What does the Assembly have against the US military?

The Legislature has set aside $27 million for tuition assistance for children of undocumented immigrants in the new state budget, yet the Assembly Higher Education Committee last week balked at OK’ing a few hundred thousand bucks for college help to loved ones of US servicemembers who died, went missing in action or became severely disabled.

Really.

New York state already gives free tuition, room and board at SUNY and CUNY schools to spouses and kids of fallen soldiers who served in combat areas. But Assemblywoman Deborah Glick’s committee nixed a bill to also cover the few dependents of troops disabled or worse while outside such areas but still performing official duties.

At the hearing, Glick (D-Manhattan) claimed the state couldn’t spare the cash — a few hundred thousand bucks when the new state budget runs $175 billion.

Several of her colleagues disagree: The bill’s sponsor, Assemblyman Stephen Hawley (R-Oneida), says at least five Democrats have told him, “We need to get this taken care of.”

Gov. Cuomo says he wants it passed into law before the Legislature adjourns in June. We look forward to seeing him convince the Assembly to overcome its disgraceful reluctance.