Tuition Equity Bill passes Oregon State Senate

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 29, 2011

Contact:
Francisco Lopez, Executive Director: (503) 269-5694
Erik Sorensen, Communications Director: (503) 488-0263

Tuition Equity Bill passes Oregon State Senate

Advocates and students applaud Senators for passing Senate Bill 742

SALEM, ORE. (March 29, 2011) -- Today, the Oregon State Senate voted to pass Senate Bill 742, bipartisan legislation that will ensure that every Oregon student has fair access to quality and affordable higher education, regardless of their status.

During today’s vote, a large group of education advocates and students filled the gallery in anticipation of the Senate’s passage of SB742. The final vote was 18 in favor, 11 opposed and 1 abstaining. The bill will now move on to Oregon State House for debate and a final vote.

"We applaud State Senators for doing the right thing for Oregon students and our state”, said Francisco Lopez, Executive Director of CAUSA. “Oregon's Business Community, the University System, the Public Education System and Oregonians across the political spectrum have come out in support of this legislation”, Lopez added. "They understand the importance that affordable higher education has for the future of all Oregon students and for Oregon’s economy. We encourage members of the State House to pass SB 742 as soon as possible.”

Oregon's Tuition Equity Bill capitalizes on the state's investment in all K-12 students and will boost the education level of Oregon's Workforce, thereby attracting new businesses and jobs for the state.

Cosponsors of Oregon’s bi-partisan Tuition Equity Bill includes Oregon State Senators David Nelson (R-Pendleton), Frank Morse (R-Albany), Suzanne Bonamici (D-Portland/Beaverton), Jackie Dingfelder (D-Portland), Rod Monroe (D-Portland), Chris Edwards (D- Eugene, Santa Clara, and Junction City), Chuck Thomsen (R-Hood River) and Chip Shields (D-Portland), and Oregon State Representatives Michael Dembrow (D-Portland), Mark Johnson (R-Hood River), Bob Jenson (R-Pendleton), Peter Buckley (D-Ashland), Sara Gelser (D-Corvallis), Betty Komp (D-Woodburn) and Chris Harker (D-Beaverton).

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CAUSA, Oregon's Immigrant Rights Coalition, is the largest Latino and Latina civil and human rights and advocacy organization in the Pacific Northwest. We work to defend and advance immigrant rights through coordination with local, state, and national coalitions and allies. For more information, visit http://www.causaoregon.org/

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Over 1500 turn out to Leaders’ Assembly in Portland

Over 1500 turn out to Leaders’ Assembly in Portland

Portland, Ore.--Yesterday evening, it was standing room only as over 1500 people attended the Leaders’ Assembly at the Portland Lutheran School in Portland. The event was sponsored by Parish Health Promoter Program and CAUSA Oregon. Among those attending included Portland Commissioner Amanda Fritz and Clackamas County Director of Social Services, Brenda Durbin.

Issues discussed during the evening included legislation affecting access to Oregon Driver’s Licenses (Senate Bill 845) and Tuition Equity (Senate Bill 742). Individuals gave personal testimony asking elected officials to support removing unnecessary barriers to obtaining an Oregon Driver's License and buying car insurance for the safety and well being of their communities. Likewise, they called for passage of Tuition Equity that will make access to affordable and quality higher education possible for all Oregon students, regardless of their status.

Those in attendance also committed to rent 6 buses and attend the May 1st March and Rally commemorating International Worker’s Day in Salem. In addition, those that attended donated over $800 to go toward work being done to pass Driver’s License Access Restoration and Tuition Equity Legislation.

Last week, Oregon's Tuition Equity Bill (SB742) cleared the Oregon State Senate Education Committee and is expected to be voted on by the full Senate as early as this Thursday. CAUSA is encouraging all constituents to continue calling their State Senator and urge them to vote "Yes". Contact information for State Senators can be found by linking here: http://www.leg.state.or.us/findlegsltr/ or by calling 1-800-332-2313 and asking for them by name.

