REP. HARKINS: (91st)
Mr. Speaker. The point I'm trying to make is, what my concern about this Bill, or this Amendment before us, is that it's not creating an equal playing field.
We're providing benefits to a person whose parents are here illegally and we're saying that we're trying to create a level playing field for all children, all students.
The concern I have with this Amendment is that the legal taxpayers in the State of Connecticut, the people who voted us into office, also have children. And these children should have opportunities in the State of Connecticut, like all children.
And the one thing that I would not want to have to tell my constituent is that the reason why their son or daughter can't attend a state university is because there are not enough spaces.
And if that reason is because we have children that are here illegally taking those spaces and drawing the same benefits as those of legal taxpayers, to me that's not a fair system.
Legal residents have the obligation of jury duty, they're subjected to the draft, and they can vote, one of the things that we cherish here the most, the right to vote.
It seems as though we're dangling a carrot in front of people, or children of illegal immigrants, that, yes, you can go to public school and yes, we're going to grant you in-state tuition benefits, which this Amendment would grant, but we're still not going to give you legal status.
I just, quite frankly, think it's wrong. I know back home constituents have asked me about this very proposed Amendment and asked what are we thinking. Here, I'm legal. I pay taxes. I obey the laws. And yet we're going to reward those who don't obey the laws. So for some it's fairly cut and dry.
Realizing that I've listened to some of the arguments and some of the comments made here today from those either have relatives or know people directly, who are here illegally. So, I can understand some of their feelings and where they're coming from.
But ladies and gentlemen, at the end of the day, either you're legal or you're not. And it seems as though there is a bigger issue here at hand to be decided at the federal level. And we have a failing immigration policy. You know, we're talking about the Dream Act, which is being debated. It's not law yet. We don't know if it is going to be law.
We're assuming it might be, but we're not quite sure. Anything can happen in Washington. But I think we're trying to address what is a bigger problem. And again, I think we're giving false hope to those that are looking for hope. This doesn't solve their legal status.
And again it comes down to what is right, what is wrong, what is legal, what is illegal. And to me this becomes fairly straightforward. If we can offer incentives for those to become legal, that's great. This country is known for that, for welcoming people from all over the world to become citizens. We encourage that.
The one thing that we're known for is our hard work ethic. But not having all the rights. Not being able to participate in your government. Not being able to vote, of all things, as a democracy that's the one thing we cherish, the right to vote. We'll give you in-state tuition rates, but guess what, you can't vote.
What kind of hope is that? Then we're going to go back home and tell the people that can vote, that we passed an Amendment that may actually affect their children who can.
To me, it doesn't make any sense. So, Mr. Speaker, today I rise in opposition to this Amendment. I hope we all take a step back and vote no. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.