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Madaleno Says He Will Introduce Maryland Version of DREAM Act

Senator-Elect Ramirez is also interested in this bill to help undocumented students in Maryland.

 

When the Maryland State Assembly comes back into session on Jan. 12, State Senator Richard Madaleno (D-District 18) intends to introduce Maryland's own version of the DREAM Act, modeled on the bill that passed in the Assembly in 2003 but was vetoed by then Gov. Bob Ehrlich (R).

The bill would allow undocumented students to be charged in-state tuition at public institutions of higher education, given they meet certain conditions. In a press release sent by his office in late December, Madaleno said the new bill would be in response to the defeat of a federal law known as the DREAM Act.

The Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act of 2010 was approved by the U.S. House of Representatives on Dec. 8 but voted down in the Senate on Dec. 18. The federal bill had further-reaching goals than the potential Assembly bill, including a path to citizenship for individuals brought to the country illegally before the age of 16, if they served in the military or completed two years of college.  

Ten states currently offer in-state tuition to students with illegal backgrounds, with various provisions. Four states explicitly bar undocumented students from in-state tuition.

"Although states cannot grant U.S. citizenship, they can provide the youngest undocumented residents an opportunity to continue their education beyond high school," Madaleno's statement said.

Madaleno's chief of staff, Adam Fogel, said that the specifics of the new bill would be based on the 2003 bill.

That bill included the following provisions for students to receive in-state tuition:

  • Student attended public or private secondary school in Maryland for at least three years.
  • Student graduated or received the equivalent of a high school diploma in Maryland.
  • Student provides an affidavit to the school stating that they will file an application to become a permanent resident within 30 days after they become eligible to do so.
  • Student applied to public school in Maryland no later than five years after graduating high school.

Madaleno isn't the only local lawmaker interested in passing an in-state tuition law. Senator-Elect Victor Ramirez, (D-Prince George's), announced his wish to introduce a similar law shortly before the new year. Ramirez's version includes the provision that the student's parents be taxpayers.

According to Fogel, the senator has requested a bill be drafted, but a sponsor hasn't been decided on yet. 

"We're also looking forward to working with Sen.-elect Ramirez on this issue," Fogel said in an e-mail.

bobby@gmail.com

3:41 pm on Thursday, January 6, 2011

They are not "undocumented", they're ILLEGAL ALIENS.

If an American mother had smuggled her child across a border, endangering their lives, and then engaged in tax fraud, child services would have been on their doorsteps yesterday!

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Francis

6:11 pm on Thursday, January 6, 2011

Contact the Washington switchboard at 202-224-3121, to be connected with the lawmaker who is supposedly representing your rights. To learn more about the invasion, costs and all the paramount problems associated with this nemesis, Go online to Google or other search application to understand the predicament that faces every taxpaying American. Don't listen to the lies and propaganda from the ACLU (American Communist Lawyers Union), governors, Mayors or elected officers, left wing press Religious zealots, corporate entities or any radical group. Many of these people are suffocating this country, with this Liberal extremist "Political Correctness" gobbledygooks? Until we put a halt to public entitlement and jobs to foreign nations, the hordes will keep coming. DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH AND THEN JUDGE FOR YOURSELF?

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Francis

6:12 pm on Thursday, January 6, 2011

If you want to save America from the illegal immigration occupation, you have to act now? You, as a citizen taxpayer have got to decide your children's future and your grand children's? If you want to end the silent amnesties, the Dream Acts, the instant citizenship for babies of illegal aliens and the chain migration that ultimately follows, you must show what side of the financial aisle you are on? Everybody who is adamantly opposed to the illegal immigration invasion and the hundreds of billions of dollars that is taken from your payroll check, to support every entitlement program, the free emergency hospital care and the unethical use of your money to school illegal alien children that is overcrowding our schools. Demand from your Senators and Representatives to do the job, they are paid to do? Insist on promoting the interests of every citizen and legal resident in our nation and not the 20 million plus of intruders.

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Taylor Kate Brown

7:29 pm on Thursday, January 6, 2011

Francis - this is Maryland State senate bill, not anything to do with the "Washington switchboard" (indeed that number is for Congress). In addition, both of your comments are copied and pasted from a similar news article from Memphis, TN.

If you spam comment this site again, you will be removed. Thanks.

Jim Dandy

10:30 am on Friday, January 7, 2011

I grew up here, been my home for 50 yrs.
Did anyone subsidize my college education?
I mean,Who cares if we live in a upper middle class
area. Tell ya what? Hows about, you people, just
write me a stimulus reimbursement check, for
all my wasted tax money covering the last ten
yrs or so, that gone towards subsidizing these people. That is, since you Pelosites want the
Citizens of Maryland to fund the social mobility, of illegal aliens ,
and their multitudes of offspring. Wait, here's an
idea, use our... tax money to expedite the construction
of the up county hospital, so as, the actual citizens, don't have to
wait all blood day, to be seen in at Holy cross, Suburban ect.
Due to your compassionate, socialists ways, the third world has
not just been given a slice of the American pie, i.e. sanctuary,
and now, potentially, our tax money as well, to unjustly, achieve the American dream
on the backs of our people - now, these kids are getting
the first and best pieces of that pie, so they can be happy, feel encouraged, and are allowed to
prosper. Oh, babies, Grandma loves you all. What about our kids?
How many slices of that apple pie are left,to be served up for them, now? Not too appetizing
Mr and Mz legislative, baker. I, want my money back. Remember, the customers always
right. At least, that's what " you people" told me.