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Cloee Cooper: Film Screenings Honor International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination

Originally posted at Imagine 2050. Imagine 2050 is project which includes activists, immigrants, artists and students who are invested in a future nation that embraces multiculturalism and tolerance.

Film Screenings Honor International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
by Cloee Cooper
http://www.imagine2050.org/

In recognition of the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, today students are coordinating events on over 40 campuses across the nation to resist the anti-immigrant movement, including organizations associated with white nationalist John Tanton. Students are doing this by screening A Look Inside SB1070, a 15-minute documentary film released by the Center for New Community.

The film follows a national student delegation as it toured Arizona in August of 2010 – amidst the passage of controversial law SB 1070. Nine students from Washington D.C., New York, Chicago and Colorado comprised the delegation, which set out to gain a better understanding of the debate over SB 1070.

Equipped with little more than a video camera and the desire to know what life is like inside Arizona, the students documented meetings with Native American communities, human rights activists, environmentalists, and local law enforcement officials. Other stops on the week-long tour included visits to the U.S./Mexico border and detention centers.

Highlights from the documentary include separate face-to-face sit-downs with Sheriff Joe Arpaio and prominent migrant rights activists.

“This trip really opened my eyes to what I need to be fighting,” remarked a Howard University student who took part in the tour. “It clearly pointed out who I am fighting and I appreciate everyone I met on this delegation.”

Organizations such as the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR), NumbersUSA, Center for Immigration Studies, State Legislators for Legal Immigration and Progressives for Immigration Reform (PFIR), continue to scape-goat immigrants for social and economic problems. Crafted by FAIR and the Immigration Reform Law Institute, Arizona’s draconian SB 1070 law and attacks on the 14th Amendment are the latest examples.

According to the United Nations, “The International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination is observed annually on 21 March. On that day, in 1960, police opened fire and killed 69 people at a peaceful demonstration in Sharpeville, South Africa, against the apartheid “pass laws.” Proclaiming the Day in 1966, the General Assembly called on the international community to redouble its efforts to eliminate all forms of racial discrimination.”

Today students across the nation are here to say that there is no room for organizations with extremist agendas, their ideas or their presence in our communities. In honor of international struggles past and present to eliminate racial discrimination, let’s stop the Tanton Network and attacks on immigrants, women and our humanity!

To arrange a screening of the film at your college or university, please email cloee@newcomm.org. To receive updates on nativist activity and communities of resistance, follow us on twitter @ nativismwatch.

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Oregon Tuition Equity Bill Clears Senate Education Committee

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 17, 2011

Contact:
Francisco Lopez, Executive Director: (503) 269-5694
Erik Sorensen, Communications Director: (503) 488-0263

Oregon Tuition Equity Bill Clears Senate Education Committee

Oregon’s Statewide Immigrant Rights Coalition applauds Senate Committee on their action

Salem, Ore.-- Today, the Oregon State Senate Education Committee voted 4 to 1 to move Senate Bill 742, bipartisan legislation that will ensure that every Oregon student has fair access to quality and affordable higher education, on to the full Senate. The Oregon Tuition Equity Bill will make it possible for every Oregon student, regardless of their status, to be able to pay in-state tuition.

CAUSA applauds the Oregon State Senate Education Committee on their vote to move Senate Bill 742 on to the next step in the process to making this bill law.

“The vote that the Senate Education Committee took today to move this bill forward was the right thing to do”, said Francisco Lopez, Executive Director of CAUSA Oregon. "The fact that SB742 has broad bi-partisan support in the Oregon State Legislature, and is supported by the Business Community, the Oregon University System and Oregon's Public Education System shows the importance that affordable higher education has for the future of all Oregon students and for Oregon’s economy.”

Senate Bill 742 capitalizes on Oregon’s investment in all K-12 students and will boost the education level of Oregon's Workforce, thereby attracting new businesses and jobs for the state.

