A ‘Go Fund me' account to help make up the college tuition difference for Dreamers?
Naples Republican Kathleen Passidomo answers reporters' questions following her installment as Florida Senate president on Nov. 22, 2022. (Photo by Michael Moline/Florida Phoenix)
Will philanthropic lawmakers try to help pay Dreamers' tuition?
The Florida Legislature passed an anti-immigration crackdown Tuesday night that would repeal a waiver allowing undocumented students pay in-state tuition rates for state colleges and universities, but one lawmaker is seizing on a colleague's comment that philanthropy could help.
During debate on the bill in the Senate, Naples-area Republican Kathleen Passidomo said that while she was supporting the bill, she had heard from other lawmakers that they would also support it if it didn't repeal the in-state tuition waiver.
So, she said, she offered a challenge: Support the bill and then privately help Dreamers — brought to this country without documentation as children — with their tuition payments.
'I'm going to vote for this bill wholeheartedly, and then I'm going to go and I'm going to find a charity that I can write a check to,' Passidomo said.
'And then I'm going to find a kid who's going to lose their tuition, and I'm going to pay for it. And that's how we do it, through philanthropy. We don't need to have taxpayer dollars pay for these kids. They shouldn't, because they're here illegally, and they are taking places of other kids. So that's my challenge to you all, who said, if we didn't have this provision, you'd vote for the bill. Vote for the bill and then join me and other philanthropic people, and let's sponsor some kids to finish their education.'
Orlando area House Democrat Anna Eskamani said she heard that comment loud and clear and would like to start a 'mutual aid fund' of some sort to encourage others to help pay for the difference.
During the 2023-2024 academic year, more than 6,500 Florida students without documentation who received an out-of-state fee waiver paid $26.7 million for their postsecondary tuition. Without the fee waiver, they would have had to pay an additional $40 million, according to the Florida Policy Institute.
'If this is going to be the reality, we have thousands of students who are no longer going to be able to afford their tuition because of people in this chamber,' Eskamani said. 'Let's start a nonprofit. … If this bill ultimately passes in some shape or form, I'm really worried about these kids, and we need to help them.'
Although Gov. Ron DeSantis has savaged the bill passed by GOP lawmakers as being 'weak' and says he will veto it, he has insisted that repealing in-state tuition for undocumented students is a priority. It was one of the proposals he suggested the Legislature approve leading into this week's special session.
Passidomo was one of 21 Republicans in the state Senate to support the Legislature's bill, which passed 21-16 in that chamber. Six other Republicans rejected it. In the House, the measure passed 82-30.
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