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*** UPDATE 1 *** The House just passed a bill with 66 votes that allows counties to opt out of the ICE program. Rep. Randy Ramey, Jr., who has been a major backer of proposals to get tough on illegal immigration, is, surprisingly enough, a co-sponsor of the bill and spoke in favor of it during debate. Two counties want to opt out after having opted in, and one of those is in his district. The bill also does this…
…provides that as a condition for its continued participation in the “Secure Communities” program, the State of Illinois shall modify its Memorandum of Agreement with ICE to provide that, in line with ICE’s Congressional authorization of identifying “aliens convicted of a crime, sentenced to imprisonment, and who may be deportable,” Public Law 110-161, 121 Stat. 1844, 2365 (2007), no Illinois arrest record information regarding any individual may be analyzed by ICE through the “Secure Communities” program unless such individual has been convicted of a criminal offense.
*** UPDATE 2 *** The Department of Homeland Security says no to Gov. Quinn…
DHS officials confirmed to The Huffington Post that they will still require the state to share fingerprints with immigration enforcement — even though Quinn said he wants to terminate a memorandum of understanding with the agency to share the data.
In making this decision, DHS is flouting the state’s decision to withdraw from the program in favor of more universal immigration enforcement and likely setting the stage for a lawsuit.
*** UPDATE 3 *** Sen. Althoff has now responded to criticism of her vote in favor of the bill…
Recently, the Illinois Senate approved legislation (Senate Bill 2185) aimed at allowing student immigrants who have a valid taxpayer ID to invest in their college education – this legislation has been the subject of much misinformation on the Internet and in the media.
The bill requires the Illinois Student Assistance Commission to create an Illinois DREAM Fund that will provide scholarships funded entirely from private contributions – no Illinois tax dollars will be directed toward these scholarships. In addition, to be eligible for the program, a student must be a resident of the State of Illinois.
Contrary to some of the misinformation being spread by opponents of the measure, it is not an immigration bill – in no way, shape or form does it grant undocumented immigrants citizenship. Also, contrary to what’s been previously reported, the legislation does not permit driving certificates for undocumented immigrants.
*** UPDATE 4 *** This is what you call doubling down. From the Palatine Tea Party…
Shameful Illinois Republican State Senators
(Palatine, Illinois) - It is a sad day in Illinois when 11 Senate Republicans seek the cover of the leftist media over their ill-advised vote. The Illinois Tea Party outrage at the passage of the Illinois Dream Act through the Illinois Senate has now made the Huffington Post.
These 11 Senators spend tax dollars like drunken sailors on shore leave, and once caught try to spin their way out of a problem they created. The Tea Party and its allies in the Illinois know that Illinois is in a financial crisis of epic proportion.
Once again the Illinois dream act is another spending bill that could adversely affect Illinois citizens. It has and will be the job of Tea Parties throughout the state to hold our elected officials accountable. The actions of these 11 Senators will not soon be forgotten. Many of these 11 call themselves conservatives, yet there is nothing conservative about the Illinois Dream Act.
This is a failure to the citizens of Illinois and these shameful Senators need to be held accountable for their actions. Please keep calling these numbers and keep expressing your contempt at this ill-advised vote.
Republicans that voted YES are: Althoff, Bomke, Brady, Dillard, Duffy, Tom Johnson, Murphy, Radogno, Sandack, Schmidt, Syverson.
Notice how they don’t explain how and why this is allegedly “another spending bill that could adversely affect Illinois citizens.”
* The Palatine Tea Party issued an outraged press release yesterday blasting the Senate Republicans who voted for the Illinois DREAM Act…
An Open Letter to Illinois Republican Senators
The Illinois Republican Senators who voted ‘YES’ to Dream Act SB 2185 are part of the problem in Illinois. Instead of focusing on issues like jobs, taxes and our economy they are more interested in getting votes. It is clear our current elected officials are much more concerned with their reelection than what matters for the citizens of Illinois.
We will Never forget your VOTE!
Republicans that voted YES are: Althoff, Bomke, Brady, Dillard, Duffy, Tom Johnson, Murphy, Radogno, Sandack, Schmidt, Syverson. If you are outraged with their votes, contact them directly
* The Daily Herald points out the big difference between the state bill and the federal bill…
Note, there is a difference between the state version of the DREAM Act and the federal version, which failed during Congress’ lame-duck session late last fall. The state version, unlike the federal version, does not provide a direct path to citizenship. And some of the Republicans state Senators who voted for it feel like they’re being unnecessarily hammered at.
