HELENA — Democrats on the House Appropriations Committee called for an apology Wednesday from a Republican lawmaker who they said "deceived" them into voting for a motion that attempts to eliminate the environmental studies program at the University of Montana.

Rep. John Witt, R-Carter, sponsored an amendment to House Bill 2 Monday that diverts $600,000 from the university budget to fund grants for students and the dental hygiene program at the College of Technology in Great Falls. The amendment called for another $200,000 for the Montana Library Commission.

The amendment passed.

After the vote, Witt told Lee Newspapers that the $800,000 in diverted funds is symbolic because it represents the two-year cost of running the university's "disgusting" environmental studies program.

Witt, however, did not tell his fellow lawmakers at the time of the vote that this amendment is symbolically tied to his objection of the university's environmental studies program. Witt has repeatedly criticized the program for being too liberal and bad for business.

Despite a request from Rep. Christine Kaufmann, D-Helena, Witt did not apologize.

Democrats said they felt deceived by Witt and will refer his action to the ethics committee.

"The process we have in the state Legislature is one of integrity," said Rep. Rosie Buzzas, D-Missoula. "I think (what Witt did) is morally and ethically wrong. I think it's unfortunate we're deceiving people."

Rep. Eve Franklin, D-Great Falls, said Wednesday she wouldn't have voted for the measure if she had known Witt's true intentions.

Witt said his criticisms about the environmental studies program have been made public in the past. He said he didn't mention his intentions Monday because the amendment came up at such a late hour and he didn't "want to make an issue of it."

"This has been a topic for years," Witt said. "It isn't just something that happened yesterday."

Rep. Ron Erickson, D-Missoula, is one of the founders of the program and said the attacks on it have been especially virulent this year. He went on to say that while some of the graduates of the program do go into environmental activism, more of them work as teachers, lawyers and even industry lobbyists.

Kaufmann graduated from UM's environmental studies program with a Master's Degree. She called for an amendment Wednesday that would have praised the program. It failed.

"I think his deception influenced actions of the Legislature," Kaufmann said. "He should be called on the carpet for that."