Cosponsors of Oregon’s bi-partisan Tuition Equity Bill includes Oregon State Senators David Nelson (R-Pendleton), Frank Morse (R-Albany), Suzanne Bonamici (D-Portland/Beaverton), Jackie Dingfelder (D-Portland), Rod Monroe (D-Portland), Chris Edwards (D- Eugene, Santa Clara, and Junction City), Chuck Thomsen (R-Hood River) and Chip Shields (D-Portland), and Oregon State Representatives Michael Dembrow (D-Portland), Mark Johnson (R-Hood River), Bob Jenson (R-Pendleton), Peter Buckley (D-Ashland), Sara Gelser (D-Corvallis), Betty Komp (D-Woodburn) and Chris Harker (D-Beaverton).

The next step for the bill is to move to the full Senate for debate and a vote. That process is expected to begin next week.

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CAUSA, Oregon's Immigrant Rights Coalition, is the largest Latino and Latina civil and human rights and advocacy organization in the Pacific Northwest. We work to defend and advance immigrant rights through coordination with local, state, and national coalitions and allies. For more information, visit http://www.causaoregon.org/

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Oregon needs compromise, but some bills divide

Oregon needs compromise, but some bills divide

By Francisco Lopez,
Executive Director of CAUSA Oregon

In 1933, American philosopher, author and educator, John Herman Randall Jr. wrote a piece for the American Scholar about the importance of compromising.
In his piece, he wrote,

"Cooperation between human beings is possible only if they are willing to compromise; and politics, the art of cooperation, of group action, is at bottom nothing but the practical application of the method of compromise."

The current configuration of the Oregon Legislature is opening the doors for serious compromise. I hope, at some point during the session, a compromise will take place that will resolve the $3.5 billion state budget shortfall. This budget shortfall will affect the lives of the poorest of the poor, working-class Oregonians and state workers. The Latino community is not exempt from the impact of this economic crisis.

We need common-sense solutions in the areas of housing, education, health and human services. We need to make sure that common ground is reached in order to resolve the state's economic problems and be able to mitigate the pain caused by the economic recession.

But there is murkiness in this process: Individuals at the Legislature acting on right-wing principles are promoting legislation in order to distract us from resolving the real problems that Oregonians are facing. There are more than 10 anti-immigrant pieces of legislation at the Oregon Legislature that, if enacted, would affect the lives of working class immigrants.

Examples include mandatory e-verification of work documents for small businesses and hardworking farmers, English-only rules and many other pieces of legislation not related at all with resolving the current economic crisis. They are punitive and not serious problem solvers. These proposed pieces of legislation will create a burden among struggling small businesses, farmers, public services and many other productive sectors in our state. These "Arizona-style" copycat bills are destructive in nature and attached to extremist ideological principles that have nothing to do with compromise and cooperation.

CAUSA Oregon will work in the coming months and years on policies that will guarantee access to health services, affordable housing and quality education for all Oregonians. We will work to promote policies that will guarantee the safety and protection of the fundamental human and civil rights for all. We will promote these policies in an environment of civility. We will respond to that climate by promoting peaceful and respectful marches; we will pray for those who promote hate; we will visit our legislators and present to them humane solutions to our state's problems. We will organize educational and public-policy forums, leadership development classes, voter registration and education; we will help eligible Latinos to apply for citizenship; and we will build alliances to work for the common good in our state.

There is no doubt that this will be a difficult year, but we hope that with the help of God, our friends and allies, we will continue building an Oregon that is welcoming and inclusive in a spirit of cooperation and compromise for the well-being of all.

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Jill Garvey: Anti-Immigrant Leaders Testify for House Subcommittee

Originally posted at Imagine 2050. Imagine 2050 is project which includes activists, immigrants, artists and students who are invested in a future nation that embraces multiculturalism and tolerance.

Anti-Immigrant Leaders Testify for House Subcommittee
March 10, 2011 by Jill Garvey

Today, the House Subcommittee on Immigration Policy and Enforcement will conduct a hearing entitled, “New Jobs in Recession and Recovery: Who Are Getting Them and Who Are Not.”

