In-State college tuition for illegals has been dropped

We have noted here the tendency of fiscally challenged New Jersey legislators to use lame duck sessions to stuff through 'feel good' legislation with unfunded mandates while they think no one is watching. We have also noted specifically the poorly conceived bill promoted by Democrats Rice and Ruiz of Essex that would essentially grant a college tuition subsidy (in-state tuition) to illegal immigrants. The in-state tuition system was created as a nod to the taxpayers of our state who FUND our colleges and universities. It recognizes that WE THE TAXPAYER have invested in these institutions and will get a discount when our children enroll in them for that financial support. Illegals do not pay taxes and do not support these institutions therefore are not entitled to the discount. A college education is not a civil right. And now this silly bill is dead (from NorthJersey.com):

The sponsor of a bill that would have allowed illegal immigrants to pay lower in-state tuition rates at New Jersey’s public colleges called off a vote on it Monday because he lacked the support needed to pass.

“We just don’t have enough votes,” explained Sen. Ronald Rice, D-Essex, adding that it was about four votes short of the necessary 21 during the closing hours of the Legislature’s lame-duck session .

Added Sen. M. Teresa Ruiz, D-Essex, who was a co-sponsor of the bill, “I’m hugely disappointed. This was a matter of fairness.”

The bill’s sponsor in the Assembly, Gordon Johnson, D-Englewood, had said that although the Assembly seemed to have enough votes to pass the measure, it would not hold a vote without passage in the Senate .

Perhaps the sponsor's of this bill can now concentrate on promoting a culture of job creation in the state for its citizens and taxpayers and get the state's fiscal house in order.

Read the NorthJersey article here.

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NJ Lame Duck Session: Let them smoke pot!

It appears that the normal gaggle of lame duck hi jinks will be a bit curtailed this political season (from NJ.com):

Although chances are dwindling for Democrats to enact laws before Republican Gov.-elect Chris Christie takes office Jan. 19, lawmakers said most of their grand plans — with the exception of medical marijuana — have fizzled, many with gut-checks over the state’s fiscal crisis. In addition, the transition from Democratic Gov. Jon Corzine to Christie has focused more Corzine’s nominations of allies to state entities than last-minute legislative moves.

"Lame duck’s becoming so anticlimactic," said Senate Majority Leader Stephen Sweeney (D-Gloucester), who will become Senate president when the new session begins Jan. 12. "There are very important pieces of legislation that are going to move through, but the energy level in past lame ducks seems different." Many bills faded because they would have required new spending without the state revenue to support them, Sweeney said.

Translation: We are teetering on the edge between citizens carrying pitchforks and torches to Trenton versus quietly doing some last minute tidying up. Apparently someone in Trenton has figured out that there is no money left. And that has spoiled the party.

But don't worry, at least they can legalize marijuana use in the state:

But lawmakers are clearing a path for seriously ill residents to legally use marijuana to ease their pain. The qualifying illnesses are cancer, multiple sclerosis, HIV/AIDS, seizure disorder, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and "any other medical condition" approved by the state Health Department, according to the latest version of the bill (S119).

I really don't have an opinion regarding medical use of marijuana and would defer to sound medical advice on its applicability for really ill patients. It does however seem a little bit strange when you see something like this as a part of a lame duck session as it is not without some controversy. And we all know that these sessions are usually the time to stuff pet programs down NJ citizens' throats that couldn't get approved when the sunlight is on and accountability is high.

At least for now this isn't going to cost us anything.

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