10/10/2006

The legislature of the State of Nebraska passed this bill, which was afterwards vetoed by the Governor. The legislature then overrode the Governor's veto making this bill a law. This is a moving story, especially under the current environment involving a federal legislator to make undocumented aliens a felony criminal.

State lawmakers cried and hugged after they overrode Gov. Dave Heineman's veto of a bill to allow children of illegal immigrants to qualify for in-state tuition at state colleges and universities. "Hallelujah!" said State Sen. Dwite Pedersen of Elkhorn, after proponents collected the required 30th vote to override.

The 30-16 vote on Legislative Bill 239 came after a handful of lawmakers gave emotional speeches Thursday in favor of the bill. Nine other states have passed similar legislation. "For me, not to vote for this override is racist. And I'm not going there," said Sen. Ed Schrock of Elm Creek, who said his great-great grandmother's name was Sanchez.

Sen. Ray Aguilar of Grand Island, the Legislature's only Hispanic member, said people don't complain about illegal immigrants when they do their work, but only when it seems like they're getting ahead. Sen. Nancy Thompson of Papillion said her most fulfilling acts as a lawmaker are "doing what's right for the people who don't have a voice."

The bill was supported by nearly every education group in the state, including the University of Nebraska, state colleges and community colleges. It was opposed by groups who felt it rewarded illegal behavior. Sen. DiAnna Schimek of Lincoln, who made LB 239 her priority bill, said the measure was about treating the children of illegal immigrants fairly.

Their parents pay taxes and contribute to the nation's economy, Schimek said. The children have done nothing wrong. "This isn't a special deal," Schimek said. "It's treating these students like every other student in the state of Nebraska." Under the bill, children of immigrants who graduate from a Nebraska high school, have lived in the state for three years and pledge to seek permanent legal status would qualify to pay in-state tuition.

It would affect an estimated 130 students a year. If they enrolled full-time at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, it would reduce their tuition to $4,530 per year from the $13,440 charged to out-of-state students. The Legislature's fiscal office said the bill might generate more revenue for the state through increased college enrollment.

Sen. Philip Erdman of Bayard led the opposition, saying the bill violated federal law. Heineman echoed that view in his veto message. But Schimek said that was a "bogus" issue, and she quoted a legal opinion from the Utah attorney general that defended a similar law in that state. Sen. Bob Kremer of Aurora provided a key yes vote on the override after voting no on final approval of the bill earlier Thursday.

Legislators also overrode two other bills vetoed by Heineman: pay raises for the governor and other constitutional officers effective next year, and a measure to equalize retirement benefits for state employees with those of judges, state troopers and teachers.

 

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