Maryland Voters Likely to Decide the Fate of In-state Tuition Law

For the first time in 20 years, Maryland voters will likely decide the fate of a bill passed by the state legislature and signed into law by its governor. A grassroots effort in Maryland has gathered enough signatures to suspend the law and add a referendum to repeal the law to the ballot this fall. The petition is still awaiting final certification by the state’s Board of Elections.

The Maryland legislature passed the in-state tuition bill earlier this year and Gov. Martin O’Malley signed it into law. The law allows illegal aliens that have attended Maryland high schools for at least three years and can prove that their parents are paying taxes to pay the in-state tuition rates at community colleges. 

“This is a great benefit to every citizen of the state,” Del. Neil Parrott told the Washington Post. “The leadership of the General Assembly rammed this through, even with 20 Democrats voting against it. It’s taken the hard work of volunteers across the state to make sure voters will have the final say.”

State analysts estimated that hundreds of illegal aliens would take advantage of the new law, costing Maryland taxpayers and estimated $40,000 per student.

For more information, see the Washington Post.