* There are other differences as well. And Sen. Ron Sandack (R-Downers Grove) is one of those who feel like they’re being whacked for no good reason. From a press release…
“It is important to clarify that this bill is not an immigration bill. It does not grant any sort of legal citizenship status,” Sandack clarified.
Senate Bill 2185 requires the Illinois Student Assistance Commission to create an Illinois DREAM Fund that will provide scholarships funded entirely from private contributions. A potential recipient must meet residency and educational requirements in order to receive the assistance.
“This legislation specifies that the recipient of educational assistance through the Illinois DREAM Fund have at least one parent who immigrated to the country. This bill is in no way affiliated with the Federal DREAM Act.”
The legislation also provides for educational training for school counselors regarding higher education opportunities for undocumented immigrants, as well as specifying that college savings programs must be made available to those with a valid social security number or taxpayer identification number.
It really isn’t a gigantic bill. That was a huge overreaction by that tea party. The bill is here. It passed the Senate 45-11.
* Meanwhile, you’ve probably already read about this already. I didn’t put it on the blog yesterday because I got busy with other stuff…
Illinois this week became the first state in the country to officially pull out of a program known as Secure Communities, saying it will no longer provide information the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency about illegal immigrants who’ve been arrested.
Governor Pat Quinn’s office cited the deportation of illegal immigrants who were charged with only minor crimes or no crimes at all as a top concern. Quinn spokesperson Brie Callahan says ICE did not follow protocol in the deportations, often removing people from the U.S. before they’d been convicted of any crime.
* From a press release…
Yesterday, Illinois Governor Pat Quinn sent a letter to Immigration and Customs Enforcement notifying the agency that because of its indiscriminate use of the “Secure Communities” deportation program, the State is ending its participation in the program. The letter states “that the implementation of the Secure Communities program in Illinois is contrary to the stated purpose of the MOA… By ICE’s own measure, less than 20% of those who have been deported from Illinois under the program have ever been convicted of a serious crime.” The Governor’s letter concludes, “With this termination, no new counties in Illinois can be activated and those counties that were previously activated… must be deactivated and removed from the Secure Communities program.” […]
The Governor’s letter comes in the wake of mounting criticism of the “Secure Communities” program for what U.S. Rep. Zoe Lofgren of California describes as outright deception in its implementation and for the widely reported use of the program to deport people still presumed to be innocent despite the program’s mission of focusing on “convicted dangerous criminals.”
The Illinois legislature is scheduled to weigh in on the program with a pending vote on the Smart Enforcement Act, which would regulate and require reporting on the program.
* Tribune…
Nearly a third of all illegal immigrants deported out of Illinois under the program have never been convicted of any crime, the letter stated, citing federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement figures. Quinn’s office suspended the state’s role in the program in November amid concerns about its effectiveness.
“During the suspension, we voiced our concerns to ICE and asked them to prove that Secure Communities can and will be implemented as agreed to,” the governor’s office said in a statement. “After review, we were not satisfied and determined that ICE’s ongoing implementation of Secure Communities is flawed.” […]
“Illinois is without competition the most pro-illegal immigration state in the country, even before this,” said Roy Beck, executive director of the Virginia-based NumbersUSA organization.
* But does Quinn’s action really mean all that much? Unsure, says the AP…
However, it wasn’t immediately clear if Quinn’s move would completely end Illinois’ connection to the federal program.
For one, fingerprints of suspects collected by local law enforcement have always been sent to the FBI for checks against criminal history and fingerprint databases, and nothing in Illinois’ notice can stop the FBI from sharing information.
Also, while Illinois’ 26 participating counties rely on state police for the program to work, they could come up with their own systems or work with ICE independently. The letter to ICE said that no new Illinois counties would enroll in the program.
* Background from the NY Times…
Statistics from the immigration agency showed that nearly one-third of immigrants deported from Illinois under the program had no criminal convictions. It is a civil violation for an immigrant to be in the United States illegally; it is not a crime. [Emphasis added.]
