JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) -- Missouri students living in the U.S. illegally couldn't get state-funded scholarships under a budget proposal that has won Senate approval.
Senators voted 25-8 on Tuesday in favor of a higher education budget bill that restricts state money from going to scholarships for those immigrants.
The bill also would require public colleges and universities to charge immigrants living illegally in the U.S. the international rate of tuition.
Supporters say taxpayer money shouldn't go to help those students, while opponents said it unfairly punishes young immigrants brought to the country by their parents.
The proposal was part of a package of bills under Senate review that outline $26 billion in state spending for next year.
Changes include roughly $27 million more in performance-based funding for public colleges compared with this year.