Ineffective or Dishonest?
September 18, 2009Erratic Governor Perdue Must Explain Herself
Raleigh, N.C. – Yesterday, Governor Perdue issued a statement through her spokesperson saying she continues to oppose allowing illegal aliens to attend North Carolina community colleges. A poll conducted in April of this year by the Civitas Institute showed that 96 percent of North Carolinians oppose a change in the current policy that would allow illegal aliens to attend community colleges. (“Would you favor a bill allowing, ‘Admission of aliens not lawfully present…,’ into N.C. Universities & Community Colleges?” Civitas Institute, 4/7/09)
Last August, during her campaign, Governor Perdue was involved when the State Board of Community Colleges decided to keep the current ban in place. Then Lieutenant Governor, she sat on the board, participated in the discussion, and even made the motion to uphold the current ban which was then approved by a majority of the board. Many observers said that it was Perdue’s engagement in the process that swung the vote when it seemed the board was likely to vote to end the ban just a day before. (“Community college ban on illegal immigrants stands,” News & Observer, 8/16/08)
Senate Republican Leader Phil Berger (R-Rockingham) issued the following statement:
“Today, the community college board – over half the members of which are appointed by the governor and the rest by her Democratic allies in the legislature – voted to admit illegal aliens. This action is a slap in the face to legal North Carolina residents that desperately need access to the job training provided by our community colleges during the worst period of unemployment since the Great Depression.
“Either Governor Perdue is not telling the truth and is unwilling to try to influence the Board members or she is totally ineffective. Either way, the people of North Carolina lose.”