The majority GOP witnesses are Steven Camarota of Center for Immigration Studies (CIS) and Greg Serbon of Indiana Federation for Immigration Reform and Enforcement (IFIRE). Both are anti-immigrant leaders tied to FAIR and white nationalist John Tanton.

It is troubling that Reps. Lamar Smith (R-TX), Elton Gallegly (R-CA) and Steve King (R-IA) – dubbed the “rabid anti-immigration trio of powerful GOP congressmen” by the NY Daily News – are continuing to call witnesses from the same small pool of controversial anti-immigrant groups.  It sends a strong signal that they are not interested in expert opinions on the issue, but rather opinions that support their extreme efforts to dehumanize immigrants.

Center for Immigration Studies (CIS) was founded by white nationalist John Tanton as a project directly under the control of FAIR. The Washington, D.C.-based think tank portrays itself as a mainstream organization that studies the impact of immigration in the United States. An oral history by John Tanton describes how CIS came to be: “… (W)e were running our publication and research efforts out of FAIR. It seemed that…outsiders might see these publications as just serving the interests of the organization, rather than fairly assessing the issues. So it was decided that we should set up an independent and more academic effort that would be removed from the daily fray…”

With a network populated by individuals with ties to political extremists, including white nationalists, CIS was created to establish credibility for FAIR. Tanton himself described the objective of CIS as an attempt “(t)o expand our fund-raising machine…We need to get CIS fully-funded and entrenched as a major Washington think-tank, one that can venture into issues which FAIR is not yet ready to raise.”

Steven Camarota is the director of research at CIS. In 2009, an article written by Camarota appeared in two issues of the anti-Semitic newspaper American Free Press. Camarota and CIS denied giving the newspaper permission to run his article.

Also in 2009, a CIS report was reprinted in the Journal of Social, Political and Economic Studies. The journal is run by longtime anti-Semite Roger Pearson.

But these aren’t just isolated incidents. CIS circulates articles published on the website VDARE.com on a weekly basis to its subscribers. VDARE is named after Virginia Dare, allegedly the first white child born in the U.S. VDARE was founded and is currently run by white nationalist Peter Brimelow. CIS’ most recent circulation was a VDARE.com article written on March 3, 2011.

In December of 2009, in response to controversy over a Salvation Army policy that barred the children of undocumented immigrants from receiving charitable Christmas gifts, Camarota told a Tennessee newspaper, “Charities have the right to set requirements, even if it means children of illegal immigrants go without toys.”

The author of a 2008 Time magazine article featuring Camarota stated, “Steven Camarota, research director for the Center for Immigration Studies, which favors tighter immigration controls, warns that even if immigrants are less likely to commit crimes, their children and grandchildren may be more likely to end up on the wrong side of the law.”

Camarota is with like-minded company at CIS. His boss, Mark Krikorian, the Executive Director of CIS stated the following after the devastating earthquake in Haiti in 2010: “My guess is that Haiti’s so screwed up because it wasn’t colonized long enough.”

The second witness in question is Greg Serbon, State Director of Indiana Federation for Immigration Reform and Enforcement (IFIRE). He co-founded the group with Cheree Calabro, who indicated in an article on the FAIR’s website that FAIR staffers helped her and Serbon create the group in 2004. And IFIRE is listed on FAIR’s website as a state contact group.

FAIR was founded by white nationalist John Tanton in 1979. FAIR solicited and received over $1.2 million from the Pioneer Fund, a foundation that has a history of promoting the genetic superiority of white, European-Americans. The Pioneer Fund uses its financial largesse to fund groups who promote “race-betterment” – a controversial theory that claims there is a biologically-caused IQ difference between white and non-white people. FAIR is listed as a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center.

According to FAIR’s 2007 990 Form, it donated $1,000 to IFIRE for “public education” purposes that year.

In 2009, IFIRE promoted a report written by Edwin Rubenstein that was published in the white nationalist quarterly journal The Social Contract. The journal is published by John Tanton. In 2009, Serbon emailed an article published on VDARE.com to IFIRE members.

