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Ceretto Attacks Silver's Push To Pay Student Aid to Illegals

Sheldon Silver might paraphrase Jesus to the effect that, “For the poor always I shall make sure ye have with you, even if I have to tax you into poverty, so that ye have me with you always.” Amen.

Assemblyman John Ceretto (R, C, I - Lewiston) expressed opposition to yet another capricious act by the corrupt regime in Albany known as the New York State Assembly.

Ceretto complained about the reintroduction of Assembly bill 2597, known as the “Dream Act” by Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver.

This choice bit of legislation would allow illegal aliens who “meet certain criteria” to receive higher education subsidies at taxpayer expense.

Ceretto points out that if passed, this spendthrift, liberal’s dream bill will increase costs to the state’s already overburdened taxpayers.

Ceretto noted that if, as he estimates, there are 90,000 illegal immigrants in New York State ready for a college education now, or sooner rather than later, and they were to receive the maximum Tuition Assistance Program (“TAP”) benefit of $5,000, it would cost taxpayers $450 million annually. Based on the generosity (with your tax money) of the program, it could conceivably attract tens of thousands of illegal aliens to relocate to New York to get their diplomas here.

New York, already a welfare magnet and one of the few states in America to allow lifetime welfare, could find itself becoming the capital for college bound illegal aliens.

“This bill requires greater sacrifices from hardworking Western New York families – the same families buried under tens of thousands of dollars in student-loan debt - facing a struggling economy,” said Ceretto, sympathizing with legal Americans.

“Rather than spending hundreds of millions of dollars to send illegal aliens to college, I believe the legislature should be working to pass legislation to provide greater employment opportunities for New York’s college graduates, lower the cost of living for struggling families and improve our faltering economy.”

Under the bill, illegal aliens who qualify for “deferred action status” will be allowed to access tuition-assistance programs that are currently prohibited for the undocumented. Silver thinks this is a good since it will illegal aliens a better life.

Ceretto takes umbrage to this and is more worried about New Yorkers who were born here, who have lived here legally all their life, or those who are legal immigrants.

“Massive student loan debt has eroded the quality of life for countless young New Yorkers and is changing our economy,” Said Ceretto. “Before we start giving away taxpayer funds to illegal immigrants, we need to address the ‘student loan crisis’ in order to find solutions to help graduates break free from the shackles of debt.”

Last year, when Silver introduced his plan to incentivize illegal aliens to relocate to New York, the backlash was fierce and uncompromising. "Shelly Silver and New York City Democrats want your tax dollars to help illegal immigrants with college tuition!" complained State Sen. Mark Grisanti.

Reaction in the Buffalo News’ letters column was strident with headlines like "It is Outrageous to give College Aid to Illegals," "Why Reward People for Breaking the Law?" and "Taxpayers here legally could use a break, too!”

"American citizens are paying the way for people who benefit from not respecting the law. Legal American citizens are forced to pay heavy tuition costs, while those who don't respect the law are rewarded," said Greg Costa of Wallkill, NY. "Hard-working middle-class Americans are taxed at disproportionate levels to pay for political garbage like this."

Silver knows how to fight, retreat – only to fight and perhaps win again.

This year his quiet reintroduction of the bill has caused not a ripple.

Except for Ceretto, nary a word has been spoken against it.

When asked why Silver wants hard working New Yorkers to pay for the college education of illegal aliens, Ceretto said “you have to ask him. He has constituents in his district that have relatives who are illegal aliens.”

“Immigration status shouldn't be a barrier for college-bound students,” Silver told the New York Daily News. “It’s just not acceptable to deny illegal aliens access to education opportunities.”
John 12 :1 Then Jesus six days before the passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead.
2 There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him.
3 Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment.
4 Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, which should betray him,
5 Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?
6 This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein.
7 Then said Jesus, Let her alone: against the day of my burying hath she kept this.
8 For the poor always ye have with you; but me ye have not always.

 

 

Niagara Falls Reporter - Publisher Frank Parlato Jr. www.niagarafallsreporter.com

Jan 22 , 2013