The following is an excerpt from the State House News Service:
STATE CAPITOL BRIEFS – LUNCH EDITION – WEDNESDAY, DEC. 1, 2010
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE
PATRICK LOBBIES BROWN, KERRY ON DREAM ACT
Gov. Deval Patrick, a supporter of in-state higher education tuition rates for eligible undocumented immigrants, has asked Sens. Scott Brown and John Kerry to support the DREAM Act, saying in a letter that he anticipated Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to bring it up for a vote this week. In a Nov. 24 letter to Brown and Kerry, Patrick said the act would establish a pathway for immigrant students to attain permanent residency if they came to the United States as children, are long-term residents, have good moral character, and attend an institution of higher learning or serve in the military for at least two years. "We have always been and will continue to be a nation that depends and thrives on the contributions of immigrants and refugees," Patrick wrote. "Our nation and our economy have been at their best when we have welcomed the ideas, work and commitment of our immigrants." Patrick said the DREAM Act would also authorize states to determine for themselves "whether educational benefits would be made available equally to all of the state's residents." Patrick wrote, "I believe that all immigrant young men and woman, who attend our high schools, earn their way into college, and commit to addressing their immigration status, should be afforded the same access to higher education as any other resident." On Nov. 16, Patrick told an audience gathered by the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition at Boston's Tremont Temple that he would implement all 131 recommendations in a year-old administration report on issues facing immigrants. The report includes controversial plans to provide in-state tuition rates and driver's licenses to illegal immigrants. House Minority Leader Brad Jones said in-state tuition plans had failed before and would again, calling it a "ridiculous idea" and "a slap in the face to all Massachusetts taxpayers who expect state government to be focusing on stimulating the economy and putting people back to work."
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State House News Service - State Capitol Briefs
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