In a dramatic shift of policy, the Republican-controlled Florida Legislature passed a measure Friday granting discounted tuition rates to the children of illegal immigrants.
The bill would grant in-state tuition rates to thousands of undocumented students, so called “Dreamers,” provided they have attended Florida public schools for at least three years prior to applying for the fee waivers.
The controversial measure was recently embraced by Gov. Rick Scott and has been a priority of House Speaker Will Weatherford, whose chamber passed it 84-32 on Friday.
The passage is an about-face for a governor and state government firmly in sync with tea party conservatism in recent years. Scott campaigned on passing an Arizona-style immigration law and opposed in-state tuition for illegal immigrants in 2011. But facing a serious challenge from likely Democratic nominee Charlie Crist, he made his way to the House floor to congratulate lawmakers after the chamber passed the bill on an 84-32 vote.
“I hope this signals an end to the anti-immigrant extremism that has reigned in both these chambers for over a decade,” said Rep. José Javier Rodríguez, D-Miami.
The estimated cost to the state's colleges and universities would be about $49 million. Virginia became the 20th state in the nation this week when it adopted similar legislation.Read the rest of the story HERE
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