July 30,
2015
August 2015
Newsletter in Herald and News 8/27/15
Senator
Doug Whitsett, R-Klamath Falls -
District 28 newsletters:
www.leg.state.or.us/whitsett
Changes To Tuition Act
Prove Doubters Right; (Your tax dollars
now supporting college for undocumented
aliens.)
A
significant bipartisan majority of
the 2013 Legislative Assembly voted
to enact House Bill 2787, which
became known as the "Tuition Equity
Act." It established in-state
tuition eligibility for students who
demonstrate the intent to become
United States citizens and who met
certain previous attendance
requirements in schools both in
Oregon and other U.S. states and
territories.
The Legislative Fiscal Office's
report on the bill estimated that
only 38 undocumented alien students
would access the opportunity to pay
in-state tuition to attend an Oregon
university during the 2013-15 budget
period, and that 80 students would
participate during the 2015-17
biennium. The Act didn't affect
Oregon community colleges, because
they do not have residency
requirements.
Tuition Equity Act supporters argued
it would cause minimal cost to
Oregon taxpayers. They further
implied they would neither ask for
future eligibility expansion for
in-state tuition nor request
financial aid eligibility for
undocumented alien students. I voted
against HB 2787 - not least because
I didn't believe their words.
University and community college
students who are neither United
States citizens nor eligible
non-citizens are ineligible for
federal grant-in-aid programs.
Undocumented aliens are prohibited
from even filing a Free Application
for Federal Student Aid. However,
Oregon's own taxpayer-funded
grant-in-aid program for college
students, the Oregon Opportunity
Grant, is not constrained by federal
law.
The Legislature's Democratic
majority enacted Senate Bill 932
this year, on party-line votes. It
significantly enlarged the number of
undocumented aliens who are eligible
for in-state tuition. Further, the
bill created new eligibility for
Oregon undocumented alien university
and community college students to
receive Oregon-funded grant-in-aid
and student loans.
I believe this bill will serve as a
beacon for undocumented alien
students to come to Oregon for what
amounts to a free college education
at the expense of Oregon taxpayers.
The Legislative Fiscal Office's
report on SB 932 estimates that as
many as 1,000 undocumented alien
students may receive Opportunity
Grants the first year, and that as
many as 4,000 may be participating
within four years. At only $1,000
per term, the cost could reach $12
million per year. The fiscal report
doesn't appear to contemplate my
predicted in-migration of students.
Not only does SB 932 make
undocumented alien students eligible
for Oregon taxpayer-paid tuition and
expenses, it likely gives them
preference over documented resident
citizens. According to the bill's
fiscal report, grants and loans for
unauthorized immigrants "may be
skewed towards an expected family
contribution rate of zero or close
to zero, which would give this
population a higher priority for
grant awards."
The Democratic majority further
amended the existing program by
enacting House Bill 2407. It ensures
that the state will make grants to
students with the highest financial
need and, where possible, prioritize
funding for students from
underrepresented racial and ethnic
groups. That priority will be based
upon an "equity lens" established
through Oregon Education Investment
Board rulemaking. The "equity lens"
appears to be focused on
contributing financial aid to
low-income undocumented alien
students.
Democrats further amended the
statute to include "foundations of
community colleges" that distribute
money to community colleges in the
program.
Another bill, House Bill 3063, was
created specifically to increase the
number of under-served, low-income
and first-generation college-bound
students who enroll in community
college and make progress toward a
degree or certificate. This, too,
appears to be focused on
impoverished, first-generation and
perhaps undocumented immigrants. It
appropriates $3 million in general
fund dollars to that program.
Many legislators who voted for the
Tuition Equity Act in 2013 rightly
feel betrayed. Assurances that their
votes would not open the floodgates
for undocumented alien students to
attend Oregon colleges and
universities with taxpayer-funded
Opportunity Grants were insincere.
Egregiously, some legislators
contend they're unable to remember
making those assurances. So much for
an open and transparent legislative
process.
Doug Whitsett, R-Klamath Falls,
represents District 28 in the Oregon
Senate.
