Student aid still in doubt

by Pedro Oliveira Jr.

Friday, September 7, 2007 00:00

Several state representatives urged members of the Wisconsin Assembly budget conference committee on Thursday to include grants for the 4,708 University of Wisconsin students still waiting for financial aid in the yet-to-be-determined state budget.

According to the Democratic lawmakers, the Wisconsin Higher Education Board has agreed to provide grants for the students waiting for aid if the Republican-controlled Assembly provides public assurance the funds will be part of the budget.

"This is nothing short of cruel — it's time to stop playing with people's lives," Rep. Joe Parisi, D-Madison, said. "Anyone who fails to commit to funding these grants should be held accountable for the damage they cause to the lives of these young men and women."

Rep. Spencer Black, D-Madison, said Democrats have offered the Assembly a reasonable solution for the problem but he was unsure the Assembly will agree.

"I believe the Democratic leader has responded positively, but we're waiting for the Republicans," Black said.

Mike Mikalsen, a spokesperson for Rep. Steve Nass, R-Whitewater, said legislators are trying to play "political games," using students in hopes of increasing the budget.

"They're trying to use the unfortunate circumstance these students find themselves in as political props in a battle about the state budget," Mikalsen said. "They're trying to bash Republicans on the budget they passed."

Mikalsen said the Assembly is already supporting the UW System by setting a 4-percent tuition cap.

"Republicans can play this game in getting a group of students and bashing Democrats for not being as supportive of the tuition cap as they should be," Mikalsen said.

According to Mikalsen, a lower cap is the best way to provide financial aid because it also helps moderate-income students who have to rely on loans to pay for tuition.

Mikalsen also said the budget committee needs to first reach an agreement about K-12 education funding, and then move on to higher education.

While the Republican Assembly and the Democratic Senate work to reach an agreement on the state budget, students in limbo face recently distributed tuition bills, due Friday, Sept. 21.