Don't blame me, I voted for Muffy and Charlie. (Quincy: sale, how much)

[lz1982]

Originally Posted by hartford_renter

I AM NOT IN FAVOR AND REPUBLICANS AREN'T EITHER!! But it looks like the Democrats are and you seem to be unable to admit this.

My personal feeling, based on the fact that 70% of Americans support the Arizona law, is that voters of both parties oppose illegal immigration. Democratic politicians, on the other hand, are another story.

But it's true that some Republicans don't want to end illegal immigration either--some are just paying lip service to the idea. Who really benefits from cheap immigrant labor? Big business. Those companies contribute large donations to candidates from both parties. So Republicans protest illegal immigration, without always going after the companies who actually hire illegals, while Democrats pander to illegals to satisfy both their corporate donors and the Hispanic voters they hope to attract.

That said, I voted for Baker, largely because I found Patrick's position on illegal immigration ridiculous and unsustainable. The fact that this is the first act of his new term makes me glad I didn't give him my vote.

[bmak57]

Lets get it straight, this is not free tuition for all illegal immigrants. It's directed to someone that is undocumented that graduated high school (i.e. a child) in the state of Massachusetts; they would be allowed the same in-state college tuition as a US citizen who graduated through the same system. This is addressed towards illegal immigrants that came here as young children and have received all or most of their education in the Massachusetts school system, many of whom have spent all or most of their life here in Mass. Please remember that illegals pay the same taxes as we do for the schools unless they are paid "under the table". I know several legal trade people who generate a good percentage of their income under the table thereby limiting their tax liability yet their kids take advantage of the state and local schools. Now that the facts are straight please continue the discussion.

[hartford_renter]

Originally Posted by bmak57

Lets get it straight, this is not free tuition for all illegal immigrants. It's directed to someone that is undocumented that graduated high school (i.e. a child) in the state of Massachusetts; they would be allowed the same in-state college tuition as a US citizen who graduated through the same system. This is addressed towards illegal immigrants that came here as young children and have received all or most of their education in the Massachusetts school system, many of whom have spent all or most of their life here in Mass. Please remember that illegals pay the same taxes as we do for the schools unless they are paid "under the table". I know several legal trade people who generate a good percentage of their income under the table thereby limiting their tax liability yet their kids take advantage of the state and local schools. Now that the facts are straight please continue the discussion.

Illegals do not pay the same taxes that everyone else pays. By in large they are paid for manual labor under the table. Most are undocumented, so no tax dollars. Also most rent, so again no property tax revenue either.

And it costs around 14K per student per year to educate. All the illegal children end up costing the state millions of dollars.

[CaseyB]

Originally Posted by bmak57

Lets get it straight, this is not free tuition for all illegal immigrants. It's directed to someone that is undocumented that graduated high school (i.e. a child) in the state of Massachusetts; they would be allowed the same in-state college tuition as a US citizen who graduated through the same system. This is addressed towards illegal immigrants that came here as young children and have received all or most of their education in the Massachusetts school system, many of whom have spent all or most of their life here in Mass. Please remember that illegals pay the same taxes as we do for the schools unless they are paid "under the table". I know several legal trade people who generate a good percentage of their income under the table thereby limiting their tax liability yet their kids take advantage of the state and local schools. Now that the facts are straight please continue the discussion.

If the governor is going to propose new legislation to grant in-state tuition rates to illegal immigrants, it will have to be substantially different from the previous proposals which were far broader than what you're describing. Still, several legislators from both parties have indicated that there is no broad support from the legislature to pass such a bill. It's not like we have extra slots available at the state universities and we need to fill them and give them a discount, too.

[Lowerdeck]

Originally Posted by hartford_renter

Also most rent, so again no property tax revenue either.

And it costs around 14K per student per year to educate. All the illegal children end up costing the state millions of dollars.

Rent would go into paying property taxes, no?


And however much it costs to have them educated a year, have them pay that. If it costs 14k to teach a student, then charge them 14k. If the out-of-state rate is higher and they're coming from out-of-state, charge them that rate. If there is proof they are paying some taxes to the state, then drop the rate by the amount in taxes they have actually paid.

[massnative71]

Originally Posted by Lowerdeck

Rent would go into paying property taxes, no?


And however much it costs to have them educated a year, have them pay that. If it costs 14k to teach a student, then charge them 14k. If the out-of-state rate is higher and they're coming from out-of-state, charge them that rate. If there is proof they are paying some taxes to the state, then drop the rate by the amount in taxes they have actually paid.

I could see that if there was an abundance of empty slots at the state colleges. However that is not the case. Every illegal admitted means a legal citizen is denied admission, which is plain wrong.

[Lowerdeck]

^ To be fair, there's a fair number of slots taken which are by people who have little business being in college in the first place. There to party and have the lifestyle, but just marginal academically.

[LeavingMA]

The interesting thing to know is whether these illegals get in because of their minority status. I'm assuming most are hispanic and that they may push others out of school because state schools try to stay diverse.

[seamusnh]

I live in NH and my daughter is looking at Mass College of Art which is part of the MA state college system. Tuition and fees:
In state: $9000 per year
New england: $15,700
Outside new England: $25,400
(Does not include room and board, art supplies, etc.)

So, for the four years, we'll pay $62,800 while the illegal immigrant family in MA will pay $36,000. Those not in New England will pay $101,600. There is a distinct advantage to being illegal in MA....

[bmak57]

Originally Posted by seamusnh

I live in NH and my daughter is looking at Mass College of Art which is part of the MA state college system. Tuition and fees:
In state: $9000 per year
New england: $15,700
Outside new England: $25,400
(Does not include room and board, art supplies, etc.)

So, for the four years, we'll pay $62,800 while the illegal immigrant family in MA will pay $36,000. Those not in New England will pay $101,600. There is a distinct advantage to being illegal in MA....

I think the difference here is that the illegal child that would be attending college has already been in the state school system for some time, and that their family has been paying taxes to the state by both sales tax and property tax (renting counts) and perhaps state income tax as well. Any legal family that lives in the state and pays taxes to the state, even if they have only lived here for a year, gets the reduced admission. I believe the governors thinking is that the policy should be the same for all families in the state, legal or illegal, as long as the child has graduated from the state school system. Since you have not paid taxes to the state your daughter has to pay the higher tuition. However, I believe your daughter would pay a reduced tuition if she attended a NH college, yes?