In-state tuition bill gets support
Monfort backs expansion of aid to high schoolers
By Lynn Bartels, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)
Published January 30, 2009 at 12:05 a.m.
A prominent Republican businessman has thrown his support behind a bill that would grant in-state college tuition to high school students regardless of their immigration status.
Dick Monfort, a Weld County cattleman and chairman of the University of Northern Colorado Board of Trustees, said tough economic times require a "forward-thinking" education policy.
"Opening educational opportunity for more of our high school graduates means our state will have a more developed work force down the road, and will be able to attract more high-growth industries," he said in a statement.
To be eligible for the reduced tuition, undocumented students would have to have graduated from a Colorado high school or received their GED within the past five years. They also must have been enrolled in a Colorado public or private high school for at least three years.
The bill, by Sen. Chris Romer, D-Denver, is scheduled to be introduced today amid heated debate. Lawmakers have argued about immigrant tuition since at least 2003, with a number of Republican lawmakers opposing the measures.
"If you were to ask the citizens of Colorado what they feel, they would be adamantly opposed to it, probably 85 percent," said Sen. Dave Schultheis, R-Colorado Springs. "We're supposed to be representing the people of Colorado. What are we doing running bills they don't want?"
But Romer likely will pick up more high-profile GOP support.
Alex Cranberg, Aspect Energy chairman, said he backs the in-state tuition idea, but wants to read the bill before signing on.
Cranberg is a high-profile donor for Republican candidates and an education advocate who said there are several reasons college should be more affordable for all students.
"All people who live in Colorado are paying sales and real estate taxes and most are having income taxes deducted from their paychecks," he said. "Therefore they are entitled to some level of services."
Cranberg echoed Monfort's sentiments that Colorado benefits from a better-educated populace.
Romer said it is unfair to penalize students whose parents illegally entered the country with their children.
In some households, he said, the older children can't get in-state tuition but their younger siblings can because they were born in this country.
"We need the next generation to be college educated and able to compete in a knowledge-based economy," Romer said.
Schultheis disagreed.
"The higher-education community would like you to think that's the only way to get ahead, but I know many people who didn't have a degree and they do very well," he said.
Schultheis said he will fight Romer's bill.
Romer said federal law mandates that school districts educate all children, regardless of immigration status, from kindergarten through high school. Those undocumented students are stymied when it's time to go to college because many can't afford out-of-state tuition.
Romer said 10 other states, including Texas, Kansas and New Mexico, have passed "tuition equity" legislation.
In-state vs. out
The cost difference between in-state and out-of-state tuition can be significant.
A semester for a full-time student at University of Northern Colorado, for example, costs:
* Residents $2,340
* Nonresidents $7,041
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January 30, 2009
4:30 a.m.
Suggest removal
Stan_Weekes writes:
Let's see, the state educational funding is in a big hole, and we are going to lose more money by allowing illegal aliens into the system?
And what ID will they use? And if and when they graduate, how are they going to legally work?
This is just more pandering to the Open Borders lobby. Stop this madness!
January 30, 2009
5:38 a.m.
Suggest removal
Aaron writes:
What a great way to cultivate the Illegal Alian work force for Monfort Meat Company! Brilliant. The heck with our immigration laws. Cheap labor will keep sliced bologna affordable....
Our state legislators remind us of what cattle leave behind when they eat. That is why G-d created rubber boots.
January 30, 2009
6:02 a.m.
Suggest removal
StillUndecided writes:
"All people who live in Colorado are paying sales and real estate taxes and most are having income taxes deducted from their paychecks," he said. "Therefore they are entitled to some level of services."
Not true. If you are not in this country legally, the only thing that you are entitled to is a safe trip back to your country of origin.
January 30, 2009
6:10 a.m.
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Mike846 writes:
All citizens need to call, write and email every legislator and tell them we will WORK to get them thrown out of office if they pass this measure. Once again the liberal Democrats and greedy Republicans are joining forces to foist an under-educated unskilled cheap labor source on our state, even further exacerbating the current economic slump in employment and not caring one damn bit about AMERICAN CITIZENS. Voters, wake up and ACT. Call and write, over and over. Make them understand there will be a price to pay if they pass this legislation. Mike
January 30, 2009
6:26 a.m.
Suggest removal
vudumom writes:
Here is a short list of stuff our state legislature have been working on:
Getting rid of plastic bags
Cat microchips
Ticketing people in the fast lane
Giving illegals more benefits
What is wrong with this picture?
January 30, 2009
7:41 a.m.
