The year was 2003, and the debate raging in the Colorado House was over a bill allowing illegal immigrants to attend public colleges at the in-state tuition rate.

"We don't need to continue to provide taxpayer subsidies to people who are here illegally," state Rep. Greg Brophy, a Wray Republican, said at the time about the bill, which didn't pass.

Now a state senator serving his final term, Brophy, who's previously proposed blocking state-funded criminal defense attorneys for illegal immigrants and denying them worker's compensation insurance, is having second thoughts on immigration issues.

Brophy is one of a handful of Republicans who acknowledge they may support Senate Bill 33, this year's measure that would grant the in-state tuition rate to any high school graduate who has attended a Colorado high school for three years, regardless of immigration status.

"I have cause to think about it more deeply than I have in the past," Brophy said. "It's partly personal — just where I live and people I know.

"I fell for the siren song years ago that people who are here illegally should just be encouraged to go back home," he said. "That sounds great if you say it fast, but the reality is if you look at the families that live here, that's a ridiculous thing."

Brophy's potential defection could cause the same kind of shock waves that freshman state Sen. Owen Hill provoked last week when he voted for Senate Bill 33 in committee. Hill, a Colorado Springs Republican, was savaged by members of his own party in El Paso County, including former state Sen. Dave Schultheis, R-Colorado Springs, who said he never would have endorsed Hill had he known his stance on the issue.

Hill invokes the Statue of Liberty when he talks about the bill.

"That was the vision for America: We can't offer you anything but the rule of law and the promise of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness," he said. "This is a difficult issue for a lot of people. Unfortunately, there's still this protectionist mentality."

One Republican who's never hidden his support is state Sen. Larry Crowder, a freshman Republican from Alamosa.

"I'm a fifth-generation Coloradan from southern Colorado," Crowder said. "I was raised with both legals and illegals, so were my forefathers. We do not look at this the same way people north of Pueblo do.

"What I do believe, and I believe this very firmly: This is a conservative issue. What we want in this country is legalized citizens. What I see here is a path to citizenship through this bill."

Republicans aren't the only ones who have changed their positions on the issue. Previous bills to grant in-state tuition several years ago died at the hands of Democrats, enough of whom joined Republicans in killing the proposals.

But there now appear to be no Democrats who still oppose the idea.

Senate Bill 33 still awaits debate on the Senate floor, where it is expected to pass. It's also expected to pass in the House now that Democrats hold the chamber again.

This year, though, they might get some help from a few Republicans.

"As far as doing something about undocumented students, absolutely, we need to do something," said state Rep. Cheri Gerou, R-Evergreen. "We're basically wasting the futures of some really bright people, and we can't afford to do that."

Gerou acknowledged she has been having conversations with Senate Bill 33 supporters.

"Right now, I'm on the fence, but I can certainly lean toward it depending on what happens in the Senate," she said.

Gerou favors a version of the bill that would prevent undocumented students from getting the College Opportunity Fund subsidy the state provides for every college student. The past two years, Democrats offered compromise versions that eliminated the subsidy for such students, but even those efforts failed in a Republican-led House.

However, in a year when Democrats no longer need Republican votes, the College Opportunity Fund subsidy is back in the bill, and it's unlikely to come out.

Rep. Kevin Priola, R-Henderson, is also considering supporting the bill.

"I've been leaning toward it, especially with what's been coming down federally," Priola said, referring to major immigration reforms being discussed in Washington. "I think it's time to address that issue for a lot of kids in Colorado."

Priola, who said he speaks Spanish and grew up around Latinos, argues that his views are in keeping with Ronald Reagan's beliefs.

"The United States is the land of opportunity, and we shouldn't get in the way of folks who are trying to better their lives and be productive citizens," he said.

Tim Hoover: 303-954-1626, or