* Related…
* Hispanic Caucus calls on Obama to freeze controversial immigration enforcement program
* Illinois Terminates Secure Communities, Advances DREAM Act
* Illinois backs out of controversial program intended to deport dangerous immigrants
* Illinois Drops Secure Communities as Fierce Opposition Mounts in Massachussetts, Other States
* Illinois Senate Passes their own version of The Dream Act..On to the House Now
* Illinois Senate passes state DREAM Act
* Illinois Senate passes dream act
* Illinois Senate passes DREAM Act - Bill headed for a state House vote
* The fight for the DREAM Act: faltered but not fallen: So far, 10 other states have passed versions of the DREAM Act, extending in-state tuition to undocumented students, including California, Illinois, Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico, New York, Texas, Utah, Washington and Wisconsin.
posted by Rich Miller
Friday, May 6, 11 @ 9:58 am
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“That was a huge overreaction by that tea party.” Wow, that doesn’t sound like the Tea Party I know.
Comment by paddyrollingstone Friday, May 6, 11 @ 10:01 am
2012 version Webster Unabridged Dictionary “overeaction;see also “Tea Party”
Comment by railrat Friday, May 6, 11 @ 10:13 am
Another way for the NY Times to phrase it would be “over two-thirds have criminal convictions.”
Also, it is a federal crime to re-enter the USA after P
having been previously deported.
Might Illinois cooperate in cases where there is a criminal conviction and/or illegal re-entry? Prioritization might be more effective than full withdrawal.
Comment by Edison Parker Friday, May 6, 11 @ 10:14 am
Sounds like Dillard and several others in the Senate have too much time on their hands. With the large number of other major issues that the state senate needs to address and the fact that Illinois and it’s taxpayers are already floundering financially, why in the heck would guys like Brady and Dillard even consider this Illinois Dream Act? Perhaps they felt that is far easier to “go along to get along” (which is what got us into the financial mess that Illinois is currently in). Thank goodness we have still have “real” Republican members in the Illinois State Senate like senators Lauzin and Rezin who have the guts to say “No” to spending taxpayer money.
Comment by Sugar Beet Friday, May 6, 11 @ 10:19 am
“Governor Pat Quinn’s office cited the deportation of illegal immigrants who were charged with only minor crimes or no crimes at all as a top concern. Quinn spokesperson Brie Callahan says ICE did not follow protocol in the deportations, often removing people from the U.S. before they’d been convicted of any crime.”
I am really confused by this. I am not big pro- or anti-immigration, really kind of neutral on the issue. But if an illegal alien gets picked up whether for “…only minor crimes or no crimes” as the press release puts it, then why would they not be subject to deportation? They broke a federal crime already by being in the US. What am I missing here?
Comment by Anonymous Friday, May 6, 11 @ 10:21 am
Why is the Tea Party targeting Republicans? Don’t they always say they’re not aligned with any party, lol.
Quinn’s move is interesting as it puts him at odds with the Obama administration, which is setting records for deporting illegal immigrants.
http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Justice/2010/0812/Obama-as-border-cop-He-s-deported-record-numbers-of-illegal-immigrants
Comment by wordslinger Friday, May 6, 11 @ 10:23 am
The Tea Party overreacting to something that they know little to nothing about?
*drops monocle*
My God…
Comment by TJ Friday, May 6, 11 @ 10:30 am
Is it a crime to use a false aSocial Security number? Is it a crime to drive without a DL? Is it a crime to drive without insurance? is it a crime to work for cash payment and not pay any income tax? I wonder how Quinn feels about these crimes. Everyone knows lying doesn’t bother him tho.
Comment by Fed up Friday, May 6, 11 @ 10:31 am
So, I never thought I’d see the day when the Democratic Governor of Illinois and head of the DGA would become a supporter of state nullification.
/ducks
Comment by John Bambenek Friday, May 6, 11 @ 10:32 am
I wonder if the Feds will sue illinois claiming immigration is a federal issue and the states need to quit implementing their own policies
Comment by Fed up Friday, May 6, 11 @ 10:33 am
John, this isn’t nullification. C’mon. You know better than that.
Comment by Rich Miller Friday, May 6, 11 @ 10:35 am
“It is a civil violation for an immigrant to be in the United States illegally; it is not a crime.”
In other words, illegal immigration, in and of itself (apart from any other offenses) is NOT an offense for which someone can be imprisoned or subjected to a trial before a judge or jury. It is also NOT an offense that would appear on someone’s criminal record.
Comment by Secret Square Friday, May 6, 11 @ 10:58 am
Rich-
I know. That was tongue in cheek.
