Despite stringent cost containment amendments and support from all three segments of California public higher education, Governor Schwarzenegger vetoed Sen. Gilbert Cedillo's California Dream Act (SB 1) Saturday. The proposal would have enabled qualifying undocumented students to apply for two types of non- competitive state financial aid, the Cal Grant High School Entitlement Grant and community college fee waivers. In his veto message Schwarzenegger indicated extending aid to the students was an imprudent strain on the General Fund although estimates pegged new budget allocations under SB 1 at $1.9 million or .018% of General Fund monies.
"He's a tough guy to pin down, we addressed every fiscal concern the administration had, but maybe it's more of a political calculation for him. The need for this bill extends beyond the walls of my office and although the Governor and I may disagree, this is one area where I think business sense should prevail." [...]
"Despite support from the entire public higher education system, some of his own appointees to the Regents, the Governor has vetoed a landmark education bill. In the face of non-partisan research and business community support to secure the workforce of tomorrow, the Governor deems a one hundredth of one percent cost increase more dire than facing a shortage of skilled labor in our state," said Cedillo. "While these students work hard to obtain the American dream, to contribute to our state, the Governor seems to look the other way."
The bill was the result of some serious compromise with the Governor's office, and he vetoed it anyway.
Leadership.