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Taylor Kate Brown

12:45 pm on Friday, January 7, 2011

Jim - Like many states, Maryland offers in-state tuition to all its residents if they attend public school- indeed many citizens and permanent residents avail themselves to this subsidy every year.

jag

11:33 am on Friday, January 7, 2011

Good grief these comments would make McCarthy, Hitler, et. al. pretty darn happy to see their propaganda lives on. The only reason these "illegals" don't pay their fair share of taxes is because xenophobic, hateful, ignorant people make it illegal for them to do so. Seriously people, wake up. Either let them pay taxes or don't complain when they take more than they give. You can't have it both ways, no matter how superficially you think about the issue.

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jag

12:24 pm on Friday, January 7, 2011

I wasn't even talking to you, obviously, but on a separate note, your implication that taxes are largely affected by the "illegal community" is factually incorrect, as is your claim that taxing undocumented works would yield nothing for state and federal coffers.

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jag

12:41 pm on Friday, January 7, 2011

I can't believe I even bothered arguing on that level. Let's put it in context - 11 million illegal immigrants in the US (shrinking for a few years now since the economy sucks). I assume you're not for spending $trillion+ to deport them all, and I assume you don't want to throw the economy into another depression (illegal immigrants account for about 5% of the US economy, meaning worker productivity, consumption, etc. so it is not an exaggeration to say throwing 5% of the GDP away would cause a depression, if not be a depression by definition). So, the logical conclusion is to take those 11 million people and tax them. The debate should lie in how much money should be spent on border control to keep other illegals out (again, not an issue now since immigrants have been fleeing the US for years now, but obviously the debate will be important again someday). If you don't agree with everything I just said, I'd be interested in what way.

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Jim Dandy

1:38 pm on Friday, January 7, 2011

Well folks, if you are so married to your liberal ideology,
put your money where your mouth is. Go down to one of
our local Home Depots, find a nice friendly, individual,
and offer assistance to them in the form of reduced room and board. With out
any background checks of course. Let them party, invite
relatives to visit, fatten up on your dime, drive your nice.... shiny, new SUV, ect.
That, would be the true expression of uber-liberal, humanitarianism
at work. You know, share and share alike, what's mine is yours,that sort of thing? Get back
to us, and let us know how that works out for ya. Until you try,
this, i suggest you dispense with the 'xenophobe' rhetorical schtick.
I ain't buyin that, either you see, as i wasn't born yesterday, and did
not just fall off the turnip truck, either. Finders keepers, whats
mine is mine, nanny nanny, boo boo!

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Taylor Kate Brown

2:00 pm on Friday, January 7, 2011

Jim, jag, Patrice - I appreciate you debating this issue, but let's keep it civil okay? Obviously each of you has strong opinions on this possible law - and I'd encourage you to send your thoughts to Sen. Madaleno's office.

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Jim Dandy

2:04 pm on Friday, January 7, 2011

By the by, Miss Brown.
You, personally, may not have a problem with your tax dollars gong to
subsidize anchor babies. However, I do. The debate is, at it's core,
about.... the younger generation, or, whom ever, accepting the concept that
'illegal aliens' deserve to be given these opportunities, and, are
in fact citizens. Our own Governor, the local press, et al, have
now adopted the "Orwellian" practice of New speak, changing illegal immigrant to undocumeted
person as a matter of fact, Ridiculously transparent. Many people older people do
not accept this situation as normal, because we know it
is an issue of right and wrong. And, quite frankly, represents an erroneous changing of the rules. Think not, next time you go down to the MVA, to renew your drivers license, embrace your true feelings, when myself, and a couple of my mates , cut line in front
of YOU , after you've been waiting, patiently all day. Of course, so as not to be considered a hypocrite, you will have to accept my explanation (justification) for my actions, for what its worth,YES?

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Jim Dandy

2:18 pm on Friday, January 7, 2011

What exactly, does being stoic, get you, with
those who's goal is to force themselves and their ideology upon you?

You, sound like you know the fix is in.

No matter, were exercising our freedom of
expression, in any case. Passionate, certainly no
less evolved, than you and your ilk, fancy yourself as being.

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jag

2:27 pm on Friday, January 7, 2011

These comments are hilarious. Oh well, if no one wants to comment on my substance, that's fine. Patrice, I asked what about my logic is flawed if you in fact disagree, but apparently that's "bullying" to outline context using facts and then proceed logically from there. If you don't have anything of substance to respond with, that's fine, but just say so.

Jim, your comments are really weird. I'm not even trying to insult you - I honestly have no idea what you're trying to say. Something about the MVA? Going to the MVA sucks, can we all agree on that?

I'm out. These responses are completely devoid of anything other than regurgitation of talking points used for decades. Peace.

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Jim Dandy

2:31 pm on Friday, January 7, 2011

Jag,
ditto...

Opinions are like you know what.

As is your attitude/ideology/logic/personality

Let your therapist sort that out, as my fingers would
mostly likely go numb with the effort.

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magyart

3:48 pm on Friday, January 7, 2011

At the federal level or the state level, the DREAM act is harmful to taxpayers, legal college students and legal workers. If illegal residents want to attend college, let them pay "out of state" fees.

In 2012, vote against any polititian that supports this.

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