Comment by John Bambenek Friday, May 6, 11 @ 10:58 am
The Tea Party leaders in Illinois, urged on by national groups, are becoming increasingly hostile to “Establishment” Republicans as a prelude to trying to supplant them within the GOP. There always has been a deep strain of deception in their claims of “independent” orientation. It is becoming a political power play, pure and simple.
Comment by 42nd Ward Friday, May 6, 11 @ 11:08 am
Ummm Sugar, IL DREAM isn’t funded by taxpayers. See “private contributions”.
“We will Never forget your vote!”
Hmmm…I suspect they will. The Tea Party in Palatine, where they ate their own State Representative (she became afraid of her shadow for fear of offending them), is really doing a good job of making anyone who is a fence-sitter come out against them. Go ahead, I dare you, make me lean left!
Comment by Mongo Friday, May 6, 11 @ 11:12 am
I haven’t seen this anywhere else, but HuffPo says DHS won’t let Illinois back out of Secure Communities. It wouldn’t surprise me. http://huff.to/m0zWAD
Comment by Dan Friday, May 6, 11 @ 11:54 am
I know that some, no all, of the tea partiers in this state are kinda nutty.
But to the bill, it’s an absolute fact is it not that the IL DREAM act involves state expenditures on behalf of certain benifits for illegal immigrants?
And if it doesn’t, then why was the law needed in the first place?
Taxing people to fund benefits given to illegal immigrants is a very legitimate issue for the tea parties or anyone else.
Comment by just sayin' Friday, May 6, 11 @ 12:05 pm
Sorry, I meant NOT all are nutty. Only some.
Comment by just sayin' Friday, May 6, 11 @ 12:06 pm
You don’t have to be a member of the Tea Party to stand in opposition of illegal immigration. The Dream Act simply provides another incentive for people to come into our country illegally. Reagan did amnesty, which was supposed to address the problem. Well, we’ve all seen how that worked.
Comment by Aldyth Friday, May 6, 11 @ 12:10 pm
–Reagan did amnesty, which was supposed to address the problem. Well, we’ve all seen how that worked.–
It worked just as Reagan, Simpson and Mazzoli intended. It gave the protection of law to about 3 million people who were living and working here. It was an act of great justice and compassion.
For those who like to constantly invoke Reagan on everything, they should read his words on the subject. Here’s a little taste, but you can find more with the google.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=128303672
Comment by wordslinger Friday, May 6, 11 @ 12:25 pm
===why in the heck would guys like Brady and Dillard even consider this Illinois Dream Act?===
Um, it might be because they’d like to be elected Governor someday? Have you seen any recent census data? It’s simple math.
But by all means, please keep alienating the fastest growing segment of the population in Illinois.
Comment by 47th Ward Friday, May 6, 11 @ 12:58 pm
Why was SB2185 not posted on line? Why was it rushed out of committee to the floor? Did they think the TEA Party wouldn’t notice? We did and they will pay for their votes. This vote explains why Bill Brady isn’t the governor. He would rather pander to ILLEGALS that fix Illinois.
Comment by Diane Benjamin Friday, May 6, 11 @ 1:00 pm
===why in the heck would guys like Brady and Dillard even consider this Illinois Dream Act?===
Brady supported a bill not long ago that granted in-state college tuition to the children of undocumented immigrants.
Not everybody has to think like you do to be a “real Republican.”
Comment by Rich Miller Friday, May 6, 11 @ 1:01 pm
===Why was SB2185 not posted on line? Why was it rushed out of committee to the floor===
It was posted online. And there was a day between the unanimous committee vote and the floor vote.
Perhaps you should think twice about commenting here again.
Comment by Rich Miller Friday, May 6, 11 @ 1:04 pm
Ah, the tea partiers have arrived. Many of you don’t know this because I’m deleting many of their comments as fast as they can spew them.
Suffice it to say that they are not following the rules about excessively rabid comments, etc.
Comment by Rich Miller Friday, May 6, 11 @ 1:10 pm
Rich -
Did the posted bill have the EXACT language in it or was it a ’shell’ bill?
Comment by PrairiePatriot Friday, May 6, 11 @ 1:16 pm
Gee Rich - citizens who actually care about their state being sucked down. Sorry we bothered you!
Comment by Diane Benjamin Friday, May 6, 11 @ 1:19 pm
People, the amendment was posted. It’s not my problem if you can’t figure out how to use the GA system. It’s pretty easy.
And Diane, you did bother me because you’re excessively rabid. Go away.
