A nonpartisan bill concerning a college grant program divided state Assembly members late Tuesday evening after an amendment introduced would eliminate minority status as a criteria for receiving the grant.
The Joint Legislative Council, which provides nonpartisan research and advice for legislative committees, assisted in developing the bill.
The talent incentive grant program currently awards up to $1,800 for students attending Wisconsin's public universities.
In order to qualify for the grant, students must be of a lower socioeconomic status and meet one other disadvantaged criteria. This could include having a disability or being black, American Indian, Latino of Hmong.
The bill initially aimed to allow students to apply for the grant without having to be enrolled in consecutive semesters, as the program currently requires.
But state Rep. Peggy Krusick, D-Milwaukee, introduced an amendment which would eliminate race as a factor in receiving the grant.
State Rep. Dean Knudson, R- Hudson, said the amendment was a step in the right direction for Wisconsin public universities.
"Discriminating on the basis of skin color just to try to get diversity, you're making a mistake in doing so," Knudson said.
State Rep. Joan Ballweg, R-Markeson, also spoke for the amendment.
"What we're doing with this amendment is making the talent incentive grant colorblind," Ballweg said.
But state Rep. Tamara Grigsby, D-Milwaukee, said while no one questions programs that award grants to student athletes or underrepresented Wisconsin localities, they find faults in programs based on minority status.
"You are making it plain as day that your priority is to get the minorities out of the system," Grigsby said. "You cannot put lipstick on a pig."
The Assembly went into recess to hold partisan caucus, and the amendment was tabled.
