Todays news: ~New York Senate rejects Dream Act for illegal immigrants students! ALBANY, N.Y. - The New York Senate rejected a bill Monday that would open state tuition assistance to students in the country illegaly, dashing long-held hopes of immigration advocates and prompting finger pointing among rival Democrats. The 30-29 vote was short of the 32 votes needed to pass, a rare defeat for a bill on the floor of the Senate. There are 63 seats, two are vacant, and two senators did not vote. The Senates ruling coalition of Republicans and breakaway Democrats brought the closely watched bill to the floor late in the day with little notice. Supporters of the measure said that was intentional. It certainly seems that it was bought up to fail, given the outcome, said Sen. Michael Gianaris, a Queens Democrat. He said the vote made a mockery of a very important issue. No Republicans voted for the measure, though all five of their coalition partners in the Independent Democratic Conference voted for it. All but one of the mainline Democrats in the minority voted for the measure. The proposal includes a budget appropriation of $25 million to open up Tuition Assistance Program money for students who are in the country illegally but attend public or private colleges, paying up to $5,000 a year for undergraduates at four-year institutions. Associated Press, March 18, 2014
Posted on: Tue, 18 Mar 2014 15:34:43 +0000
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