Suggest removal
cololib writes:
My folks were in the country legally....in fact our people had been here a couple 100 years and yet I still had to pay out of state tuition (quite correctly since my citizen-parents lived in Nebraska!) I work in higher ed and it galls me to no end that in state tuition even crosses anyone's mind as a possibility when so many American kids struggle to make ends meet and pay in state tuition. If illegals want an in-state tuition rate let them go back to Mexico and pay it there. Mexico has universities too!
January 30, 2009
8:21 a.m.
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HernandezUSA writes:
1986 Amnesty was a COMPLETE failure, because Enforcement was not REALIZED and now we have more ILLEGAL ALIENS than every before!
"in the first year of democratic majority rule, Nelson Mandela’s government expelled almost 60,000 undocumented migrants, most of whom were from neighboring Mozambique. " - President Obamas role model.
"South Africa has shown that a country determined to put its own citizens’ interests first will deport illegal aliens in numbers. Yet its example is ignored by those who say "it can't be done". The answer is: "Yes it can". It can even be done creatively."
We need the SAVE ACT and E-verify used for every business and NOT Amnesty for criminals.
E-verify does not discriminate against RACE, Religion, SEX or physically capability only your Citizenship and your LEGAL right to be and work in United States.
If we can stop Predatory business owners from hiring then the Illegal Aliens will not Stay and return to their native Countries.
This ISSUE is not about RACE, but Governments Federal/State/LOCAL not doing their jobs, because big and small business owners want cheap workers and no labor laws to bother with......Its called GREED!
.numbersusa.com
//dontspeakforme.org/
January 30, 2009
8:27 a.m.
Suggest removal
BikerChick writes:
..
Richard Monfort is a good guy who has done much for Colorado. We owe his family a debt of gratitude.
That said, this is NOT a good idea.
Mexico is on the edge of disaster. Two-thirds of the more than forty million illegal aliens now in the USA have come here from Mexico. No matter what Bill Ritter tells us, we now host some 700,000 illegal aliens and their 260,000 children. That means we are providing EXPENSIVE medical- and social-services that the Mexican government should provide.
All we need to do is remove the "jobs magnet" and the migrant workers will voluntarily go "back home." So simple. Put one hundred employers in jail and the free-ride circus stops. The other crooked employers will stop the nonsense immediately.
Coloradans, this is not your first rodeo. Mexico does NOT give discounted college tuition to U.S. citizens or their children. Colorado has much to learn from Mexico.
Colorado needs a decent 30-year strategic plan to "grow our own," to include a better college, university, and technical training program for U.S. citizens who are legal residents of Colorado.
Richard Monfort knows that better than most.
It is crazy to allow Colorado employers to break laws to entice foreign nationals unlawfully present to come here and take jobs that belong to Coloradans. Have you ever wondered WHY the ranchers and farmers are having problems keeping their low-paid illegal alien workforce ? Ask yourself - why work in a manual labor job when you can work in Wendy's ?
The average wage paid to illegal aliens in Colorado is $43K/yr. Only two percent of the illegals have menial labor jobs. The rumors are NOT true. It is also NOT true that the illegals are paying income taxes, as Ken Buck and John Cooke have just conclusively proven.
So WHY is your tax money being used to subsidize Mexican nationals and other foreign nationals here unlawfully ?
Our combined cost (local city taxes, county taxes, state taxes and federal taxes paid by Coloradans) for the mandated services to illegal aliens and their family members is now more than TWO BILLION DOLLARS per year.
Please read carefully here; Our combined cost (local city taxes, county taxes, state taxes and federal taxes paid by Coloradans) for the OPTIONAL SERVICES to illegal aliens and their family members is also now more that TWO BILLION DOLLARS per year. Much of this largess with YOUR money is given away by NFP-NGO and government employees who are breaking our laws in this giveaway.
WHAT ARE WE THINKING ? THE STATE OF COLORADO IS NOT A CHURCH.
Unless we want to follow in the tracks of the USSR, ideas like this one must be quashed.
..
January 30, 2009
8:41 a.m.
Suggest removal
LockNLoad writes:
This is insane. This guy is only wanted to ensure he has an illegal allien work force for his ranch to keep his costs down.
Why should we give illegals special treatment?
January 30, 2009
8:56 a.m.
Suggest removal
sheepherder writes:
Citizens need to bombard their representative with e-mails calling for a NO vote on this! The jerks will probably still vote YES so they dont loose their voter base...the illegal invading horde!
January 30, 2009
9:05 a.m.
Suggest removal
mytwosense writes:
BikerChick writes: "All we need to do is remove the "jobs magnet" and the migrant workers will voluntarily go "back home." So simple. Put one hundred employers in jail and the free-ride circus stops. The other crooked employers will stop the nonsense immediately."
