With the primary looming, and voters still attempting to distinguish between House Speaker Jeff Merkley and Steve Novick, the former dusted off a concept he helped pass in the Oregon Legislature, calling for a national plan to provide free tuition to college or technical schools for the families of deceased soldiers.

At a debate held at Pacific University this weekend, the Speaker unveiled the policy proposal.

"America needs leaders who will honor the service and sacrifice of those who serve our country, as I have done here in Oregon," said Merkley, who helped pass Senate Bill 1066 during the special session in February. The new law provides tuition waivers for any Oregon public institution to the children and spouses of fallen soldiers.

Merkley announced his plan as former U.S. Senator and Vietnam veteran Max Cleland is scheduled to arrive in Oregon tomorrow to campaign for the Speaker.

Tops on the event agenda: how to end the war in Iraq and a new G.I. Bill.