Delegate to challenge in-state tuition measure
Gov. Martin O'Malley has not yet signed the state's new rule that gives discounted college tuition to illegal immigrants -- but it is already facing a pair of challenges.
Freshman Delegate Neil Parrott, one of the few Maryland elected officials who rode the tea party wave to victory last fall, is organizing an effort to petition the measure to referendum. If his efforts are successful, the bill would appear on the 2012 ballot and tuition breaks would be postponed until the voters determine whether the law should be put on the books.
"There is a lot of angst with this bill in the public," said Parrott, a Washington County Republican. "The more people think about it, the more they get upset about it."
The measure passed both houses on the final day of session.
It would allow illegal immigrants pay in-state or in-county tuition at Maryland's colleges and universities. To qualify, students would have to attend Maryland high schools for three years and show that they or their parents paid taxes. Students would have to start at community colleges, but could transfer to four year universities after two years.
The bill is expected to cost $3.5 million by 2016, though opponents believe the cost could be much higher.
Freshman Delegate Neil Parrott, one of the few Maryland elected officials who rode the tea party wave to victory last fall, is organizing an effort to petition the measure to referendum. If his efforts are successful, the bill would appear on the 2012 ballot and tuition breaks would be postponed until the voters determine whether the law should be put on the books.
"There is a lot of angst with this bill in the public," said Parrott, a Washington County Republican. "The more people think about it, the more they get upset about it."
The measure passed both houses on the final day of session.
It would allow illegal immigrants pay in-state or in-county tuition at Maryland's colleges and universities. To qualify, students would have to attend Maryland high schools for three years and show that they or their parents paid taxes. Students would have to start at community colleges, but could transfer to four year universities after two years.
The bill is expected to cost $3.5 million by 2016, though opponents believe the cost could be much higher.
Parrott and his supporters have considerable work to do -- and not much time to do it. They must collect roughly 55,000 signatures by the end of June.
Parrott does not anticipate receiving money or organizational help from national groups. "People are going to go to their neighbors to get signatures," he said. Over the next week or so he expects to announce a website and a state-wide organization.
Separately, Del. Pat McDonough, a long-time opponent to extending rights to illegal immigrants, plans to bring a lawsuit alleging that the new Maryland provision would violate federal law.
“Maryland has become a Disneyland for illegal immigrants, providing attractions and free rides and is costing taxpayers billions of dollars," McDonough said in a news release.
Parrott does not anticipate receiving money or organizational help from national groups. "People are going to go to their neighbors to get signatures," he said. Over the next week or so he expects to announce a website and a state-wide organization.
Separately, Del. Pat McDonough, a long-time opponent to extending rights to illegal immigrants, plans to bring a lawsuit alleging that the new Maryland provision would violate federal law.
“Maryland has become a Disneyland for illegal immigrants, providing attractions and free rides and is costing taxpayers billions of dollars," McDonough said in a news release.
Posted by Annie Linskey at 11:54 AM | Permalink
| Comments (22)
Categories: 2011 legislative session
Categories: 2011 legislative session
Comments
Can you publish contact information for Neil Parrott please?
There is a lot of us ready to sign that petition.
Posted by: john | April 18, 2011 12:37 PM
Wonder if these people would have had an issue with my mother, who illegally immigrated here from Poland when she was 15, taking up the opportunity in this bill.
Since she's white, I'm guessing no.
Posted by: Daniel Ewald | April 18, 2011 1:32 PM
@ Daniel Ewald - did your mother immigrate here to take advantage of free tuition offers, or to work towards a better life without any handouts exected? Just guessing here, but I think it may have been the latter.
Posted by: mk | April 18, 2011 2:07 PM
stop pulling the race card when citizens want laws to be upheld. Illegal immigration is a huge problem in this state and country, show me where to sign and I'm in.
Posted by: Dominic | April 18, 2011 2:08 PM
"immigrated here from Poland" vs "illegal immigrants"
Big difference!
Posted by: Eddie P. | April 18, 2011 2:11 PM
Illegal is illegal. My wife's family entered the country legally. And they are from the only ethnic group specifically identified by an Act. While now repealed Chapter 8 of Title 7 still holds that exclusionary title.
Posted by: Yes | April 18, 2011 2:17 PM
sorry for fast/fat-fingered typing - spelling on previous post - ..."without any handouts expected?"...
