From the National Tequila Party Movement (a female led political movement to get out the Latino vote and help with immigration political covering efforts based from Arizona):

For Immediate Release

20 February 2012

info@nationaltequilapartymovement.com

Tequila Party Slams Sens. John Thrasher, R-St. Augustine; David Simmons, R-Orlando; Garrett Richter, R-Naples, and Andy Gardiner, R-Orlando for voting against the FLORIDA DREAM Act

Phoenix, AZ — The Tequila Party joins the sadness of thousands of Florida students who dream of attending college and live without hope in a country full of possibilities.

Despite the many voices that advocated for passage of  two bills  that would have  given in state tuition to certain nonresident students if certain conditions are met- and another bill that would allow United States citizen children, who have a parent that is undocumented obtain in state tuition- the Florida legislature has voted down these bills.

The bill that would have granted in state tuition for United States citizens who have a parent that is undocumented died in committee last month. Punishing United States Citizen children, for the legal status of their parents is UN -American.   Following that tragedy, it was not a surprise that last week, the Florida legislature failed to join other States in granting in state tuition for undocumented students.

As stated by Florida Voices for Immigration Reform in a letter to all Florida legislators:”At least thirteen states have passed similar bills and as are now enjoying the benefits of having additional educational revenues that enables them to hire faculty, fund capacity projects for campus expansion and prepare students to meet the 21st. century workforce demands in the areas of science, technology, engineering and mathematics decreasing the need to hire foreigners from other countries.”     These voices, along with university and college presidents, educational associations, business and religious leaders that added their voice to the pleas of students who went to Tallahassee last week with caps -   were not heard.      The voice of reason did not prevail in the Florida legislature.

The Tequila Party notes with a heavy heart, that the Republicans in the committee where the bill was discussed, with the exception of  Anitere Flores, (R), Miami- voted against it.  The Tequila Party notes that the bills were introduced by the few Democrats in the State legislature.  The Tequila Party feels the pain of the thousands of students in Florida that have had their dreams cut short because of fiscally irresponsible  policies pushed by those that advocate “enforcement through attrition” or “self deportation”.

Voting for the measure: Sens. Oscar Braynon, D-Miami; Arthenia Joyner, D-Tampa, and Anitere Flores, R-Miami.

Voting against it: Sens. John Thrasher, R-St. Augustine; David Simmons, R-Orlando; Garrett Richter, R-Naples, and Andy Gardiner, R-Orlando.

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2012 Consequences of the the 2010 DREAM Act failure

Elian Gonzalez (undocumented young boy) was discovered in an inner tube fighting for his life on Thanksgiving Day, while we continue to mourn the death of Joaquin Luna (an undocumented DREAM Act student) who took his life because he felt he had no hope.Joaquin Luna, Texas DREAMer who took his own life because he felt he had no hope.