Albany Strikes Again

At a time when families are struggling to make ends meet and find a way to pay for their child's college education, New York legislators are getting ready to help. The problem is who they want to help. Instead of using common sense, Assembly Leader Shelly Silver and his Democrat majority are pushing a bill, "The Dream Act"  that would make state financial aid available to illegal aliens. So instead of making it easier for the middle class to  compete for scarce state financial aid, taxpayers must share their hard earned money with those who pay nothing and who by their very nature refuse to live by the rules.

Most states treat state residents and out of state residents differently by charging in state residents a lower tuition rate. Those who are here illegally are allowed to attend college regardless of their immigration status. New York is one of the few states that also grant the lower in state resident tuition rate to illegal aliens. Based on this spoils system, a student who is a citizen or a lawful resident from a neighboring state must pay the more costly out of state tuition rate to attend a New York state college. Even foreign exchange students who are here legally must pay the higher tuition rate. How does this serve the public good? 

 Funding has been the old and new buzz word in education. When was the last time a school district declined additional funding or told taxpayers that they have enough money? There certainly is a difference between public and private education. Most private schools do more for less as compared to the public school system.  Even so, in an effort to answer the call for more funding, a bill pushed by New Yorkers for Choice in Education would encourage private funding for education by providing tax benefits for private donations and a formula for ensuring equal distribution between private & public schools. What happened to the bill? Like most bills, it was passed by the Senate and killed in the Assembly. Yet the same Assembly is pushing for the creation of a private fund as part of the bill to provide free college aid to those who are here illegally.

The Governor has repeatedly referred to New York as a  "progressive" state which means to advance, improve, reform or move forward. Whether advocating for the legalization of marijuana, signing up paroled felons for Medicaid or giving free college tuition for those who are here illegally, it is apparent that many of our elected leaders are lost in the fog of Albany. It's time for the Governor and the legislature to focus on real issues that matter to real people not the kooky cause of the moment.