Illegal immigrant tuition referendum certified for 2012 ballot

Baltimore Sun ^ | Jul 22, 2011‎ | Julie Bykowicz

[moonshinner_09]

The State Board of Elections notified petitioners Friday that they have succeeded in their effort to have Maryland voters weigh in on a new law enabling illegal immigrants to pay in-state tuition at public colleges and universities.

But advocates of the tuition bill have until Aug. 1 to file a lawsuit challenging the referendum.

Elections officials have been counting and validated signatures over the past few weeks. In all, the board accepted 108,923 signatures, nearly double the approximately 55,000 needed to secure the referendum a spot on the November 2012 ballot.

"Today the voters of Maryland have achieved a huge victory," Del. Neil Parrott said in a statement. The Washington County Republican led the petition effort.

"When we started this petition drive, we knew that Maryland voters wanted more financial responsibility in Annapolis and wanted the enforcement of our immigration laws, not ways to skirt around the law. Today marks the beginning of the end for an illegal alien benefits bill that simply does not make sense."

Kim Propeack of immigrant advocacy group Casa de Maryland said Casa and other groups are considering a lawsuit.

"We don't agree with the State Board of Elections on a lot of their decisions," she said.

Specifically, Casa and the Maryland chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union believe it is illegal for petitioners to have used a website that links with the state voter registration database to fill in names — citing the potential for fraud.

[moonshinner_09]

From January 3, 2011..... Maryland's lawmakers face a $1.6 billion deficit challenge when they return to Annapolis. As tricky as that might be, other states are in far more of a quagmire -- and are contemplating extreme decisions that would make many Marylanders queasy.

This weekend, we wrote about some of the budget-nipping options that Democratic Gov. Martin O'Malley is pondering as he puts together the fiscal 2012 budget, which lawmakers will then adjust in the three-month legislative session that begins next week. The possibilities in Maryland:

* A 5 percent across-the-board cut to K-12 education. * Increased hospital fees to support Medicaid. * State worker buyouts and layoffs to decrease state work force by at least 1,500. * Folding state agencies, including the Maryland Higher Education Commission. * Rethinking state worker pensions and health benefits. * Offloading 40 percent of teacher pensions to Baltimore City and counties.

http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/news/local/politics/2011/01/maryland_budget_illinois_calif.html

[TribalPrincess2U]

Uh, how do they intend to pay?

[Sister_T]

Specifically, Casa and the Maryland chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union believe it is illegal for petitioners to have used a website that links with the state voter registration database to fill in names — citing the potential for fraud.

Since when have liberals cared about voter fraud? Oh, that's right. When something doesn't work on THEIR behalf! Oh, silly me!

[srajan]

Totally agree, the left loves the law only when it suits their purpose. Otherwise they use the courts. Apparently, the will of the voters is never a roadblock for the left to achieve their objectives.

[musicman]

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[sten]

As a legal citizen of the United States that paid out-of-state tuition rates ... along with my own taxes... all I can say is...

WTF !!

I paid a ton back then, and now I’ll have to pay more... for those that pay nothing?!

HELL NO

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

So nice of these people to be suddenly concerned about petitio fraud.

Would ACLU consider suing to overturn a petition to overturn a law cracking down on illegals due to fraud potential? Would CASA?

Maryland “Freak State” PING!

[bgill]

In 2001, Texas, under Gov. Goodhair Perry, signed into law that illegals were allowed to pay in-state tuition. It’s cost Texas taxpayers’ $18 million in 2003 and two years later it doubled to $35 million. Who knows how much it is today. My kid had a randomly assigned dorm roommate who was one of these in-state tuition illegals who had a boatload of minority scholarships so had a free ride. You do NOT want to get me started on this topic.

[HiJinx]

Ping!

[cripplecreek]

Vicente Fox thanks governor goodhair for letting “migrants” use texas schools.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sWLrI7RQetQ