Serbon and IFIRE continue to collaborate with FAIR in Indiana. As recently as February 2011, FAIR staff testified for an Indiana state senate committee along with Greg Serbon and Cheree Calabro in support of SB 590.

Reps. Gallegly, Smith and King are already well aware of the Tanton Network’s anti-immigrant stance. Steve King is a prominent member of the legislative arm of the network, State Legislators for Legal Immigration (SLLI), which works closely with FAIR.

In fact, the Center for Immigration Studies was blasted before it ever arrived for the party. At the subcommittee’s last hearing on March 1, Rep. Maxine Waters stated,

“As we discuss and debate these issues regarding immigration policy, I think it is important for the Committee and the public to be aware of any biases that may impact the witnesses’ testimony. Since the majority often calls a representative from the Center for Immigration Studies to testify, I am concerned that this organization’s ‘research’ may be more politically motivated than out of genuine concern for the unemployment rate among American minorities.”

Let’s hope that today some members of the subcommittee continue to expose these witnesses for what they are: anti-immigrant and without credibility.

http://imagine2050.newcomm.org/2011/03/10/anti-immigrant-leaders-testify-for-house-subcommittee/

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300 Supporters of Tuition Equity gather at Oregon State Capitol

Salem, Ore.--During a Senate Education Committee hearing, 300 students, teachers, faith leaders, business owners and community members gathered at the Oregon State Capitol today to testify and show support for passage of a bipartisan Tuition Equity Bill.

Senate Bill 742, which has support from both sides of the aisle, will ensure that every Oregon student has fair access to quality and affordable higher education and will make it possible for them to pay in-state tuition, regardless of their status.

"This Tuition Equity bill follows through on the investment in Oregon’s students beyond the high-school level, raises the level of education in Oregon and infuses our public universities with more tuition dollars," said Francisco Lopez, CAUSA's Executive Director. "SB 742 guarantees that Oregon’s workforce is well-educated and well-prepared to compete in our ever-changing global economy."

Cosponsors of Senate Bill 742 include Oregon State Senators David Nelson (R-Pendleton), Frank Morse (R-Albany), Suzanne Bonamici (D-Portland/Beaverton), Jackie Dingfelder (D-Portland), Rod Monroe (D-Portland), Chris Edwards (D- Eugene, Santa Clara, and Junction City), Chuck Thomsen (R-Hood River) and Chip Shields (D-Portland), and Oregon State Representatives Michael Dembrow (D-Portland), Mark Johnson (R-Hood River), Bob Jenson (R-Pendleton), Peter Buckley (D-Ashland), Sara Gelser (D-Corvallis), Betty Komp (D-Woodburn) and Chris Harker (D-Beaverton).

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Leaders discuss bipartisan legislation to remove barriers to OR Driver’s License Access

Salem, Ore- Yesterday, CAUSA, Oregon's Immigrant Rights Coalition, the Oregon Commission on Hispanic Affairs, and allies held a press conference at the Oregon State Capitol in support of Senate Bill 845. 

Senate Bill 845 is a bipartisan solution to restore access to driver's licenses to all Oregonians, regardless of their citizenship status. Passage of this crucial piece of legislation is important for Oregon's public safety and economic prosperity.

Moderator Aeryca Steinbauer,CAUSA

The bill will remove unnecessary barriers for Oregon residents to legally drive and purchase insurance and will eliminate subsequent unintended consequences that were created by the Oregon State Legislature in 2008. Those affected not only include immigrants but older people, who cannot find or may not have personal-identity documents, and also people with disabilities.

Speakers  included Oregon State Representative Ben Cannon (Portland-D), Oregon State Senator Chip Shields (Portland-D), Jose Ibarra, Oregon Commission on Hispanic Affairs, David Leslie, Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon, Rev. Melanie Oommen, First Congregational United Church of Christ, Eugene, Jose Gonzalez, Latino Business Association and Tu Casa Real Estate, Esequiel Regalado, Farmer's Insurance, Carmen Rubio, Latino Network and Alberto Moreno, Oregon Latino Agenda for Action.

