Will Chris Christie Grant In-State Tuition For Undocumented Students In New Jersey?

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie threw down a political gauntlet on Monday during his monthly call-in radio show, saying that if Democrats in the state legislature did not alter a bill granting in-state tuition benefits to undocumented immigrants - a measure which he has said he supports in general terms - he would veto it. The bill (S2479) would allow students who are in the country illegally and who graduated from a New Jersey high school (and attended it for at least three years) to qualify for in-state tuition at state colleges and universities. They would also become eligible to receive financial aid if the school deems them qualified.

Christie accused Democratic leaders in the legislature of "overreaching", saying they were "making it unsignable and making the benefits richer than the federal program, the federal Dream Act, that's simply not acceptable for me." The governor said among other problems, the measure would allow immigrant students who live in other states but attend boarding schools in New Jersey to become eligible for cheaper tuition rates reserved for residents of the state. "They have time to change that between now and Jan 14," said the governor of Democrats, according to NJ.com. "If they do, I will [sign it], if they don't, I won't."

Immigrant advocates with the Dream Act Coalition told the Associated Press that the number of students who could take advantage of that loophole is miniscule and added that amending the language to eliminate them would cut out many more who are deserving of cheaper tuition rates. Democratic leaders have taken up arms against the Republican governor. The state Senate's Democratic leadership told the AP they have no intention of amending their bill, which passed in that chamber on Nov. 18. And their fellow party members in the Assembly are preparing to press the Republican governor - who cruised to victory in his 2013 reelection campaign with 60 percent of the vote, including about half of Latinos - on the issue. Assemblyman Gordon Johnson, who sponsored a similar bill which the Assembly will vote on soon, says he'll amend his version so that it's identical to the Senate's. "That's the right bill to move," said Johnson. "If he rejects it, then he's going to have to explain his broken promise to the young New Jerseyans and families who need tuition equality."

RELATED: In Reversal Of Position, NJ Governor Chris Christie Comes Out In Support Of 'Tuition Equality' For Undocumented Students