Release: ACTION ALERT - Fund Public Safety, Not Illegal Immigration
Posted by Jeff Quinton on March 3, 2008MD GOP release:
ACTION ALERT
The Democrats are at it again - trying to push through in-state tuition breaks for illegal immigrants. The House Ways and Means Committee will hold a hearing on this legislation at 1 PM tomorrow in House Office Building Room 130. You are encouraged to attend and voice your opposition. You may also do so through e-mail and phone calls. See below to find out how. Also, please find below the latest press release from the Maryland GOP regarding this matter.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 3, 2008Fund Public Safety, Not Illegal Immigration
ANNAPOLIS—Recently, Governor Martin O’Malley announced the closure of the Maryland state police barrack in Annapolis. O’Malley claims that his budget priorities do not allow a state police barrack in our state capital any longer.
Tomorrow, the House Ways and Means Committee is holding a hearing on House Bill 1236, which would qualify illegal immigrants for in-state tuition rates at Maryland’s state colleges and universities. Senate Bill 591 is the companion bill in the Senate. Through their own actions, Democrats are placing a higher priority on providing in-state tuition to illegal immigrants than providing for the public safety of our legal citizens.
Current law requires that a person have legal residency in the state of Maryland for one year prior to qualifying for in-state tuition rates. House Bill 1236 and Senate Bill 591 would continue imposing the one-year legal residency requirement on U.S. citizens, but would not impose that requirement on those illegally in the U.S. House Bill 1236 has 41 co-sponsors, Senate Bill 591 has 10 co-sponsors, and Governor Martin O’Malley expressed support for last year’s effort to qualify illegal immigrants for in-state tuition rates.
Last year, Maryland citizens voiced their opposition to rewarding illegal immigrants with in-state tuition benefits. Legislators were inundated with phone calls, e-mails, and letters from constituents. These legislators put off the legislation until this year with the hope that they could quietly put through the legislation without much opposition.
Dr. Jim Pelura, Chairman of the Maryland Republican Party, released the following statement:
“It is a terrible commentary on the O’Malley Administration and the Democrat leadership that they would rather fund in-state tuition discounts for illegal immigrants than to fund our state police. They are cutting funding for those who enforce the laws and increasing the funding for those who break the laws. Where are their priorities?
“House Bill 1236 and Senate Bill 591 would grant in-state tuition benefits to those who have willfully broken the law and would provide illegal immigrants rights not even afforded to U.S. citizens. In addition, if this legislation becomes law, Maryland families would have to compete with illegal immigrants for the limited number of in-state tuition slots. Plain and simple – that is wrong.
“Democrats in the General Assembly should stop this foolishness. Governor O’Malley should stand on the side of the rule of law and announce that he will veto House Bill 1236, Senate Bill 591, or any similar legislation that would qualify illegal immigrants for in-state tuition rates. O’Malley should restore funding for our state police and get his priorities right.”
CALL TO ACTION
House Ways and Means Committee
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
House Office Building Room 130
1:00 PMOPPOSE House Bill 1236
* It would qualify illegal immigrants for in-state tuition breaks
* It rewards illegal behavior
* It is unfair to Maryland families
* It would give rights to illegal immigrants that are not given to all U.S. citizens
* It would make Maryland families compete with illegal immigrants for the limited number of in-state tuition slots
Call and e-mail your elected officials (find out who, by clicking www.mdelect.net/electedofficials)
Call and e-mail all members of the House Ways and Means Committee:
Del. Sheila Hixson (D-20), Chairman
(800) 492-7122, ext. 3469
sheila.hixson@house.state.md.usDel. Ann Marie Doory (D-43), Vice Chairman
(800) 492-7122, ext. 3476
annmarie.doory@house.state.md.usDel. Joe Bartlett (R-04A)
(800) 492-7122, ext. 3080
joseph.bartlett@house.state.md.usDel. Kumar Barve (D-17), Majority Leader
(800) 492-7122, ext. 3464
kumar.barve@house.state.md.usDel. Jon Cardin (D-11)
(800) 492-7122, ext. 3833
jon.cardin@house.state.md.usDel. Page Elmore (R-38A)
(800) 492-7122, ext. 3433
page.elmore@house.state.md.usDel. Bill Frick (D-16)
(800) 492-7122, ext. 3454
bill.frick@house.state.md.usDel. Ron George (R-30)
(800) 492-7122, ext. 3439
ron.george@house.state.md.usDel. James Gilchrist (D-17)
(800) 492-7122, ext. 3744
jim.gilchrist@house.state.md.usDel. Carolyn Howard (D-24)
(800) 492-7122, ext. 3919
carolyn.howard@house.state.md.usDel. Jolene Ivey (D-47)
(800) 492-7122, ext. 3478
jolene.ivey@house.state.md.usDel. J.B. Jennings (R-07)
(800) 492-7122, ext. 3698
jb.jennings@house.state.md.usDel. Anne Kaiser (D-14)
(800) 492-7122, ext. 3036
anne.kaiser@house.state.md.usDel. Susan Krebs (R-09B)
(800) 492-7122, ext. 3200
susan.krebs@house.state.md.usDel. Peter Murphy (D-28)
(800) 492-7122, ext. 3247
peter.murphy@house.state.md.usDel. John Olszewski (D-06)
(800) 492-7122, ext. 3458
john.olszewski@house.state.md.usDel. Craig Rice (D-15)
(800) 492-7122, ext. 3090
craig.rice@house.state.md.usDel. Justin Ross (D-22)
(800) 492-7122, ext. 3652
justin.ross@house.state.md.usDel. Melvin Stukes (D-44)
(800) 492-7122, ext. 3544
melvin.stukes@house.state.md.usDel. Frank Turner (D-13)
(800) 492-7122, ext. 3246
frank.turner@house.state.md.usDel. Jay Walker (D-26)
(800) 492-7122, ext. 3581
jay.walker@house.state.md.us###
www.mdgop.org
Comment by Milton Smith
What is wrong with these Deomocrats in Maryland!! Are they out of their minds!!!