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Assemblyman Anthony Portantino, (D-Calif.), on whether California's dream act is a growth chance or fiscal nightmare.
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Libya and is red ink we continues.
We head west today.
Will California's DREAM Act become a golden opportunity or fiscal nightmare for the state by allowing illegal immigrants access to government funded financial aid.
For education.
Democratic house prices -- and Anthony.
Ports and -- joins me now on Anthony this has folks in the city California.
Rightly furious because of the budget shortfall that your state is facing but -- Jerry Brown says.
Both sign it does it pass the sent.
Well I think it's gonna pass the senate and I think it's gonna go to the governor -- signature.
Because those folks who look at fiscal matters from a bigger picture.
In -- this not only because it's the right thing to do for talented students to help them get educated but it's the right thing to do for our economy.
You know California needs 171000.
Doctors to meet the demands of an aging population there are forty.
Health care.
Professional.
Job categories that have job shortages we need an educated work force to meet the demands.
Of a global high tech economy it makes sense to have California's best and brightest students.
Get the tools they need to compete in the global high tech economy and help the -- -- so this is a good investment bid but bids on the people of California who are paying.
Taxes little residents of California are up in arms because they feel.
-- -- critics that say that you could not hike taxes on us while also giving folks that are in this country illegally.
An education on our backs that I cannot critics and I -- I guess your.
I disagree with you I think the people who understand the economic big picture see at the opposite way.
People like Robert Gates the former Defense Secretary and Colin Powell and Sam Brownback and Fox's own commentator.
Mike Huckabee who says it's the State's mandate.
Do you see that our best and brightest students get educated.
Folks like that agree with this so yes there's gonna be somebody out there who maybe doesn't see the full economic picture.
And see the economic benefit.
Of taking the best and brightest students and helping them get educated where are we gonna get doctors where we gonna get out of here would imagine that -- -- again.
It's Adam Shapiro have a question along those lines though first are we talking about student loans are we talking about -- and second does California have.
One the ability to make sure that these people who your training at short spent staying California or might they wind up.
Being deported after they're educated at your expense.
And you know what that's an excellent point to an end right now we eloped we we allow students from other countries to come to our unit universities and colleges and then leave okay but -- -- Sergey -- -- -- -- our money well I'm not -- -- -- -- there's no question.
Well yeah and -- -- -- actually answering the question.
Let me finish the question so what we're doing is under California law these students get in state tuition and they're gonna qualify for financial aid.
That's what this law does in the Supreme Court is said these are Californians.
Who qualify for that financial aid.
And they sign a pledge in California to to stay here and work in California so we're trying to create a well educated workforce I think it's a better benefit for California.
That California.
Students.
Educated and working in California than a student from another country who comes here gets an education and then goes back.
To Europe or Asia with the skills they've learned here let's -- Californians.
Educated in California and again I I side with.
Boxer Mike Huckabee who says that we rather have these students become surgeons.
Then working in -- educated position and I appreciate you bring up the fact that we're not just talking about south -- obviously Europe and Asia as well so much to follow through with you democratic assemblyman Anthony ports and -- Pasadena thank you.
-- appearing on Fox Business thank you for your.
