This is a bit old but I thought I should highlight it in light of the incredible legislative session that is ending in the Connecticut Congress. The list of accomplishments include:
-Decriminalization of Marijuana
-Mandated Paid Sick Leave for Service Workers
-Preventing Transgender Discrimination
-A budget that passed on time and includes higher taxes on the rich
and one that has kind of flown under the radar but was passed in late May...
The Senate gave final passage to a bill Tuesday that will allow undocumented immigrants pay in-state tuition at Connecticut colleges and universities.
Sen. Beth Bye, D-West Hartford said the bill has a strict threshold compared to states that have already implemented similar legislation and requires undocumented students to attend a Connecticut high school for four years and sign an affidavit stating they are seeking citizenship before receiving in-state tuition.
And unlike four years ago when a similar bill was vetoed by then Gov. M. Jodi Rell, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy said he will sign the legislation.
"This is something that ran on," Malloy said Tuesday. "I believe that if you have Connecticut high school diploma you should be able to attend a Connecticut public institution at state rates, pretty straightforward."
Now while none of the other accomplishments are truly revolutionary or life changing, they are steps in the right direction. It would be nice for example if marijuana were completely legalized and taxed so we could generate revenue for the state via taxes and people wouldn't be punished for doing something that while decriminalized is still illegal. It would be AWESOME if we all had mandated paid sick and vacation leave. It would be great if the budget was balanced and if it relied more on taxation of the rich and less on concessions from working people. But after 20 years of republican governors vetoing common sense progressive legislation, it's nice to see the Land of Steady Habits slowly marching in the right direction while the rest of the country it seems is marching off a cliff.
However, when it comes to the DREAM ACT, this IS life changing. It is life changing for the thousands of children who committed the crime of being born at the wrong place at the wrong time out of the wrong womb. These are children who came here at early ages through no fault of their own or with no input in the decision and had roadblocks set up in their way all because they were not born here. As Gov. Malloy said at the time...
“This bill isn’t controversial, it’s common sense,” Malloy said in a statement following nine hours of debate. “At a time when we need to be helping our state’s young men and women prepare for an ever-changing economy and compete with their counterparts in China, Japan and elsewhere, helping to make a college degree more accessible and affordable for those students who choose to pursue one is critically important.”
It benefits Connecticut because it allows our residents to seek higher education which means a more educated and better earning population. It benefits Connecticut because it allows our brightest and best young minds to stay in state and it benefits the children of immigrants who will grow up to have children of their own. Children who will not have these roadblocks in their way. It really is common sense. So much so that the republicans who oppose it make NO sense in opposing it
Sen. Scott Frantz, R-Greenwich, noting the inconsistency of financial notes on bills, said this bill may not have a direct cost on the state now but in 10 to 15 years may end up costing the state because the bill may offer an incentive for undocumented immigrants to move to Connecticut in the future.
Cause you know, a bunch of undocumented immigrants moving into the state seeking higher education is really a bad thing. I guess if you're white and rich it is. After all who is going to mow their lawns in Greenwich and clean their houses if all these undocumented immigrants are all going to college? What Mr Frantz also fails to note is that by allowing these children to pay in state tuition, it allows them to attend college. Many would not be able to afford out of state tuition which means they would not be able to attend college. The financial cost is nil to the state. If anything there will be an increase in revenue at the state colleges from additional students attending as has been the case in Utah, Colorado and Massachussetts.
So major kudos to Connecticut and to Gov. Dannel Malloy on a successful and progressive legislative session.
More on this session here and here.