Come to Trenton - Last Chance For In-State Tuition

by: koleary

Sat Jan 02, 2010 at 02:01:32 PM EST

"Every migrant is a human person who, as such, possesses fundamental, inalienable rights that must be respected by everyone and in every circumstance." (62) Caritatas In Veritate, Pope Benedict XVI

One of those rights is the right to an education.
Over the last few weeks the NJ Catholic Conference along with the NJ Regional Equity Coalition decided to make a last push at the end of the Corzine administration for a bill that would allow undocumented students to pay in-state tuition rates and county colleges and state universities.

koleary :: Come to Trenton - Last Chance For In-State Tuition

Currently, these students are required to pay out of state tuition rates which could be up to double the resident state tuition rates. For many the higher rate goes beyond their financial means impeding their ability to attend college.

It was an extreme long shot, but as we know, with faith in God, all things are possible.

As a result of the efforts of NJIPN, the NJ Regional Equity Coalition and the NJ Catholic Conference the in-state tuition bill now has a chance at being passed before Gov. Corzine leaves office.

This bill is budget neutral (it will not affect anyone's taxes). In fact it will benefit county colleges in particular with increased enrollment. It is an opportunity to respond with decency and correct an injustice toward students who were brought to this country as children, but have made NJ their home.

If the bill does not pass by the end of this session Christie will not sign it and we may have to wait eight more years for another opportunity.

Please help move this bill along by calling, and emailing your state legislators. Ask them to support the in-state tuition bill. Bill numbers: (Senate S1036/S1933 and Assembly A194/A990)

You can also join us in Trenton on Monday January 4th.

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When: Monday, January 4, 2010

Action: Please join us in support of S1036/S1933

Trenton Statehouse Annex, 1st floor, Conference Room 3

9:30 AM. - 12:00 PM: Gathering for assignments and instructions.

12:30 PM: Press Conference

2:00 PM: Senate Budget and Appropriations hearing

Tags: immigration, immigration reform, Dream Act, (All Tags)

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Come to Trenton - Last Chance For In-State Tuition | 2 comments

The bill cannot be budget neutral (0.00 / 0)

Regardless of one's stand on the bill, it's a fact that the bill is not budget neutral. If passed, you'll have some number of students paying less tuition than they currently do. Regardless of whether that's good or not, the college is receiving less tuition dollars. Hence, to maintain their budget, the college has to raise tuition for everyone (which is a tax increase), get more state support (which the state pays for with taxes), or reduce the level of education they are providing (which is also really a tax increase as students are paying the same cost for less education). I'm not sure how one can say the bill is budget neutral.

by: princetonblue @ Wed Jan 06, 2010 at 20:23:34 PM UTC

I'd like to add... (0.00 / 0)

That I for could support such a bill... except that once they recieve their degrees, we have no avenue for these undocumented people to get jobs, (at least jobs that will utilize their education), so then really, what's the point?

I'd prefer we figure out how to get them legal working status first, then worry about college costs.

"Where ever you go, there you are." - Buckaroo Bonzai

by: William Weber (WjcW) @ Wed Jan 06, 2010 at 23:49:33 PM UTC