The 2004 passage of the bill allowing children of undocumented immigrants to pay in-state tuition rates at Kansas colleges stood out for its commonsense approach to reality. These kids are here. They’re attending and graduating from Kansas elementary and secondary schools. And when they’re ready and willing to go to college, they shouldn’t be priced out by having to pay out-of-state tuition. Under the law, their parents must sign an affidavit promising to seek legal residency. So it’s regrettable that opponents, having been turned away by the courts (their appeal is pending), have returned to the Legislature in an attempt to repeal the law.
Rep. Becky Hutchins, R-Holton, is inexplicably arguing, among other things, that a repeal is necessary for budget reasons. But legislators got it right two years ago. The proof: the 37 students who enrolled under the law in its first year and the 221 using it this school year, mostly at technical and community colleges. The further proof will come later, in the form of the taxes they pay and the productive role they play as well-educated members of the Kansas economy.
Posted by Rhonda Holman
11 Comments
I support the law. But Rhonda you assume here we will get productivity and tax payments from them because they will stay in Kansas after they are educated.
Why would they stay in a state that so clearly doesnt want them? Especially when other states can offer at least the same quality of life and better economic opportunities? I wouldnt blame them if they took that education and work ethic and moved somewhere that actually values their contributions.
How about a story of how many Kansans leave the state after college? I’d like to know if it really is true that Kansas’ biggest export is educated people.
In-state vs out-state has always been determined by RESIDENCY, not CITIZENSHIP. Residents pay sales taxes and (often indirectly through rent) property taxes to the State. Regardless of citizenship a person can be a resident and pay local taxes.
I just wish INS would do their job so this would be a moot point.
Todd-
And make all those small business Bush-voters have to hire American labor and pay a decent wage?
Hehehe, forget it. Not gonna happen.
“small business”? How about all those big packing houses?
Ahh yes…illegal immigration only started with the Bush administration. Yep. Never had a single illegal immigrant with Clinton as pres.
Oh get real. Seems to me that some years ago there was a man named Cesar Chavez fighting for immigrants rights in California.. long before Bush even was governor of Texas.
But…of course…people like P.Lib are going to re-invent history and blame it all on Bush.
I do blame Bush for it, just like I blamed Clinton before him. Our border security is a joke, obviously, and I don’t see anyone of any importance doing anything about it.
Rhonda:You, and the legislators that spawned this muddle of a law, like my elected moron, Sue Storm who was instrumental in this mess, are only aiding in the egagement of “mission crawl” on the legitimization of an unlawful act. First, through Plyler v Doe case, states are forced to provide a K-12 education. Forget that the Plylewr decision states nothing of reporting illegal alien parents to the appropriate agencies. Now, the pious and wealthy elected officials, needful of lawncare and cheap labor, decided to give illegal alien youths, who are no longer children or minors, a helping hand towards a profesion. That alone is enough encouragement for any illegal alien to remain in the country illegally. Thus, Kansas’ instate tuition for illegal aliens is in direct contravention with federal immigration law. In addition, my sweet but acephalic one, what happens when these young adults graduate from college? Will they become illegal immgrant accountants? Texas is currently experiencing the effects of this legislative “faux-pas” and have chemical engineers who are unemployable under our laws. Then what? What other law will Topeka and our pandering current governor seek to make a travesty of?Call your elected officials and give them an earfull now as well as when they are in your district or running for election. It is really the only way to get their attention. We vote; and on an issue like this one, there is not enough campaign contribution money that will get this lifetime Democrat voter to vote for Sue Storm or our current ortnamental Governor. That should get their attention more than a wave of illegal aliens marching through Topeka in March looking for licenses and other perks for those who are here scoffing at our laws, borders or sovereignity. It used to be that: “Because its the law, Stupid” was sufficient reason for obeying our laws. Maybe Kansans should apply their logic on immigration on Kansas Internal Revenue Laws.
I am still wondering what the difference is between undocumented immigrants and illegal aliens is. At what cost to taxpayers does this impact the educational system.
JUSTA GUY – I think it is strictly a semantic difference. The ‘kinder and gentler’ term is used for those who are hard-working in the meat-packing plants etc. they have become a ‘de facto’ important part of our economy. They pay taxes through with-holding and also sales and property (through rents) taxes. The cost to our educational (and social) systems is primarily due to the barely subsistence wages paid.
Have any of you Kansans been to California lately? Better yet, take a trip to your nation’s capital (Washington, DC). The suburbs are crawling with foreigners. They are bloody taking over. They get special, preferential treatment in too many areas to list.
I was inexpressibly shocked and disappointed to learn that Kansas is aiding and abetting lawbreakers. I can hardly believe it, really. Always believed Kansans have common sense and decency.