Black says legislature should reject in-state tuition for children of illegal immigrants (Update: Lee ditto)

Press release from Diane Black campaign

Nashville, Tenn. – Today, Diane Black released the following statement on the in-state tuition bill currently being debated by the state legislature, which would allow in-state tuition for illegal immigrants:

“I have said many times that if the state legislature were to pass a bill providing in-state tuition for illegal immigrants, I would veto it. In-state tuition is a benefit provided to legal residents of our state, and it should stay that way.

“Too many times, so-called conservatives get elected promising to fight against liberal policies, only to embrace them once in office. It’s a shame to see our state legislature do just that, particularly without real debate or even a recorded vote in committee. It’s time for the true conservatives in the legislature to stand up and say no.”

UPDATE/Note: Bill Lee voices similar sentiments in a statement to Tennessee Star:

While I have deep compassion for any young person facing challenges, I believe a governor’s primary duty is to enforce and defend the rule of law. And extending a taxpayer-funded benefit to illegal immigrants that we would not extend to an American citizen makes the problem that congress has left to the states even worse. For those reasons, I would veto this bill.

At the same time, The Star also has an article bearing this headline: GOP Gubernatorial Candidate Randy Boyd Still Retains Appointment to Obama-created Board Helping Illegal Immigrants Get Free College Tuition. Hmm… just might mean a candidate preference here? Or maybe just a non-preference.