The Golden Boy of the Colorado Senate Democrats just took a sharp turn to the left.
Senator Michael Johnston, best known for pushing a union-busting teacher reform bill last year, apparently has heard enough from his liberal base, as the upstart Senator announced earlier this week that he would sponsor a bill to give in-state tuition to illegal immigrants.
So long to that Mr. Moderate image Mr. Johnston.
As he satiates his left wing base, Johnston of course has put himself on the wrong side of public opinion. But you have to give him credit, even though his arguments are utterly unbelievable, at least Johnston has the good sense to couch the bill in fiscally conservative terms.
Senator Ted Harvey puts all that happy talk to bed, though, correctly noting that the bill's goal is a tuition subsidy for people who don't live here legally.
The good news in all this is that the bill is dead in the House no matter the outcome in the Senate. Higher education amnesty let us introduce you to the liberal idea killing field that is the House State Affairs Committee.
In the meantime, maybe enough Senate Democrats will vote for the bill so that Republicans have a potent issue to use to take back that chamber next cycle too.
Nothing says electoral loving like Democrat Senators whining about a budget crisis at the same time they vote to extend new state benefits to illegals.
This bill is actually a good idea, if there was a way to guarantee these kids could get citizenship. The ones who are going to college and making a better life for themselves and their families are exactly the kind of people we want to be a part of our society.
Republicans are going to hang themselves on this issue? Really? These kids deserve a chance. You can’t punish them for their parent’s mistakes. Do the right thing!
While I feel for these children, this bill just goes too far. It’s simply ILLEGAL, and it will encourage even more illegal immigration!