not asking for free tuition or any scholarships. They live and New Jersey and want to pay the same rate as others who live in New Jersey pay.”

Eleven states have enacted similar legislation, according to the groups: New York, Texas, California, Illinois, Utah, Washington, Oklahoma, Kansas, New Mexico, Nebraska and Wisconsin.

The legislation (S1036/A990) is pending in the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee and the Assembly Higher Education Committee.

-- Edited by RollingStone on Thursday 10th of December 2009 04:17:20 PM

-- Edited by RollingStone on Thursday 10th of December 2009 04:28:49 PM