Our Maryland General Assembly passed Senate Bill 167, otherwise known as "The Dream Act" at the very end of the session this year. Because this is a controversial, and in my opinion a bad bill, there is a petition drive going on as we speak.
If you are a registered voter in Maryland you may sign this petition, which is your constitutional right. The petition drive is to collect enough signatures to put a referendum on the 2012 ballot that could overturn SB 167, that will give in-state tuition in Maryland state colleges and universities - including Anne Arundel Community College - to illegal aliens.
The reasons this is a bad bill are pretty clear. First, illegal aliens are the same thing as undocumented workers and as such, they do not pay income tax to either the feds or the state.
So why should they get a tuition break that is intended for residents who pay into the system? Citizens who are struggling to make ends meet and worry about their economic futures should be insulted that our elected officials have chosen to give a benefit to a population that is here illegally. Additionally, once they graduate with college degrees they still cannot get a job since they are still undocumented.
Second, there are a limited number of admission slots available in our institutions, and our home grown students are already having a hard time getting in due to lack of space. And my last point I'd like to bring out is that this law will seal Maryland's fate as a sanctuary state.
We saw what happened before the General Assembly was forced to strengthen the requirements for new driver's licenses. Imagine how many illegals we will have moving here just to take advantage of this opportunity - cheaper college education?
No matter which political party you belong to, this bad bill will affect each and every one of us who have kids and grandkids. It's their future we need to protect. Sign the petition even if it will not affect you personally.
Isn't it amazing that our Governor and legislators would pass a bill which could cost taxpayers more at a fiscal crisis such as this? In the legislative session just ended, a budget was passed, but it is not a balanced budget. Leaders are already talking about a special session and more tax increases to meet the deficit before the year ends. That's why it is important for the voters of Maryland to decide this matter. If anyone would like to assist with this effort to gain signatures for the referendum, please contact Delegate Nic Kipke, District 31 or contact me @ dmzwald@verizon.net. The deadlines are 18,000 by end of May, 55,000 for end of June, and 100,000 total for the state of Maryland.