The Associated Press published the following article on December 20, 2013. To read the full article, click here.
After compromise, Gov. Christie says he’s ready to sign “DREAM” act into law – and he’s owed an apology
By The Associated Press
on December 20, 2013 at 3:00 AM, updated December 20, 2013 at 3:04 AMTRENTON — New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie reached a compromise with the state Senate leader on a bill easing college tuition costs for students in the U.S. illegally, and said he’s owed an apology by anyone who doubted his commitment to enacting immigrant tuition legislation.
Christie said yesterday he’s prepared to sign the bill granting the cheaper in-state tuition rate to New Jersey residents brought to this country illegally as children if the Legislature strips out a provision enabling the students to apply for financial aid.
Senate President Stephen Sweeney said the his chamber, which already passed the original bill, had agreed to the deal. The Assembly passed the same bill yesterday and Christie planned to conditionally veto it immediately.
Assembly sponsor Gordon Johnson said that chamber would assess the governor’s objections when it sees his conditional veto.
The measure would save students without legal residency thousands of dollars over the out-of-state rate they now pay. More than a dozen states have enacted similar laws, including Texas and California, the two states with larger foreign-born populations than New Jersey.