From the office of Del. Kathy Szeliga:
State Delegate Kathy Szeliga was surprised to learn about the questionable funding priorities for Maryland’s community colleges. “Today in the Appropriations Committee, there was compelling testimony in favor of a brilliant measure that will help foster kids have better access to a college education,” said Szeliga. She continued, “I was surprised to find the Maryland Association of Community Colleges opposing a measure to help foster kids while supporting a measure last week to help illegal aliens get a college education.”
In written testimony to the Ways and Means Committee, the Maryland Association of Community Colleges stated that supporting illegal immigrants’ children would be beneficial because they “were brought here by their parents and had no choice in the matter” and society would have to, “pick up the social costs in less desirable ways such as policing crime.” However, the Maryland Community Colleges said a tuition waiver for foster kids should be rejected because it will “benefit a particular group at no cost to the taxpayer.”
“My constituents and I are strongly opposed to taxpayer funding of educational benefits for those here in our state without legal documentation,” Szeliga contested. “Helping foster kids, our vulnerable population that are truly victims of their parent’s inability to care for them, is a reasonable and a just responsibility.” There are currently less than 100 foster kids enrolled in a tuition exemption program that is under consideration. Delegate CT Wilson from Charles County introduced HB 1208 to enhance an existing program for foster children.
Delegate Wilson grew up in the foster care system and brought strong testimony in favor of this measure. Delegate Kathy Szeliga, a former foster parent, supports this measure and thinks this is one of the better bills of the 2011 session.
“Shame on you, Maryland Association of Community Colleges, for supporting illegal immigrants over Maryland’s foster kids,” said Delegate Kathy Szeliga after the hearings in the Maryland House of Delegates Appropriations Committee ended.
Delegate Szeliga:
Does it really surprise you that such an organization would support this bill? Colleges are typically liberal-minded and liberals tend to ignore certain laws (for example, illegal immigration). But what the MCAA does not know, or knows, but want to ignore it, one has to be here legally to work in this country (at least work legally in this country). Accordingly, earning a degree will do nothing.
Obviously, if the child was born in this country, and living in this state, they should be entitled to the in-county / in-state tuition.
Since children of illegal immigrates are not going to be shipped back after they graduate from high schools, they need training so they can better support the country where they will continue to live.
The solution to the problem is to go after the employers of these childrens’ parents. Why is nothing do to stop illegal immigrates from getting and keeping good jobs for years? The blame is on the state for not going after the root cause of the problem.
Currently, there are 700,000 legal foreign students enrolled in American colleges. There are 130,000 from China and 100,000 from India. Since all colleges receive support from the government, churches, or other organizations, why is this money subsidizing students from foreign countries?
Every time a legal foreign student is enrolled in a college he or she is taking the seat of an American student. This is especially true in graduate schools.
Why is the state permitting seniors to attend free any community college? How is this benefiting society!?
This issue is more complex than the remarks given by Delegate Szeliga!
I would be interested in Delegate Szeliga replying to my questions.
I think Delegate Szelglia makes a valid point. The unfortunate part of this is –this is not being heard on the 5 and 6 pm news. The Foster kids don’t have a large org like CASA to get them to connect and picket,so most MD taxpayers unless they are familiar with the Foster Care program, are completely unaware of this issue. Post #1 hits the nail on the head-it is liberal politics.
As far as seniors attending community colleges for no cost. I suspect the seniors who take advantage of this are primarily enrolling in continuing ed type classes. For example: photography, flower arranging etc. I suspect most are not taking Psych 101 and taking a seat from a 18-21 year olds!
And personally I think it is a great idea to keep our seniors engaged in education and the campuses. It is a win win for them and for the youth to learn from this generation.
The scariest part of all this proposed MD legislation is that while we are considering this huge expense and imposition on our own MD residents; there are other States (So Carolina and Utah) currently putting in legislation AGAINST illegals attending colleges for in state tuition and making it harder for illegals to get rights in their respective states. Once MD passes our proposed legislation for in state illegal ed benefits, many of those out of state with younger students may move here in order to graduate from a MD High School just to qualify for the in state tuition. So MD will become even more of a sanctuary state for illegals. Maryland is just not thinking ahead enough–this is scary. What else is Annapolis NOT thinking ahead about??
Reading folks; let’s try it.
Issue #1: Illegal immigrants are getting in-state tuition.
Issue #2: Foster children getting a tuition waiver.
These are two separate issues despite the tone of Delegate Szeliga. Both initiatives are liberal by intent if we are going to classify it that way.
For the record, at a surface level (since there is no detail on either proposal contained herein – and I’m too lazy to look up the in-state tuition right now) I can’t say I support either. I would support initiatives to make it easier for foster and adoption services to place children in homes where they can receive the long term benefits from a structured environment. That seems like a better use of state funding and support.
Hang on all you readers. Soon everything will be free for everyone. Everyone will have an exemption for everything. No one will pay for anything and we will all be happy.