Senate Bill 845 was introduced on February 17, 2011 in the Oregon State Legislature by State Senator Chip Shields (D-Portland) and Representatives Bob Jenson (R-Pendleton), Ben Cannon (D-Portland) and Tina Kotek (D-Portland).

Related Press Coverage:
Driver's license bill would drop residency requirement Salem Statesman Journal
New Law Could Give Immigrants Right To Drive KPTV FOX News 12
Under Ore. bill, citizenship proof would not be required for a driver's license The Republic, Columbia, Indiana
Conference in Support of Drivers License Restoration Act KEZI TV ABC
Drivers' License Debate Crosses the Border Lake Stevens Journal, WA
Oregon May Reverse Drivers License Limit KTVZ TV 21 NBC Bend 
KATU News Channel 2 KATU TV ABC Portland

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CALL TO ACTION: Committee Hearing on Tuition Equity this Thursday

Time of Truth for Tuition Equity
Committee Hearing on March 3rd, 2011

This Thursday, Tuition Equity (Senate Bill 742) will be heard in front of the Senate Education Committee, and it is our chance to ensure that the truth about Tuition Equity prevails at the Oregon State Capitol once and for all.

What: Senate Education Committee Hearing on Tuition Equity

Where: Oregon State Capitol, 900 Court Street Northeast, Salem, OR

When: 12:00 noon – Gathering in the Capitol Rotunda

We will gather to show that students, teachers, faith leaders, business owners and community members believe in the future of our students. Students wear your caps and gowns!

1:00 pm – Committee Hearing Begins (Hearing Room B)

We need to fill the committee room and halls of the capitol with our support for tuition equity during the hearing.

Many Republicans and Democrats have realized that tuition equity is the right thing to do to follow through on an investment in Oregon’s students beyond the high-school level, to raise the level of education in Oregon and infuse our public universities with more tuition dollars.

These Republicans and Democrats know it’s about guaranteeing that our workforce is well-educated and well-prepared to compete in an ever-changing global economy. Yet we have seen them get distracted by politics before. It is our job to be there and remind them to do the right thing for Oregon’s future.

For information contact: Natalie at natalie@causaoregon.org or 503-915-5701

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Drivers' License Debate Crosses the Border

Drivers' License Debate Crosses the Border
Oregon News Service
Chris Thomas

AUDIO: http://www.publicnewsservice.org/mp3.php?f=rss-18745-1.mp3

SALEM, Ore. - Four Oregon lawmakers have introduced a bill that would allow people to drive motor vehicles, no matter what their immigration status. Across the border in Washington, however, the State Legislature is discussing doing exactly the opposite, restricting drivers' licenses only to people who can prove they are U.S. citizens or in this country legally.

That's the way it has been in Oregon for two years. But state Representative Bob Jenson, a Republican from Pendleton, doesn't think the restriction has been very practical, so he has joined forces with three Democrats to try to change it.

"If you've ever been involved in having an accident with somebody that's uninsured, that's kind of a messy situation. I know that won't completely solve that problem, but it will solve some of it. And that would be a significant benefit, to individuals and to the state."

Opponents of the idea see allowing undocumented immigrants to drive as a form of amnesty. They point north to Washington, where some people from Oregon go to get licenses because they haven't had to prove their citizenship status.

But Jenson sees the matter as a public safety issue, in that it's better to have people behind the wheel who have been tested and licensed. He also says the legislation creates a sub-category of license only for driving; it cannot be used as identification for other purposes. Jenson says he's talking up the bill in Salem and it has some support.

"Whether that support will be adequate or not, I don't know. It draws a little opposition, but that's okay. I mean, it'll start some conversation, anyway."

Today Jenson and other backers of Senate Bill 845, the Driver's License Restoration Act, make their case in a news conference at 10:00 a.m. in the Press Room of the State Capitol, 900 Court St. N.E., Salem.

http://www.publicnewsservice.org/index.php?/content/article/18745-1

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