I want to comment on this, but first let me preface with my personal feelings about people coming over here illegally to work. I have nothing but sympathy for their plight and the conditions that compel them to seek a better place. Honestly, if I was in their shoes, I cannot deny I might do the same thing. Also, the Bible tells us to welcome aliens (strangers from another country) in our land.
That being said...I'm afraid I sense that the long term better solution would be to focus on Mexico getting it's act together so it can support it's own citizens, and yes, penalizing US employers is the critical first step for doing this. Mexico has the resources to lift itself out of being a third world country; they just need the right, uncorrupt politicians to lead them, and also, the US needs to stop undermining the Mexican politicians who fit this bill. Bush's opposition to Obrador comes to mind, because he was a "leftist."
In fact, BikerChick's clearly obvious solution to halting illegal immigration is exactly why no politician from either side, with a few exceptions, is serious about enacting it: it would actually work.
Instead, they will support putting up a Berlinesque wall that as an American, I do not like having on our soil. It's ominous, it can keep people IN, too, and further, it will do nothing to stem illegal immigration. Nothing. I guarantee that employers who exploit illegal workers will figure out a way to get them over here. They'll transport them here themselves. They already do.
January 30, 2009
9:23 a.m.
Suggest removal
lynnie62 writes:
FYI, the Monforts do not have a meat packing plant in Greeley. It was sold a LLLLONG time ago.
January 30, 2009
9:29 a.m.
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mytwosense writes:
The slaughterhouses/meat packing plants are one of the biggest employers of illegal labor.
January 30, 2009
9:33 a.m.
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Dinty writes:
I say we just give them all scholarships to our taxpayer funded colleges and get on with it. They already get free health care, welfare, etc. Make it a clean sweep and we won't have to revisit this issue again. We will become Mexicolorado and love it.
January 30, 2009
9:55 a.m.
Suggest removal
summitsailor writes:
If one assumes that there is a limited amount of space in the higher education system then for every illegal that is let in there is a US citizen that will not be able to go to college. This is the type of logical from our politicians that amazes me. This is all about political power and the continuing invasion of our country of ethic groups that the open borders crowd wants. We owe no illegal a subsidy at any level.
January 30, 2009
9:56 a.m.
Suggest removal
Elwood writes:
"All people who live in Colorado are paying sales and real estate taxes and most are having income taxes deducted from their paychecks," he said. "Therefore they are entitled to some level of services."
Like a little representation of the citizens (who can actully vote) from our elected politicians.
January 30, 2009
5:21 p.m.
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T1anda writes:
Simple! Vote out Chris Romer, and any and all politicians who cater to illegals! Call call call!!
January 30, 2009
9:44 p.m.
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FCZ writes:
Another bad idea from Romer.
Who is to pay for these illegals to get in-state tuition ?
Us taxpayers.
Bad idea Romer.
January 31, 2009
8:20 a.m.
Suggest removal
Mom_of_Two writes:
Let's be reasonable, here...
The above comments seem to imply that Colorado would be doing something unusual by offering tuition equity, whereas in truth we are one of only three states in the nation who explicitly BAN it, the others being Georgia and Arizona. This is about people who have been in Colorado for at least three years and graduate in good standing from Colorado high schools. Many of these kids have been in Colorado for half their lives or more, and they will remain here working. It is simply a question of whether we want them educated, i.e. spending more money, paying more taxes, committing less crime, relying less on social services. They would largely be enrolling in community colleges, which, guess what, need more students! This would not cost taxpayers money, it would create revenue, not least for the community colleges themselves. Colorado needs an educated work force, especially in these difficult economic times, and in granting tuition equity to undocumented Coloradans, we would simply be catching up with our neighboring states which already do so, including Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Utah and Texas.
January 31, 2009
10:11 a.m.
Suggest removal
dn writes:
Thank you, Chris Romer and Richard Monfort, for standing up to the bullies in this state who would rather watch the children of undocumented immigrants suffer in poverty than be given the opportunity to contribute to our state's culture and economy.
This has less to do with Monfort's workforce than it has to do with the recognition that these children are human beings who live in our community (through no choice of their own) and deserve the chance to continue their education and create a better future for themselves if they are willing to go to school, study, and meet the requirements for state college admissions.
January 31, 2009
1:17 p.m.
Suggest removal
LadyM writes:
Mr Monford....I am totally disappointed in you and your recommendations. Back in the 70's I hauled for your company and was always so impressed by your care and compassion for your employees. What has happened to your company that you would now start aiding and abetting the invaders from foreign companies. I am ashamed that for all these years I have talked about what a great company you had, and I mean had, because it's obvious that you don't care for American Citizens anymore and that's a shame. And you should be ashamed of yourself, as ashamed as I am of you!
January 31, 2009
2:09 p.m.
