Tie kills bill: Legislation would have denied illegals in-state tuition
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No Comments [ Add Comment ]By Loretta Park
Standard-Examiner Davis Bureau
lpark@standard.net
S
ALT LAKE CITY -- A tie vote killed a bill to repeal in-state tuition for undocumented students at Utah's colleges and universities.
House Bill 224, sponsored by Rep. Glenn A. Donnelson, R-North Ogden, died on the House floor Tuesday on a vote of 37-37.
Rep. Keith Grover, R-Provo, was absent. He is one of the nine co-sponsors of the bill. Rep. Curt Oda, R-Clearfield, is the only co-sponsor from the Top of Utah.
Rep. Brad Dee, R-Washington Terrace, was one of those who voted against the bill.
"My heart told me to," Dee said.
Donnelson said he hopes the bill will be back on the floor for another vote. However, under House rules, because he voted for the bill, he cannot be the one to bring it back. That must be done by someone who voted against the bill.
"Why wouldn't I try again?" Donnelson said.
Donnelson said he will ask representatives to give the bill another chance.
"I don't twist arms," Donnelson said.
He knew the vote would be close, but didn't think it would be as close as it was.
Donnelson said he will not add any amendments to the bill, saying he changed it from last year's proposal by allowing students who are enrolled or accepted to a college or university by May 1 to still pay in-state tuition.
He's also not worried that the issue may hurt his re-election chances.
"I'm not a career politician," Donnelson said.
If the bill does come back to the floor, Grover's vote may make a difference on whether it heads to the Senate, said Majority Leader David Clark, R-Santa Clara.
House members could decide as early as today to reconsider the bill.
Representatives and the media received a letter from Alliance for Unity, signed by 12 state and local leaders from business, schools, government and churches, opposing the legislation.
The signatures included Salt Lake Mayor Rocky Anderson, Elder M. Russell Ballard with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Monsignor J. Terrence Fitzgerald J. with the Catholic Diocese of Salt Lake City and University of Utah President Michael Corp.
Donnelson reminded the legislators that the signatures were from individuals, not from organizations.
Rep. Sheryl L. Allen, R-Bountiful, said during debate that every student who attends and graduates from Utah high schools deserves the right to pursue an education.
"I agree with the rule of law," said Rep. Roger E. Barrus, R-Centerville. "I don't want anyone to break the law, but the law is broken."
Rep. Gregory H. Hughes, R-Draper, said the current law is a Band-Aid to the immigration issue. Undocumented students who receive a degree cannot get a job legally because of their documentation status.
"We need to demand our federal delegation do something," Hughes said.
Michael Bowhuis, president of Davis Applied Technology College, said he is not in favor of any bill that prohibits students from attending his campus.
Last year the Legislature passed a bill that allows Job Corps students to pay in-state tuition to attend the technology college.
Out-of-state tuition increases the cost by 300 percent.
"We like serving students," Bowhuis said.
Davis Chamber of Commerce President John Pitt said the chamber believes "education benefits everyone."
The chamber would like to see tuition kept affordable for all those who want to attend Utah's colleges and universities.
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