Conservative Tennessee lawmakers decry in-state tuition for undocumented immigrants

A group of conservative Tennessee lawmakers on Monday slammed a bill that would allow undocumented students to pay in-state tuition at the state's public colleges and universities.

Members of the Conservative Majority Caucus held a news conference outside the Tennessee House chamber to announce their opposition.

Flanked by a dozen Republican members of the House, Rep. Judd Matheny, R-Tullahoma, decried the legislation sponsored by Rep. Mark White, R-Memphis, as "unconstitutional" and a drain on Tennessee taxpayers.

"Our state cannot afford to subsidize public college tuition for illegal aliens nor should it," Matheny said.

The Tennessee Board of Regents, the organization that oversees the state's community and technical colleges, has endorsed the Republican legislation because it lowers the barrier to entry of higher education at a time when the state is trying to boost college enrollment. Undocumented students must currently pay out-of-state tuition to attend a public college.

To be eligible, students would have to graduate from a Tennessee high school. Many of the eligible students entered the country illegally as young children and grew up calling Tennessee home.

Matheny does not share the board's beliefs.

"They were brought in by an irresponsible act, and unfortunately they have to pay the inconvenient consequences of that act," he said.

As the lawmakers conducted the news conference, a small group of protesters stood facing them, holding signs saying "We are Watching." When the conference concluded, they began shouting down the lawmakers with chants of "No hate, educate."

To be sure, various versions of the bill have attracted support from Republicans over the years. Gov. Bill Haslam offered an emphatic endorsement of this year's effort, posing for pictures with undocumented students on the Capitol steps.

Saying that they are standing up for families and small-business owners, Matheny and his conservative colleagues vowed to oppose the bill throughout the legislative process.

"We were elected to come up here and say no to benefits for illegal immigrants," Matheny said.

The House version of the bill is set to go before the Education Administration & Planning Committee on Tuesday.

Reach Kirk A. Bado on Twitter at @kirk_bado.