As we approach our 250 years of freedom and American pride, I am embarrassed with who we (America) have become. Most recently where one person or a small contingent has made decisions and claimed “This is what Americans and Nebraskans want.” In Nebraska we have a governor and attorney general who insist on speaking on our behalf. The latest example, “Nebraska has agreed to a proposed consent decree with the U.S. government to stop providing in-state tuition to youth brought into the country illegally as children.” Why would we exclude youth from qualifying for in-state tuition when their families have lived in and contributed to our communities, they have attended our K-12 schools and their families have paid taxes (yes, illegal or not, they pay taxes) — these are the same requirements that my family benefited from while my children attended UNL. When our university systems struggle with budgets — is in-state tuition better than none? Why does our governor and attorney general feel the necessity to continue to make life difficult for those that deserve our compassion? While our governor states that “This is the latest example of the tremendous partnership between the State of Nebraska and the Trump administration” — this does not sound like a partnership that I want to support, so don’t say you are speaking for this Nebraskan! We will find out in November how many feel they are being represented with moral decisions that we all can be proud of and celebrate.
