PERRY, TEXAS AND IN STATE TUITION...

LET'S PUT THIS PUPPY TO BED AND NOT ASK THIS QUESTION AGAIN.. The same answer has been given each time Perry has answered it. Texas is not the only State that allows an immigrant to pay in state tuition, California,Illinois, Kansas,Maryland, Nebraska, New Mexico, New York, Oklahoma, Washington, Wisconsin and even John Hunstman state of Utah.

The bill to allow in state tuition to an illegal immigrant passed the Texas Senate with only four NO votes. –it was overwhelmingly supported. It should also be noted that the Texas act The Texas version relates to higher education only. it's only fair to point out that 40% of Texas residents are Hispanic. Perry signed the bill six years ago. Under the law, any student who has lived in Texas at least three years and graduated from a Texas high school qualifies for in-state tuition. The law also requires noncitizens to apply for citizenship. “I’m for leaving the law like it is because I think it serves a good purpose,” Perry said. Texas was one of the first states to pass an in-state tuition bill for illegal immigrants. Eleven other states currently have such laws, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. About 12,138 children of immigrants got in-state tuition in 2009, about 1 percent of students in Texas trade schools, colleges, and universities. Of that number, 8,406 were in community and technical schools, only 3,725 at universities, and 7 at health-related institutes. Read a good summary of the current status of this issue here at a Dallas Morning News article

Angela Cox of Burleson, president and founder of the Johnson County Tea Party, said she is in "full support" of Perry's position on the bill. "If they're being productive and working for their citizenship, they're not on the government dole," she said.

Former state Rep. Rick Noriega of Houston, who sponsored the 2001 law, said the measure had near-unanimous support in both chambers of the Legislature and grew out of a study that showed high tuition was a major barrier to getting a college education.

"The intent of the law was to have more kids go to college," said Noriega, who is now president and CEO of Avance, a non-profit organization that promotes educational advancement in at-risk Hispanic communities. "It's been incredibly successful."

Noriega said the bill had the backing of "an incredible" coalition composed of business leaders, educators and other prominent advocates. Perry, he said, "recognized that it was good public policy and it has been."

The law, which has since been emulated in other states, makes in-state tuition available for children of illegal immigrants who have lived in the state for three years, graduated from a Texas high school and sign a sworn affidavit that they will get on track to getting legal residency and U.S. citizenship.

A total of 16,476 illegal immigrants received the reduced tuition in the 2010 fiscal year, about 1 percent of the students at public universities and community colleges, according to Dominic Chavez, spokesman for the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. In-state tuition averages about $7,100 per student, compared to about $17,000 for students from out-of-state, said Chavez.

Carla Resendiz, 25, who was born in Mexico and came into the United States when she was 12, said the tuition discount enabled her to get a pharmacy degree from the University of Texas in Austin. She said her parents came into the United States in 1998 but their visa expired. She said she is now working on getting her legal status.

"If I hadn't had this in-state tuition, I would still be 25 but I wouldn't have a degree," she said. "Now I'll be able to go into a profession where I can serve the community." Star Telegram

Several other states are in the process of voting on similar bills. The question is, would you rather an educated person or an ignorant one?