Senator Dan Debicella (R-Shelton) today declared the General Assembly’s adoption of legislation permitting illegal immigrants to attend Connecticut’s public colleges and universities at in-state tuition rates as “grossly unfair” to both legal immigrants and to state residents who play by the rules. Debicella led the opposition to the bill during the debate.

The bill passed by 21-15, with all Republicans and three Democrats opposing the bill. Most of the Democrats supported the bill, and vigorously supported in during debate.

The Senate passed the measure, which was approved by the House of Representatives last week, following a passionate debate during which Senator Debicella offered amendments intended to improve the legislation. Those amendments included a measure to provide additional state aid to citizens and legal immigrants who attend Connecticut’s public and independent colleges and universities, and a measure to offer in-state tuition rates to all military veterans, regardless of where they were stationed. The amendments were defeated.

“The Democratic leadership has shown that they prioritize illegal immigrants over middle class people who are struggling to pay for college. They have also prioritized illegal immigrants over our military personnel. They have prioritized illegal immigrants over legal immigrants who are following our laws. I believe the Democratic leadership’s priorities are radical and not in the interest of the people of Connecticut.”

“We are now going to force Connecticut taxpayers to subsidize the cost of providing illegal immigrants with a college education. We are telling out-of-state residents, legal residents of our country, that they have to pay out-of-state tuition rates to send their children to our public colleges and universities, but we’re going to give a huge discount to illegal immigrants who want to earn their degrees here. That is grossly unfair,” said Senator Debicella.

“From my point of view, there is something seriously wrong with our priorities when we pass legislation to let illegal immigrants pay in-state tuition to attend our colleges, but cannot see our way clear to offering the same deal to our military veterans. I am equally disappointed that my amendment to increase state financial aid to citizens and legal immigrants who attend college here was defeated,” said Senator Debicella.

Senator Debicella said he hopes that Governor Rell would veto the bill. The Governor’s office says they are currently reviewing the final language, and will make a decision on whether to veto or not in the next ten days.