Del. pols ax student DREAMs

DOVER, DEL. - A bill that would allow illegal immigrants in Delaware to pay in-state tuition at colleges and universities has failed to clear a Senate committee.

The so-called DREAM Act, which stands for the Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act, failed to win enough votes Wednesday to be released by the Senate Education Committee.

The bill would have permitted undocumented students to pay tuition and fees at the in-state, resident rate at the University of Delaware, Delaware State University and Delaware Technical and Community College.

Meanwhile, a Senate bill raising Delaware's minimum wage by a dollar failed to clear a House committee.

Members of the House economic development rejected the measure following a hearing Wednesday. The legislation would have increased the minimum wage from $7.25 an hour, which is also the current federal minimum wage, to $8.25 an hour in two steps over the next two years.

Opponents said the measure would impose additional hardships on business owners.