New York Democrats blocked a bill Tuesday that would have expanded college tuition aid for Gold Star families a week after approving a state budget that included $27 million in tuition aid for so-called “Dreamers.” “It’s disgraceful. Soldiers who lay down their lives and make the ultimate sacrifice represent the best of us.” Gold Star families include the children of deceased U.S. military veterans, while Dreamers are the children of illegal immigrants. The Assembly’s Higher Education Committee voted 15 to 11 to shelve the bipartisan bill, ending its chances for a floor vote during the current session. Just last week, lawmakers passed a $175 billion state budget that included $27 million to provide tuition aid for the undocumented immigrants. Per The Post-Standard:<doc-sep>Democrats in the New York Assembly blocked a college tuition bill that would expand aid to children in Gold Star families. The move took place Tuesday, just a week after the Assembly's Higher Education Committee approved $27 million allocated from New York State's tax budget to assist illegal immigrants in receiving higher education. What are the details? The committee voted 15 to 11 Tuesday to shelve the bill, according to Syracuse's Post-Standard. Committee Chair Deborah Glick (D) said that that expanding aid to Gold Star families was not in the state budget. According to the New York Post, the bill, had it passed, "would have added funding to a program that provides free tuition, room and board at any SUNY or CUNY college to children, spouses and financial dependents of 'fallen soldiers' who died, became severely disabled or were classified as missing in action while serving in the military after 1990." "We will make every effort to ensure going forward, we have some additional resources allocated to the program so that as an entitlement, it is not falling short of the needs of our military families," Glick said. The outlet reported that the existing program serves 145 students and costs just $2.7 million. A week earlier, Speaker Carl Heastie (D) — along with Glick — revealed that $27 million from the state budget would be funneled into the Jose Peralta New York State DREAM Act, according to Newsweek. Assembly member Carmen De La Rosa (D) said that the bill would help New York Dreamers achieve the "American Dream." "With this budget, DREAMers in New York will finally be able to step out of the shadows and use higher education to live their American Dream," De La Rosa said in a release. "By including the Jose Peralta New York State DREAM Act in the budget, we are sending a clear message to our immigrant population that we value their contributions to our state, and we are committed to helping them succeed." What else? Republican state Sen. Robert Ortt said that Glick should be "ashamed" over the decision to block the bill benefitting Gold Star families. "Assemblywoman Glick should be ashamed of herself," Ortt said. "We set aside $27 million dollars for college for people that are here illegally." He added, "Apparently $2.7 million is all that the families of soldiers who are killed, get. If you're a child of a fallen soldier, you do not rank as high and you know that by the money."<doc-sep>Assemblyman Kolb calls the vote an insult to the families of veterans who made the ultimate sacrifice ALBANY — A state Assembly bill to provide free college tuition to Gold Star families was blocked by the Higher Education Committee from moving forward, a vote that the Assembly minority leader says is an insult to the families of veterans who have paid the ultimate sacrifice. Sponsored by Assemblyman Stephen Hawley, the bill would provide free tuition, room and board for dependent family members of military personnel killed while performing official military duties. Eligible participants could attend either the State University of New York or City University of New York free of charge. “The Assembly Majority’s vote today insults the families of veterans who made the ultimate sacrifice. New York Democrats are happy to support free tuition for illegal immigrants and incarcerated criminals. But they refused to extend the same privilege to the courageous military families of our fallen, disabled or missing-in-action heroes,” stated Assembly Minority Leader Brian M. Kolb (R,C-Canandaigua). “A veteran is someone who at some point wrote a blank check to America for an amount up to and including their own life. Today was an opportunity for Assembly Democrats to recognize that. Unfortunately, they failed miserably.” During Tuesday’s meeting, Assemblywoman Deborah Glick (D-Manhattan), the chair of the Higher Education Committee, responded to those critical of the committee's vote. Glick said the vote was made because the committee lacked information at the time and that scholarship funding was already appropriated for the year. Last week the legislature approved a $175 billion state budget that included a provision to fund the DREAM Act — a bill to allow the children of illegal immigrants to apply for the state’s Tuition Assistance Program (TAP). “Deborah Glick and Assembly Democrats showed their true colors today. They’re happy to spend $27 million in taxpayer money to fund tuition for illegal immigrants. But the children of veterans who have been killed or disabled protecting America are apparently worth much less in their eyes,” Kolb stated.