Palmesano Rips Majority Leadership for Blocking Bipartisan Bill to Provide Free College Tuition to the Children of Servicemen and Servicewomen Killed On Active Duty

A Statement by Assemblyman Phil Palmesano

“Where are the Assembly Majority’s priorities? Last week, they passed a budget providing free college tuition for undocumented immigrants. It will cost taxpayers tens of millions of dollars. This week, they blocked a bipartisan bill that would provide free college tuition for the children of servicemen and servicewomen killed on active duty. In committee, they said it would only cost a few hundred thousand dollars. Courageous service members who lay down their lives while serving our country deserve our deepest gratitude. Regardless of the cost, making sure their children can pursue a higher education is an incredibly small price to pay and just a very small way for our society to say “thank you”. I can’t imagine how the Assembly Majority can possibly justify this,” said Palmesano.