Malliotakis, Borelli Slam Assembly Majority for Including Dream Act in Budget Proposal

Assembly members say tuition assistance for illegal aliens should be debated separately

March 8, 2013

Assembly members Nicole Malliotakis (R,C,I-Brooklyn, Staten Island) and Joe Borelli (R,C,I-South Shore) today slammed the Assembly Majority for including tuition assistance for illegal aliens in their one-house budget proposal. The members argued that such a proposal should be debated on its own merits rather than rolled into an omnibus budget bill containing completely unrelated provisions.

The measure is particularly disturbing in light of recent cuts to higher education. In 2010, prior to the election of Malliotakis and Borelli, the legislature cut aid to SUNY and CUNY by $134 million. The Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) saw a reduction of $49.7 million, while community college base aid to students was cut by $56.7 million and monetary awards given to needy students were also reduced. Additionally, TAP funding for graduate students was completely eliminated. Tuition for out-of-state undergraduates could increase by 10 percent annually over the next five years. The average New York college student is carrying $26,000 in debt, and student debt has grown larger than both auto loan and credit card debt in the U.S.

“Young graduates without employment are buried under student loan debt. Parents are struggling and working multiple jobs to put their kids through school, many of whom are immigrants who entered the country through the proper channels,” said Malliotakis. “As taxpaying citizens, their hard-earned money should, instead, be spent on providing the tuition relief they need and deserve. It is fiscally irresponsible and irrational to put forth this plan while approving cuts in aid and tuition increases to SUNY and CUNY and telling those seeking a graduate degree, 'Sorry, we can no longer help you.'"

Borelli, who is also an adjunct professor at the College of Staten Island, added, "This is nothing short of an outrage. SUNY and CUNY programs that my constituents, in fact all constituents, used to take advantage of were cut, while we are adding money for those who have chosen to disobey our laws. I respect those who seek to address the problems faced by immigrants. However, to pit young, undocumented individuals against all CUNY and SUNY students is really an affront to my constituents, who are seeking to better themselves through public education. My constituents and my students at CSI have worked too hard for their public education to be discounted."

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