Affirmative action is front and center at the state Capitol on Tuesday.

A legislative committee seeking to ban affirmative action in all of state government is expected to hear from the chairman of the American Civil Rights Institute. Ward Connerly has led successful efforts to eliminate affirmative action in California, Washington and Michigan.

Connerly, who's black, says equal access should be provided to every individual when it comes to higher education. And if preferential treatment is given, then income, or the lack of it, should be considered.

Connerly says the era of affirmative action is coming to an end because the majority of American people do not support racial preference.

The committee's consideration this evening comes as the UW System moves toward giving greater weight to race and ethnicity in admissions.

System president Kevin Reilly last year created an admissions advisory group to review the undergraduate admission process and recommend guidelines to help campuses attract a diverse student body.