Suggest removal
24AheadDotCom writes:
If anyone wants to do something about this, ask Romer about the impacts of this bill on video, and then upload his response to Youtube.
Ask him the following question. While it was for Obama and it involved a national bill, the gist applies in this case as well:
http://24ahead.com/my-changegov-quest...
The easiest, most effective way to deal with this issue is to ask him that or a similar question on video and then upload it to Youtube where everyone can see his response.
January 31, 2009
4:27 p.m.
Suggest removal
JudgeBob writes:
Richard Montfort is the typical liberal! He believes it makes him look generous, to give away OTHER PEOPLES MONIES!
The voters should throw him off the College Board of Trustees.
Dollars to donuts this "generous liberal" is supported by the teachers union and the college administrators union. Neither of those groups care about taxpayers monies. They care about how much more they can milk the public.
Remember, their mantra is always, "ITS FOR THE CHILDREN!"
They couldn't care less about OUR children. This is about ever increasing teacher/administrator salaries!
WAKE UP TAXPAYERS!
January 31, 2009
5:24 p.m.
Suggest removal
Brittanicus writes:
ANOTHER TRAVESTY OF OUR IMMIGRATION LAWS
WHATEVER HAPPENED TO CITIZENS AND PERMANENT RESIDENCE RIGHTS?
Is there no accountability by any State, county or city government for demanding taxpayers, cover the costs for any illegal alien family that breaks our laws. JUDICIAL WATCH, is a legal watchdog using the power of the courts, to fight political corruption, illegal immigration, sanctuary states and city police enforcement, alien gang member deportation, 247(g) police enforcement and sham border fence. Learn about the liberal lies that for six years the press have suggested their are only 12 million illegal aliens squatting in America. Nor do they inform you that our nation welcomes more legal immigrants, than any country in the world. Find the ugly facts at www.judicialwatch.org, www.numbersusa.com and www.americanpatrol.com
January 31, 2009
5:57 p.m.
Suggest removal
VivaLaMigra writes:
Coloradans, don't be fooled! This is another way for the Bleeding Hearts cocktail crowd to be "compassionate" - with YOUR MONEY! As the item suggests, the anchor babies of illegal aliens are already getting this $5,000 subsidy. That means young adults - high school graduates over the age of 18 - take your dough knowing full well that their parents are in your state in clear defiance of federal law. These lawbreakers benefit as that's $5 Grand they don't have to pay out of their pockets. Now, Loonie Lefties want to give the same subsidy to individuals who are THEMSELVES standing in utter contempt of this Nation's laws. These are not children - they know they are under a personal obligation to REPATRIATE themselves to their homeland. If they want to study here, let them apply for a student visa and pay full tuition. The state governments and the fed's are broke - we don't need to be borrowing money from Communist China to subsidize illegal aliens.
February 1, 2009
5:38 p.m.
Suggest removal
galty writes:
Here's a bit of simple supply side math: An extra student costs Metro State much less than $2000 in incremental costs. So why is the difference between these costs and the $7000 out of state tuition a $5000 subsidy? There is no subsidy or cost to this bill, because the out of state tuition is ridiculously high and should be reduced in order to recognize the economic realities of maximizing revenue and reducing taxpayer subsidies.
Alex Cranberg
February 7, 2009
2:16 p.m.
Suggest removal
Concerned_Student writes:
If we're already investing on K-12 education for everyone regardless of their legal and economic status, then it would only be right to give these children, full of dreams and desire, the opportunity to continue their education so that these students can fullfil their dreams and become good contributing citizens for our communities. We all know that once you have a well educated citizen, this citizen will be much less likely to rely on social programs, to become more civically engaged and to make that generational change to raise educated children and that way change the society. Consequently, it would cost more to have an uneducated section of our society then what it would cost to invest right now to allow these students to become good citizens. Furthermore, it's not like this is going to apply to everyone. This law would apply to this inocent children that have been here for most of their lives, often times, and that have earned their way to college. Please lets get educated about the subject, instead of making assumptions!!!
February 13, 2009
1:16 p.m.
Suggest removal
Knowledge_is_Power writes:
We are not helping the economic health of our state, or any Coloradan, by keeping college inaccessible to students who have lived in Colorado for most of their lives. Education helps end the cycles of poverty which helps our state become a better place for everyone. This bill does a great job of that if passed.
Many of my friends cannot go to college because it is too expensive. My question is, should these students really be punished for something they cannot control? I know many students in my community who would benefit positively with this bill. Federal law says that we must educate all children in our state from kindergarten to high school. We invest in the kids who would benefit from this kind of legislation and then allow talented students to become invisible. We need to be able to capitalize on our investments! This bill will pass! I'm sure of it.