Voters select SB 848: Allow Illegal Immigrants in Community Colleges
Raleigh, N.C. – Visitors to the Civitas Institute Web site have crowned SB 848, a bill that would allow illegal immigrants to enroll in North Carolina’s community colleges and universities, as the year’s worst bill. Sponsored by Sen. Charlie Albertson (D-Duplin), it defeated HB 120, public financing of municipal campaigns, by a 63-37 margin in the final round of voting.
Voting took place over the past eight weeks in an NCAA “March Madness” style tournament. The tournament began with 32 bills that Civitas staff had written about and nominated throughout 2009 as a “Bad Bill of the Week.” More than 10,000 votes were cast throughout the tournament.
“The voters have spoken and declared SB 848 as this year’s worst bill of the year,” said Civitas Institute Executive Director Francis De Luca. “SB 848 was able to defeat some really bad pieces of legislation on its way to the title, so it truly earned its victory.”
SB 848 defeated two bills that would license pedorthists (SB 619) and dog breeders (SB 460), a bill that allows students to earn money for good grades (SB 100) and a bill that repeals the ban on collective bargaining (HB 750) on its way to the championship.
“Sen. Albertson should be recognized for his decision to introduce a bill that has such widespread opposition,” added De Luca. Civitas polling indicates that 70 percent of voters in North Carolina are opposed to allowing illegal immigrants in the state’s community colleges. “Civitas Web site voters and North Carolina voters universally agree that this is a bad idea.”
The weekly “Bad Bill of the Week” series will resume during the General Assembly short session beginning in May 2010 with next year’s tournament commencing after the legislative session comes to a close.
For the full tournament bracket, please click here.
Leave a Comment