Five Baltimore County Council members released a letter this afternoon asking county voters to sign a petition opposing a bill that would grant in-state tuition to illegal immigrants.
But two others, Democratic Councilmen Ken Oliver and Tom Quirk say they will not join with their colleagues
"I don't think that people understand what the law is about," said Oliver, who referred to the children affected by the law as "teens" and "high school graduates."
"These high school graduates have to show that their parents have paid taxes for the last three years," Oliver said. "If they're paying income taxes that means they have a job."
"It doesn't mean the kids are illegal," Oliver said. "The parents might be but if the kids were born here, they're U.S. citizens."
Yesterday, Patch reported that five of the seven council members would sign and publicly release a letter calling on county residents to support the effort to force the so-called Maryland Dream Act to referendum on the 2012 ballot. The law allows illegal immigrants to pay in-state tuition rates at community colleges and the University of Maryland.
Quirk, a freshman councilman from Catonsville, said the issue is "a federal issue and somewhat of a state issue."
"I think we should stay out of it," said Quirk. "I don't want the federal or state government stepping into our issues."
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If the kids were born here and are "legal" citizens, this law does not apply or benefit them. Oliver is quoted: "I don't think that people understand what the law is about," said Oliver, ............"It doesn't mean the kids are illegal," Oliver said. "The parents might be but if the kids were born here, they're U.S. citizens."
Moreover, not only does the bill not require them to be taxpayers, but even if they've never file a return before, they can file 3 years worth of back returns in order to qualify for the tax funded tuition. What an outrage! It is the stance that these two councilmen and Executive Kamenetz are taking that "we shouldn't get involved", that allows the runaway legislature we have in Annapolis to think it is Christmas in Annapolis every day and dole out taxpayer money like it's 2012! The county leadership from these three is underwhelming!
What is more compelling is that they can continue onto a four year school still on the dole. Another interesting thing is you don't hear much about the graduation rates. We are facing a double dip recession as the recent news of plunging market numbers and a housing market already on life support the days of "Wine and Roses," are over. The argument to the immigration supporters is that they contribute to the economy, but if you correlate the numbers with economy, let the figures do the talking. As for Mr. Quirk, it appears he doesn't want the feds to get involved with his district but it's OK if Oliver and Oleszewski overturn his deep sixing the PUD. That's the one nobody wants except Kamenetz and Joblon, and did I mention Teddy? In politics cutting ties with developers is like letting go of of your wallet.
What YOU don't seem to understand, is the definition of 'Illegal Immigrant'. Specifically, the illegal part. This state and country has already done more then enough to subsidize the world around it. It's time to start taking care of our OWN kids. Take Baltimore County's portion of the bill (financial) and how about you pick 2 or 3 schools to put AC into? What a concept. Holy mackerel...
I do agree that elected officials should represent their constituents. Many running for office will promote the belief that if they are elected the world will miraculously change for the people who voted for them. I need not mention names of any presidents who may have used such inaccuracies to move into the White House. My problem is when any political official uses statements to appease the "Give me a grand life, cradle to grave, but don't expect me to be responsible for any part of it" in an effort to gather a voting base. What happened to the county of our ancestors who came here for a better life and worked to achieve it? Many people reading my words will have no idea what I am talking about. .
People accumulate lots of friends if they live long enough and the best part is they don't expect anything because they are all responsible people!
Uncontrolled immigration threatens the culture, language, security, and economy of this nation. For those who choose to bury their heads in the sand, when you decide to come up for air, the American you knew will be gone. Mexico is in shambles because of the drug cartel wars, the corruption, poverty just to mention a few of the issues. California which has the largest influx of illegals is a disaster. High unemployment, crime, debt, along with ranking 49 in the country regarding education. Riding through sections of LA and LA County is like riding through a war zone. The only thing holding it together is the graffiti.
http://www.alec.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Report_Card_on_American_Education Have you ever even been to LA??
California is ranked right in the middle of the pack as far as education goes. Have you ever even been to LA?? I'm sitting in the Hollywood Hills just below Mulholland Drive in Los Angeles right now Robert Armstrong. What do you want to know about Los Angeles. I'm assuming your not from here, even though you do have the telltale indignation in your posts towards people not as enlightened, or perhaps as latino as you. Are you here? Do you want to talk about the 50-65% drop out rate for L.A. High Schools. That's an expensive bill for 4 years of babysitting. Many of those schools are 50-95% latino, and provide "free" meals to a majority of students. Lets talk about all the English Language Learners. Isn't that a lovely term for a student who can't speak english and is probably an illegal alien. Do you want to talk about all the new schools in all the latino neighborhoods, that will be paid for mostly by citizens in non latino majority - there are a few left in L.A. County - neighborhoods. Lets play the race card, and talk about all the African American students who are harassed on campus by the latino students. Yes, it goes both ways, but in L.A. the African A. students get the worst of it. If everyone in Maryland spent one week in Los Angeles, every illegal alien in Md. would be packing their bags before they were run out, and Victor "I want to be the most powerful Latino in Maryland" Ramirez would be unemployed.
I'm Latino ???? Man, I sure hope my father doesn't find out.
The data caught educators by surprise after they were quietly posted on the state Department of Education website. Separately, new research released this week indicated that only 48% of students in the Los Angeles Unified School District graduate on time. The Los Angeles Unified School District officially declared a 64% graduation rate in 2005-06, the most recent year for which a rate is available. District leaders have long disputed studies that have shown the rate to be under 50%. But district officials did not reject the findings of the latest study, released Thursday by the California Dropout Research Project at UC Santa Barbara. Perhaps the most in-depth study ever done of Los Angeles dropouts, it examined individual student transcripts for the class that began ninth grade in September 2001 and should have graduated in June 2005. http://articles.latimes.com/2008/jun/21/local/me-grads21 I'm late for work. You ain't seen nothin yet.
Some of his comments have been deleted by Patch for violating terms of use. Anyone who claims to serve their country in the militarily and fails to provide any evidence has no creditability and is a coward. He is immature, condescending and cannot comprehend facts very well. I will not respond to his childish gibberish after he failed to provide evidence of his military service. As I said this person is a coward.
Are you a Veteran? How did you dodge Viet Nam? Inquiring minds want to know.
In your own words which are blatantly false, on May 25 at 12:01 you made the following comments: http://essex.patch.com/users/robert-armstrong/comments?page=6 Only a coward would lie about something like this. You have never performed any public service. Why don't you enlighten us about your service in Desert Storm and Grenada based on your claim? According to Google you are non existent. Military.com shows nothing regarding your name. And you wonder why I am against illegal immigration. It is sad when the only way for someone like you to get attention is to lie. I have said enough on this matter. Case closed!