Watch CBS News

Assemblyman Gathering Signatures To Repeal California Dream Act

SACRAMENTO (KCBS) -— A campaign to repeal the California Dream Act has the green light to start collecting signatures to qualify a measure for next year's November ballot.

California Secretary of State Debra Bowen said Republican Assemblyman Tim Donnelly can begin his petition drive to overturn the Dream Act, recently signed into law by Governor Brown.

Donnelly and a group of people want to reverse the decision by Brown to give financial aid to college students who are undocumented immigrants.

KCBS' Doug Sovern Reports:

"There are all kinds of things that we could have done with that money other than give it to people who come to the country illegally, so that they can have their college dream," he said.

Donnelly is outraged that the cash-strapped state will give Cal Grants to students who are illegal immigrants, even calling dubbing the signing of the bill as the "nightmare act".

But Democratic Assemblyman Gil Cedillo, who wrote the bill that Brown signed said repealing it will hurt, not help, California in the long run.

"Our economy is in need of an educated workforce and that's what that bill does. His [Donnelly's] proposal takes us in the other direction," said Cedillo.

Donnelly said he should have enough volunteers to gather the necessary 504 thousand valid signatures by the January 6th deadline.

(Copyright 2011 by CBS San Francisco. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed)

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.