http://www.onenewsnow.com/Politics/Default.aspx?id=850690An immigration reform organization is pleased that New Jersey lawmakers failed to pass a bill that would have granted in-state tuition benefits for illegal immigrants. (See earlier article)
Monday was the last day the New Jersey legislature could have passed the bill in time for outgoing Democratic Governor Jon Corzine to sign it. Republican Chris Christie takes office January 19, and he has pledged to veto any legislation giving in-state tuition to illegals.
In the final hours of the session, the bill's Senate sponsor removed the legislation from the agenda because it fell about four votes short of the 21 needed for passage.
Ira MehlmanIra Mehlman of the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) says legislators listened to the will of New Jersey's citizens.
"It really was the people of New Jersey who were faced with an $8 billion budget shortfall in their state. People who are taxed to the hilt...said, 'We're simply not going to finance college education for illegal aliens living in our state' -- and it's another example of the arrogance of some of the people in government," Mehlman notes. "They thought that they could just ram this down the throat of citizens of New Jersey. [Citizens] forced the State Senate to back down, and it's a tremendous victory really for the people of New Jersey who stood up to their government."
Even though Christie will soon take office, the sponsor of the bill has vowed to reintroduce it in the new session. Only ten states currently provide in-state tuition benefits to individuals who are in the country illegally.
Topic: NJ rejects in-state tuition for illegals (Read 1053 times)