USA Today: Why Christie should endorse tuition equity
media mentionRaul Reyes, USATODAY 7:12 p.m. EST November 26, 2013
If he signs bill, undocumented high school grads would be able to pay in-state tuition.
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is a lawmaker who plays by his own rules. The iconoclastic Republican was not afraid to buck his party by standing with Democratic President Obama in the middle of a presidential election when he thought it was the right thing to do. Now immigrant rights supporters are hoping that Christie will do it again, backing a measure allowing undocumented immigrants to pay in-state tuition at state universities and colleges.
The New Jersey Tuition Equality Act could affect 10,000 young people, and would allow undocumented immigrants who went to New Jersey high schools to pay in-state tuition at public colleges and receive financial aid. The bill recently passed the New Jersey state Senate and will soon land on Christie’s desk.
Although Christie has been conflicted on the issue, there are sound economic, educational and public policy reasons in favor of tuition equity. This is a great chance for Christie to enhance his image as a conservative lawmaker who can be competitive nationally.
Non-partisan issue
Tuition equity is neither liberal nor Democratic. Sixteen states allow undocumented high school grads to pay the same tuition rates as the native-born, including red states Utah, Texas, Oklahoma and Nebraska.
Tuition equity does not reward illegal behavior, because the young people it benefits were often brought here by their parents. And it is not a free ride, either. The Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy estimates that New Jersey’s undocumented immigrants pay more than $476 million in state and local taxes.
Perhaps that is why Christie is waffling. In a 2011 speech at the Ronald Reagan library, he said, “I do not believe that … we should be subsidizing with taxpayer money through in-state tuition their education. … That is not a heartless position; that is a common-sense position.” Yet during his recent successful bid for re-election, Christie told a Latino group that every child deserved “the opportunity to reach their God-given potential.” He stood by that view in a debate, leading to charges of flip-flopping. This week, Christie seemed to partially flip back, saying he supported the idea, but that he’d veto the bill unless changes were made. Christie’s indecision may have something to do with his 2016 presidential plans and opposition from conservative primary voters.
Benefits New Jersey
Christie ought to focus on the plan’s practical benefits instead of politics. New Jersey has the fifth-largest undocumented population in the U.S. and spends roughly $243,000 to educate each of these students through 12th grade. Without tuition equity, many will graduate high school only to be consigned to off-the-books work or unemployment. With tuition equity, they can further their education and maximize both their earning and tax-paying potential.
Sure, Christie’s support for the principle of tuition equity will leave him open to charges by his presidential rivals that he is a RINO (Republican in name only). But Christie is no typical candidate. He is big, brash and, at times, a bully. So as he weighs his political future, he should not be cowed by fears of GOP primary voters. Christie has already shown that he is a Republican who can win with a majority of the Latino vote in a blue state. It’s time for him to show courage on a policy that benefits immigrants and his state’s economy.
Raul Reyes is an attorney in New York and a member of USA TODAY’s Board of Contributors.