Athens City Councilwoman Debbie Phillips has accused Rep. Jimmy Stewart and other Republicans of using a bill providing spouses of fallen soldiers with scholarships as political capital.
Stewart seems to think it's OK to treat war widows as a political football
Phillips said in a news conference yesterday. Phillips is Stewart's Democratic opponent for the 92nd District seat in the State House of Representatives.
State Rep. Peter Ujvagi, D-Toledo, originally presented a bill in September 2003 that would provide free tuition to spouses of fallen soldiers attending Ohio public universities. Phillips said House leadership instructed Republicans to vote to table the bill in April 2005 and March 2006.
Only when Rep. Ross McGregor, R-Springfield, introduced a similar bill this past spring, which passed in May, did Republicans approve, Phillips said.
In an interview after the press conference, Stewart said the original bill was tabled because there was no cost estimate for the scholarships.
I think it's pretty obvious that she's the one trying to use Iraq war widows as a political football Stewart said, adding that he and just about every single Democrat co-sponsored the House bill that passed.
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