Posted by: mk | April 18, 2011 2:27 PM
Since my husband are in the top percentile for taxes, we are fed up with all these handouts. My grandaughter doesn't qualify for any free aid for college and her parents will be shelling out $25K in the fall. Where do I sign?
Posted by: Angrytaxpayer | April 18, 2011 2:32 PM
I commend the delegate's effort. Good to see someone in the state legislature has some common sense
Posted by: brad | April 18, 2011 3:19 PM
I'm ready - I hope they come to my area so I can sign that petition! I'm sick and tired of Maryland officials pretending an "illegeal immigran t"is just a sick immigrant.
Posted by: MikeCalo | April 18, 2011 3:26 PM
I don't have a problem with this law. It's for the children of people who are paying taxes and contributing to society. They're the people we should encourage.
Posted by: Eric | April 18, 2011 4:26 PM
I'm generally pretty left leaning but even I opposed this bill. If you want to make a change, make a change in the process of becoming a citizen. I think it ought to be pretty easy to come here legally if you want (like I said, I'm usually pretty liberal). But don't use one law to circumvent another. Change the one you don't like if you don't like it.
Posted by: Dave | April 18, 2011 4:30 PM
Well, immigration is a federal law, so there's not much to be done on a state level.
I see this as giving the benefits to kids, who don't really have a choice about where they live, some of the benefits of the taxes their parents pay.
Posted by: Eric | April 18, 2011 4:47 PM
Where do we sign?
Posted by: easywriter01 | April 18, 2011 5:37 PM
Del Parrott is developing a web page. Also..Restore Amerces Mission Dave Wallace should have. Info up on his website Help Save Maryland will also be sending out pores releases on this Referendum. Get on Help Save Maryland's email list for the latest info. We acre still. Soaring things out and should be ready to role in a week or two. You can thank the Corrrupion of CASA...de Maryland forr controlling what goes on in Annapolis. Our Leader's are far up Casas butt Corruption reigns supreme. Www.helpsavemaryland.com
Posted by: Judy Help Save Maryland | April 18, 2011 7:18 PM
There is no quicker way to create an underground (no taxes) ecconomy that this -abuse of the taxpayer for leftist political agendas have a consequence.
Posted by: Don L | April 19, 2011 7:29 AM
I wonder why he has not signed it yet???
Posted by: Wil | April 19, 2011 10:12 AM
These kinds of tax payer funded "fringe benefits" are what attract more illegals to our state. The same type of protest needs to occur at the local school district level. No more additional funding to support illegal immigrants in our overburdened public schools! Free and reduced lunches, English as a second language, translating services, overcrowding
Would you open your house up to the public; to come and live on your dime? Would you fill your children’s home with strangers? Your family’s way of life would be greatly degraded wouldn’t it? Then why are we allowing this in our society. WAKE UP CITIZENS, they are taking our way of life right out from under us. Time to push back and say NO!
By the way, I don’t care what color your skin is, what language you speak, what religion you are, what country you come from – the fact is only my family can live in my house, because I can’t support strangers. The same is true for my city, state, and country!
Posted by: Paul - Germantown, MD | April 19, 2011 10:25 AM
Where do I sign?
Posted by: Unicorn 69 | April 19, 2011 2:46 PM
Some of my ancestors came over on the Mayflower and others are just as well "documented" and did not choose to sneak into the US and Maryland?
We can blame MOM and his democrat cronies who pushed this open ended tax burden on legal residents of the state.
They obviously can't comprehend existing immigration laws.
Posted by: unicorn69 | April 19, 2011 2:52 PM
How is this a hand out of your tax dollars. The bill says this is available to students who's parents pay taxes. No one is complaining about the government collecting taxes from illegal immigrants. Let's be real; America was built by illegal immigrants.
Posted by: Let's be real | April 20, 2011 8:39 AM
"It would allow illegal immigrants pay in-state or in-county tuition at Maryland's colleges and universities. To qualify, students would have to attend Maryland high schools for three years and show that they or their parents paid taxes" Why does this anger you? Why would you not pass this bill? All its trying to do is better prepare us for the future. Illegal immigrants are here to stay, there are 12 million of them. There is no way we can deport them all. Why not educate the ones that are going to be giving birth to the future leaders of our nation? After all, they have to provide proof that they are paying taxes. Isn't that what makes us Americans?
Posted by: Manuel | April 22, 2011 10:37 AM