Krusick’s amendment dropped the minority criteria, and that was fine with the G-O-P majority. Racine County Republican Robin Vos said the program is for the poor – and racial backgrounds should have nothing to do with it.
The Wisconsin Assembly voted this morning to stop considering race in deciding who gets funded in a state program that helps the needy afford college. Milwaukee Democrat Peggy Krusick introduced the measure at 11 o’clock last night. Democrats then delayed a final vote on the bill until tomorrow. Krusick’s last-minute amendment was connected with the Talent Incentive Program, which gives grants of up to 18-hundred-dollars a year so the neediest people can attend a Wisconsin college. Applicants must be non-traditional students from low-income families – and they must meet several criteria which includes being in prison, being a first-generation college student in a family, or being black, Hispanic, Hmong, or Indian. Krusick’s amendment dropped the minority criteria, and that was fine with the G-O-P majority. Racine County Republican Robin Vos said the program is for the poor – and racial backgrounds should have nothing to do with it. But Madison Democrat Brett Hulsey said the change would eventually lock blacks out of jobs, and he called the bill a “racist race to the bottom.†Krusick was the only Democrat voting in favor of the change. She joined all Republicans in okaying it.
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