Politics & Government

Donnelly Vows 'We Are Not Finished With This Fight' (POLL)

The assemblyman announced last week that his effort to repeal the Dream Act has fallen short. But he vows to fight on.

Assemblyman Tim Donnelly announced last week that his effort to get a measure on the November ballot that would repeal the Dream Act has fallen short but the legislator vowed to press on with his battle against the law.

The California assemblyman (R-Twin Peaks), who represents part of Monrovia, had led an effort against AB 131 since its introduction by Assemblyman Gil Cedillo (D-Los Angeles). He had the strong backing of the Redlands Tea Party Patriots, which held several petition drives and collected thousands of signatures.

The legislation is a partner bill to AB 130, signed by Governor Jerry Brown early last year. AB 130 allows undocumented students who meet the in-state tuition requirements to apply for and receive scholarships from non-state funds. AB 131 makes it possible for qualified students to tap into public financial aid funds.

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Donnelly posted his announcement of the failed effort on the Stop the California Nightmare Act website and on his campaign office's recorded phone message.

“We are not finished with this fight,” Donnelly said on the recording. “This is just the beginning.”

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Below is the statement released by Donnelly’s website:

Fellow Patriots,

Despite an incredible effort by so many of you and tens of thousands of volunteer circulators working alongside paid petition-gatherers, I regret to inform you that we fell short. 504,760 valid signatures were needed to qualify the referendum for the November 2012 ballot. Although we put in a herculean effort the count as of late last night was 447,514 signatures, which precludes us from submitting the signatures today to the registrar of voters at each of the 58 counties.

This is disappointing news, but it is no less of a warning to Governor Brown, and every Democrat legislator who voted to create a new entitlement program for illegals while the state still has a budget deficit over $9 billion, and cannot even meet it's obligation to legal California students.

Thank you for joining us in this historic effort as Californians of every age, race, religion, income and political party came together to fight to restore sanity to the Golden State. We may have failed in this first battle, but we will not give up in the war to save California from the reckless politicians who want to raise our taxes to put the college dreams of illegals ahead of our own children.

Your efforts have not been in vain.  We have alerted our fellow citizens to this fiscal nightmare. Today only marks the end of one battle in a war to reclaim our voice in our legislature.This one loss will not dampen our resolve.

It is an honor fighting alongside you in this great cause.

Godspeed,
Assemblyman Tim Donnelly


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