OR Tuition Equity Bill blocked by obstructionists in House

-- Although the fight for fairness, justice and equality for Oregon students and their families is far from over

Unfortunately, yesterday a petition supporting Senate Bill 742, Oregon's bi-partisan Tuition Equity Bill, was unable to get the necessary signatures to move it from committee to the House floor for a vote. It fell 5 short of the necessary 31 signatures. The fact is, this is just another example of obstructionists in the Oregon State House blocking good legislation this session that would help people of color.

The upside is that this Tuition Equity bill had bi-partisan support and broad support from the business, faith, labor and education communities and made it further in the Oregon Legislature than it ever has in the past. It was what amounted to handful of House Legislators that denied it an up or down vote.

SB742 would have ensured that every Oregon student has fair access to quality and affordable higher education. It will also would had made it possible for all Oregon Students, regardless of their citizenship status, to be able to pay in-state tuition. Besides capitalizing on taxpayer investment in Oregon's K-12 students, it also would boost the education level of Oregon's workforce and boost our state economy.

This won't be the end of Tuition Equity for Oregon. CAUSA and our allies will continue this fight for fairness, justice and equality for Oregon students and immigrant families until Tuition Equity is a reality and Oregon joins the other 13 states that have already passed similar legislation.

News Articles:
In-state tuition bill dies in Oregon House
Supporters fail in their late session effort to get immigrant tuition bill to the Oregon House floor

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Final Push for Oregon's Tuition Equity -- Please Call NOW

Gresham, Ore.--Last night, students, teachers, community leaders and other supporters of Oregon’s bipartisan Tuition Equity Bill—Senate Bill 742-- gathered at Mt. Hood Community College. The gathering marked the final push to call on Oregon State Representatives to bring Senate Bill 742 to the House Floor for a vote.



The petition to bring Senate Bill 742 to the floor has by today (Tuesday) at 5:00pm to get the necessary signatures. There are already 24 State Representatives signed on.  That just leaves 7 more to go. The bill has gone farther than it has in the past with an 18-11 vote in the Oregon State Senate.  We need your help now more than ever to make Tuition Equity a reality in Oregon.



Please call the following Representatives as soon as possible, and let them know you support SB 742 and would like them to sign the petition and support it, too!


Rep. Jeff Barker 503.986.1428
Rep. Deborah Boone 503.986.1432
Rep. Brian Clem 503.986.1421
Rep. Greg Mathews 503.986.1450
Rep. Arnie Roblan 503.986.1300
Rep. Mike Schaufler 503.986.1448
Rep. Bob Jenson 503-986-1458

Tell them,


“I Support Senate Bill 742 because it’s important for me, for the future of Oregon students and for Oregon as a whole. Please sign the discharge petition to let SB 742 get a vote in the House and please vote yes on this important bill."


Thank you for your continued support to ensure all our youth have access to Higher education


More photos from last night:

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Oregonians to gather in support of bipartisan Tuition Equity Bill at Capitol Today

For Immediate Release
May 11, 2011

Contact:
Francisco Lopez, Executive Director, 503.984.6816
Erik Sorensen, Communications Director, 503.488.0263

Oregonians to gather in support of bipartisan Tuition Equity Bill at Capitol Today

Salem, Ore.-- Today, supporters of Oregon’s bipartisan Tuition Equity Bill, which includes students, parents, teachers, and members of the business, faith, and the higher education community, will gather on the Oregon State Capitol steps for a graduation ceremony at 1:30pm. The ceremony will recognize the potential Oregon continues to lose during this time of graduations without passage of Senate Bill 742. The ceremony will precede a hearing on the bill in the House Rules Committee.

“I want to make sure that people understand that education is not just a word, it is a belief that we have in the future.” said Hugo Nicolas, a Salem area high school student, who like many others, supports passage of Oregon’s Tuition Equity Bill.

Senate Bill 742 will ensure that every Oregon student has fair access to quality and affordable higher education. It will also make it possible for all Oregon Students, regardless of their citizenship status, to be able to pay in-state tuition. Besides capitalizing on taxpayer investment in Oregon's K-12 students, it will boost the education level of Oregon's workforce and bring in more tax dollars to the state's general fund.

Matt Courtney, the Community Outreach Coordinator at Woodburn School District had this to say, “I believe that Tuition Equity (SB742) will not only encourage more students to finish high school, but will level the playing field so that some of our best and brightest students can continue their education beyond high school and become the type of adults they want to.”

Support for Senate Bill 742 continues to grow in the Oregon State Legislature and around Oregon. Organizations who support passage of the legislation include the Association of Oregon Industries (AOI), Portland Business Alliance (PBA), Oregon Students Association (OSA), Service Employees International Union (SEIU), Oregon Education Association (OEA), Center For Intercultural Organizing (CIO), CAUSA, Oregon's Immigrant Rights Coalition, American Federation of Teachers (AFT), Asian Pacific American Network of Oregon (APANO), Stand for Children, Latino Network, The Bus Project, Basic Rights Oregon (BRO), Gresham Youth Advisory Committee, Adelante Mujeres, Jobs with Justice, Oregon Thrives, Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon, Upstream Public Health, and the Multnomah Youth Commission.

In testimony during today's House Rules Committee Hearing, supporters will encourage lawmakers to pass the bill making Oregon among 11 other states that have already implemented tuition equity. The Committee will begin hearing testimony today at 3:00pm.in Hearing Room E.

Senate Bill 742 (Tuition Equity) Hearing & Graduation Ceremony
Graduation at 1:30pm on Capitol Steps | House Rules Committee Hearing at 3:00pm
Oregon State Capitol
900 Court Street NE | Room 50
Salem, Oregon

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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 www.causaoregon.org

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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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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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