Posted on April 1, 2009

Illegal Immigrant Tuition Passes Hurdle in Colo.

AP, April 1, 2009

A bill allowing illegal immigrants to pay in-state college tuition in Colorado has survived a 5-4 vote in the Senate Appropriations Committee.

Republican committee member Ted Harvey, an opponent of the bill, was absent from Wednesday’s vote because of a family emergency. Had he been present, the vote would likely have been 5-5, stalling the bill.

The vote was originally scheduled for Friday, when Harvey was expected to be back, but was moved up to Wednesday.

Republican Sen. Keith King accused Democrats of holding the vote while Harvey was gone to ensure it passed.

Republicans asked for a delay but Sen. Chris Romer called that a “gimmick.” Romer said the question before the committee was whether the bill would cost the state money, and Romer said it would not.