Comment by Rich Miller Friday, May 6, 11 @ 1:26 pm
Rich -
If I’m reading your response correctly then the posted bill was indeed a ’shell’ and the amendment was posted separately. Do I have the wrong impression?
Comment by PrairiePatriot Friday, May 6, 11 @ 1:29 pm
It’s on the same freaking page, man.
Comment by Rich Miller Friday, May 6, 11 @ 1:29 pm
That is not the answer to my question. Were they separate postings on the same page?
Comment by PrairiePatriot Friday, May 6, 11 @ 1:32 pm
Dude, you make no sense whatsoever. An amendment is an amendment, whether it’s to a shell bill or a substantive bill or an appropriations bill or a resolution or…
Come to your point.
Comment by Rich Miller Friday, May 6, 11 @ 1:33 pm
I don’t understand why you won’t answer just a ‘yes’ or ‘no’. However, my point is that while the bill was posted, if it was as a shell without the exact language then it strikes me as being rather disingenuous to slam the person who asked why it wasn’t posted.
Comment by PrairiePatriot Friday, May 6, 11 @ 1:36 pm
=== if it was as a shell without the exact language then it strikes me as being rather disingenuous to slam the person who asked why it wasn’t posted.===
Are you truly that daft? The amendment had the language. The amendment was posted. That’s the same for all bills.
Comment by Rich Miller Friday, May 6, 11 @ 1:40 pm
What in Tea Party “Doctrine” (have fun defining that) is anti-immigration? Aren’t you people supposed to be Free Market people.
Your kind sure does throw the ’socialist’ bomb out a lot. But to be supporting Anti-Immigration laws aren’t you supporting, “a form of socialist central planning and economic intervention. What do we know, from both theory and experience, about socialist central planning and economic interventionism? We know that they don’t work, that they’re inherently incapable of working, and that they inevitably produce market distortions and perversions.”
Your peoples’ words, not mine. Read up on your beliefs before spewing on the internet. And dare I suggest your outrage may have something to do with skin colo…nah couldn’t be.
source: http://www.fff.org/comment/com1005c.asp
Comment by Jimmy CrackCorn Friday, May 6, 11 @ 1:41 pm
The Tea Party is effective when it sticks to its supposed founding principles of less government and more liberty. As soon as they stray, they look a modern version of the Know-Nothings. That is unfortunate, because the original message is not a bad one.
Worse, some would-be politicos get delusions of grandeur and simply cannot resist jumping into every issue speaking for some monolithic “Tea Party,” (which is silly, as the Tea Party is about as decentralized, diverse, and amorphous a political movement as you will ever see.)
These patterns will ruin the movement in time.
Comment by Bubs Friday, May 6, 11 @ 1:44 pm
Ok - I’ll stop as it’s apparent you’re not going to answer the root question as to whether or not the BILL that was posted was nothing more than a shell. And since you haven’t brought it out one can only presume that the shell and the amendment were posted at different times. Therefore someone could have looked and seen only the shell before the amendment was put up.
It’s good to see where you’re at and no, I’m not being insulting, just that it’s my first time here and I must have been daft to even take a look.
Comment by PrairiePatriot Friday, May 6, 11 @ 1:45 pm
===you’re not going to answer the root question as to whether or not the BILL that was posted was nothing more than a shell. ===
Dude, that doesn’t matter. What does matter is that the amendment’s language was available. It was. Perhaps you should comment at a site more amenable to amateurs without basic computer skills and government awareness. This ain’t that place.
Comment by Rich Miller Friday, May 6, 11 @ 1:48 pm
–(Pres. Ronald) Reagan “knew that it was not right for people to be abused,” (Sen. Alan) Simpson, )(R-Wyoming) says. “Anybody who’s here illegally is going to be abused in some way, either financially [or] physically. They have no rights.”
Peter Robinson, a former Reagan speechwriter, agrees. “It was in Ronald Reagan’s bones — it was part of his understanding of America — that the country was fundamentally open to those who wanted to join us here.”
Reagan said as much himself in a televised debate with Democratic presidential nominee Walter Mondale in 1984.
“I believe in the idea of amnesty for those who have put down roots and lived here, even though sometime back they may have entered illegally,” he said.–
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=128303672
Comment by wordslinger Friday, May 6, 11 @ 1:54 pm
Ok, so if the scholarships are funded entirely by private donations but administered through ISAC, doesn’t that mean these scholarships are still facilitated through state funds?
