Equal opportunity ban to go on 2010 ballot
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East Valley Tribune: Arizonans will decide next year if they want to outlaw affirmative action programs and any special programs or preferences for women and minorities. On a 17-11 vote, the Senate gave final approval to a proposed constitutional amendment to prohibit preferential treatment or discrimination by government on the basis of race or sex. The measure, which already has been approved by the House, now goes on the 2010 ballot. It will be the first time Arizonans get to vote on the issue. A similar initiative drive in 2008 failed when backers did not get enough signatures. But Californian Ward Connerly, who helped craft this measure, said that does not mean Arizonans don't want the language in the state constitution. He said it reflected instead on the difficulties in getting measures on the ballot. And Connerly said the fact that other issues managed to qualify - and some actually were approved - is irrelevant. The measure is aimed at any law, rule or regulation that would give any group preference in public employment, contracting or education. These range from admissions to the state's two publicly funded law schools to the set-aside and bid preferences offered by Tucson for minority-owned businesses. "It is unconscionable that we are allowing government to discriminate in these areas," said Rep. Steve Montenegro, R-Litchfield Park. "That's not equal treatment." Connerly, who pushed through a similar measure in his home state in 1996, said it "sets the tone that government should not be discriminating against its citizens or granting anyone preferential treatment." He also said that this measure simply mirrors the intent of other civil rights laws that already ban discrimination.
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Comments
The ballot measure planned for 2010 in Arizona that bans preferential treatment for minorities (in hiring, etc) would make sense if everyone was starting from the same “gate”. However, this is NOT the case. White males are light years ahead of the rest!
While affirmative action initiatives are not perfect they are a necessary measure.
