Tuition inequity spawns pro-student bill
By Chad Groening
One News Now, March 2, 2010
http://www.onenewsnow.com/Politics/Default.aspx?id=918750
A border-enforcement advocacy organization says a law introduced in Congress could go a long way in preventing states from offering discounted in-state tuition benefits to illegal immigrants not available to out-of-state Americans.
As reported earlier by OneNewsNow, a bill before the Iowa House — the 'Iowa Opportunities and Workforce Act' — would provide illegal aliens in-state tuition at public colleges and universities in The Hawkeye State. Ten states already offer in-state tuition benefits to those who are in the country illegally, including Kansas where it was challenged in court by two out-of-state students.
Ira Mehlman with the Federation for American Immigration Reform laments the decision handed down in that lawsuit. 'Unfortunately the judge…threw the case out because he did not grant standing to the out-of-state students in Kansas who were paying full tuition when the illegal aliens were getting subsidized tuition,' he explains.
Mehlman says in response to that ruling, two U.S. congressmen have introduced the 'Fairness for American Students Act,' which he believes reflects common sense.
'Congressman [Todd] Tiahrt of Kansas and Congressman [Brian] Bilbray in California have introduced legislation saying that out-of-state students would have automatic standing to bring a challenge against states that institute these policies,' he explains.
Mehlman argues that the proposed measure in Iowa — and the judge's decision in the Kansas case — demonstrate the need for a law like that introduced by the two Republican congressmen.