Can’t I already create a private scholarship fund without the help of enabling legislation?
Comment by John Bambenek Friday, May 6, 11 @ 2:12 pm
I noticed some excessive USE of CAPITALIZATION by the Tea Party. Maybe some hardworking undocumented high school students might volunteer to teach english to local Tea Party leaders?
Comment by Robert Friday, May 6, 11 @ 2:19 pm
Jimmy CrackCorn-
If you need the government to create a not-for-profit, appoint a board and spend money to facilitate a program, that’s pretty much the exact opposite of the free market.
But do try again.
Comment by John Bambenek Friday, May 6, 11 @ 2:25 pm
Robert-
If you’re going to bag on people about grammar, it might behoove you to learn how to use a comma first.
Just sayin’.
Comment by John Bambenek Friday, May 6, 11 @ 2:34 pm
===doesn’t that mean these scholarships are still facilitated through state funds===
John, you understand that undocumented residents pay taxes, right? They’re not entitled to many government programs like grants or student loans, but it’s OK to take their tax money. Is that your argument?
The Illinois Dream Act is mostly symbolic and it doesn’t undermine the (broken) federal system. It simply says these students deserve a chance to go to college in Illinois. Is asking for a small measure of dignity too much for you to bear?
Comment by 47th Ward Friday, May 6, 11 @ 3:39 pm
Rich, I can’t believe you let PrairiePatriot go on as long as he did! Either he is terrible at communicating or was trying to stir the pot with uninformed and irrelevant questions. Speaking of pot, I think he could use some right about now.
Comment by thechampaignlife Friday, May 6, 11 @ 4:01 pm
Maybe it is just me, but I get a bit wary when anyone or any group self-describes or self-christens using the word “patriot”, like so many Tea Party groups now do. That is a moniker to be earned and granted by admiring fellow citizens, not claimed. I wish they would change it.
Comment by Bubs Friday, May 6, 11 @ 4:02 pm
47th Ward-
Maybe. I used to be an asst manager at a restaurant. If you pay someone under the table, they don’t pay taxes. Sometimes they all pay taxes under the same SSN.
But I wasn’t taking a stance, I was saying that the statement “this costs no taxpayer dollars” isn’t apparently precisely accurate. Yes, the dollars going to pay tuition may be paid by private donors, but the administration (and other functions mandated by law) could quite conceivably be paid for by tax dollars. I agree, it’s symbolic, and calling it the “Dream Act” you had to have understood that would be inflammatory.
But to take another direction, no one helped me “deserve a chance to go to college”, no one is going to help my kids. I paid my own way, and the only help my kids can expect will come from me. Why does this class of people deserve a better opportunity than my kids?
I’m not all burned up about it, to be fair. But if you want to set up this scholarship fund, get a bunch of legislators to set up their own not-for-profit and do it themselves. It’s a free country, people set up NFPs for all sorts of reasons (I help schools in Tanzania, for instance). Again, why do we need a law?
Comment by John Bambenek Friday, May 6, 11 @ 4:17 pm
===Rich, I can’t believe you let PrairiePatriot go on as long as he did! ===
I was bored.
Comment by Rich Miller Friday, May 6, 11 @ 4:25 pm
===If you pay someone under the table, they don’t pay taxes. Sometimes they all pay taxes under the same SSN.===
Granted, but they do pay lots of sales taxes and they pay property taxes too, through rent if not home ownership.
===Why does this class of people deserve a better opportunity than my kids?===
They don’t deserve better, and I don’t think they’re getting a better opportunity, just the same opportunity.
Finally, part of this legislation would enable undocumented families to participate in College Illinois. Now why they would want to invest in a failing state-run investment pool is beyond me, but now they have the chance to lose money like the rest of us.
Comment by 47th Ward Friday, May 6, 11 @ 4:30 pm
47th Ward-
Fair point about taxes, they do pay some, some pay the full share…
As far as participating in College Illinois, yeah, ok, if that was it, I doubt there’d be much of an issue (ok, maybe I’m optimistic today). I think the special scholarship fund is the real grinding point.
For me, I’d like to get us past the identity politics point and get us to the point where a person is judged by the content of their character and not the color of their skin.
The remap ridiculousness is a case-in-point. Let’s just be honest and set up a quota system already.
Comment by John Bambenek Friday, May 6, 11 @ 4:41 pm