The bill that would have given discounted college educations to illegal aliens in Massachusetts has failed in their House:

...The 57-96 defeat was a blow to the Democratic leadership in the House, which had pushed for the bill. Earlier in the day House Speaker Salvatore DiMasi, D-Boston, had sent a letter to lawmakers urging them to support the bill.

Moments after the vote, DiMasi said he was disappointed, but said he hadn't pressured lawmakers, calling it a "conscience vote." He said he had promised supporters he would schedule a vote, but left it up to them to round up support.

"It wasn't an issue I was out trying to garner support for," DiMasi said in an interview in his office. "I was fully aware it was an uphill battle."

DiMasi said he didn't think the public fully understood the issue...

I did my part, pointing out that DiMasi and other Democrats want to take discounted college educations away from U.S. citizens and give them to citizens of other countries who are here illegally.

Ali Noorani, executive director of the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition, blamed the defeat on "fear and misinformation" by the Romney administration. He said supporters will try again next year.

"This is not an issue that is going to go away and we are not a community that is going away," he said.

Well, hopefully we'll start enforcing our immigration laws, depriving both Noorani and the Democrats of much of their base.

UPDATE: The Boston Globe licks their wounds here. What a wonderfully emotional photo they provide. In fact, almost all the arguments in favor of this involve emotionalism rather than reason.