<doc-sep>A Republican New York assemblyman spoke out on “Fox and Friends” after state Democrats blocked a bill expanding college tuition aid to Gold Star families earlier this week, despite approving such aid for illegal immigrants just a week ago. “This is one of those things of misplaced priorities that needs to be simply fixed as quickly as possible,” said Robert Smullen, who’s also a retired Marine, on Saturday morning. “This is one of those things of misplaced priorities that needs to be simply fixed as quickly as possible.” — Republican New York Assemblyman Robert Smullen “This was blocked in a committee vote. It needs to come out into the assembly onto the floor so it can be debated and then actually, I think the governor will sign it, he has indicated that he would. It's really time for action. It's a time for us to take care of the families of our service members who are fallen.” NY DEMS BLOCK BILL EXPANDING COLLEGE TUITION FOR GOLD STAR FAMILIES AFTER APPROVING $27M IN TUITION AID FOR ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS: REPORT The Assembly’s Higher Education Committee voted 15 to 11 on Tuesday to shelve the bill, meaning it won’t be going to the floor for debate and a vote. The move comes just a week after the state approved $27 million for a program allowing illegal immigrants to qualify for state aid for higher education. “This is a bipartisan thing. So, it is a process of procedural foul that needs to be corrected as quickly as possible. That's really where leadership comes in. If we lead properly, we would then be able to take care,” Smullen said, noting that the bill proposing aid to Gold Star families has been blocked for years. “We have been working very hard to make sure this is an inclusive program. So it includes those who are killed in combat but also those that are killed in the line of duty. And it makes it an equitable thing so those people that go forward that do our duty, they do their oath to the Constitution to support and defend, they know that we got their backs covered and that their families will be taken care of,” he added. New York Democrats defended the blocking of the bill, saying the aid to Gold Star families was not within the state's budget and noted that there’s a similar program that provides $2.7 million to 145 students who are dependents of veterans who served in combat zones. TUNNEL TO TOWERS CONTINUES TO HELP FAMILIES OF FIRST RESPONDERS AND MILITARY VETERANS Mike Whyland, a spokesman for Assembly Democrats, said the Republican-led bill “would have expanded the eligibility beyond the scope and should be considered within the context of the budget.” But Smullen reiterates that supporting Gold Star families “should absolutely be our first priority” and points to the recent death of Christopher Slutman, Marine reservist and a member of New York City Fire Department, who was killed on Monday by a roadside bomb near a U.S. base in Afghanistan. “When you think about it, we as a society, as a civilization, and New York particularly, ought to be a leader in this nation to take care of those who need it most. And, you know, we just had a marine reservist killed in Afghanistan. A member of FDNY, very tragic." — Republican New York Assemblyman Robert Smullen “When you think about it, we as a society, as a civilization, and New York particularly, ought to be a leader in this nation to take care of those who need it most. And, you know, we just had a marine reservist killed in Afghanistan. A member of FDNY, very tragic,” Smullen said. GET THE FOX NEWS APP “We need to be thinking most about their families in times like this. Our condolences to them. Also to be able to say we have got your back. We have got this covered. So, you, as a service member, can always do the right thing knowing that your family is going to be taken care of.” The Republican legislator then urged people to call up their representatives and demand them to bring the measure to a vote, pass it, and get the governor to sign it. Fox News' Bradford Betz contributed to this report.<doc-sep>
Democrats in New York killed a proposal for tuition assistance for children of veterans killed in battle and instead approved a bill to give illegals free tuition. The New York Republican Party slammed the Democrats on Twitter saying, “Democrats just rejected tuition assistance for Gold Star families but approved it for illegal immigrants. Would these Democrats dare to look into the eyes of the children of fallen servicemen and women and say they matter less than those here illegally?” Democrats just rejected tuition assistance for Gold Star families but approved it for illegal immigrants. Would these Democrats dare to look into the eyes of the children of fallen servicemen and women and say they matter less than those here illegally? https://t.co/813LozC9hJ — New York GOP (@NewYorkGOP) April 11, 2019 Empire State Democrats quashed a bill on Tuesday that would have provided free tuition for Gold Star families that had lost a child killed in the line of duty in service to the country. “The Assembly’s Higher Education Committee voted 15 to 11 to hold the bipartisan bill, effectively ending its chances of making it to a floor vote this session,” according to Syracuse.com. But the move comes only a week after the same legislature passed a $175 billion state budget that contained $27 million to give free tuition to illegal aliens. “It’s disgraceful,” Republican Assemblyman Gary Finch said after the Gold Star bill was shelved, “Soldiers who lay down their lives and make the ultimate sacrifice represent the best of us. The children they love so dearly deserve access to the opportunity and promise that is the hallmark of this country. I can’t imagine what’s in your heart when you vote ‘no’ on a bill like this.” Republican Assemblyman Will Barclay slammed the Democrats for being petty and insisting that the Democrats killed the Gold Star tuition proposal merely because they didn’t want Steve Hawley, the Republican who introduced it, to get a win. “We get so caught up in majority and minority issues here, we can’t see the forest through the trees,” Barclay said. “I don’t know how they don’t justify this.” Barclay added that the number of students who would qualify for the tuition assistance would be few in number, especially compared to the number of illegals who will get free college. Democrats refused to comment on the situation. Follow Warner Todd Huston on Twitter @warnerthuston.