For the second time in two years, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger Tuesday night vetoed the California DREAM Act, closing the door on college-administrated financial aid for undocumented students. This act would have afforded undocumented students financial aid dispensed by the UC system, CSU system and the state’s community colleges.
Saying that it was not appropriate to pass the bill considering the state’s precarious financial condition, Schwarzenegger vetoed the act first introduced in February. He previously vetoed a version of the DREAM Act last October.
"I share the author's goal of making affordable education available to all California students, but given the precarious fiscal condition the state faces at this time, it would not be prudent to place additional demands on our limited financial aid resources as specified in this bill,” the governor said.
Schwarzenegger probably doesn’t know that the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimated that the DREAM Act (official name: S. 3992, the Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors Act) would raise U.S. revenues by $2.8 billion in addition to reducing deficits by $1.4 billion between 2011-2020.
“The CBO score only adds to what students nationwide have been saying for over a decade: that the DREAM Act would strengthen our country by investing in some of the best and brightest immigrant youth,” United States Student Association (USSA) President Lindsay McCluskey has said. The UCLA North American Integration and Development Center recently estimated that the total earnings of DREAM Act beneficiaries would be $1.4-3.6 trillion, strengthening commercial spending and raising taxable revenue for the U.S. economy.
The DREAM Act has recently been adapted to gain more Republican support. Some changes include: a reduction in the age eligibility from 35-30 plus the removal of the clause withdrawing current federal law that requires financial penalties on states that offer tuition in-state to undocumented students.
“USSA is disappointed that so many Members of Congress failed to summon the political courage to vote ‘yes’ on such an important piece of legislation, forcing these changes,” McCluskey said. “However, after a decade of having their educational dreams denied, hard working undocumented students deserve a chance at securing legal status with the passage of the DREAM Act. Students nationwide will continue organizing and advocating for the DREAM Act until it is passed.”
**Breaking news: House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced that The House of Representatives voted to pass the Dream Act on Wednesday night December 8, but passage by Senate Republicans, as early as Friday, is thought to be doubtful
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Comments
The CBO report said in the short run there would be a benefit from legalizing the DREAMers. In the long run it would cost many billions per year.
I am tired of the lies about how wonderful these illegals are for our economy.
You are not correct in the long run. as the individuals affected by this act tend to be younger and healthier than the rest of the U.S. workforce, and will not be eligible for social security or Medicare benefits for the 2011-2020 period. Additionally this population will be part of a future workforce, therefore contributing to the U.S. economy through employment and social security taxes, as examples. Your separate agenda seems unlikely formed by fact, and is transparent.
Good Job Arnold. Too bad it is California and they will wonder why they did not listen to you. Mexico claims they will own California in 2014.
Good luck with that, been to mexico lately?
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