Petition Drive Off to Misleading Start

Journal Star: Workers circulating petitions to end affirmative action in Nebraska have dishonored the citizen initiative process by using misleading tactics.  Nebraskans commonly report being approached by clipboard-carrying circulators who ask whether they will sign a petition to end gender and race discrimination in Nebraska. It's a trick. The proposal would amend the Nebraska Constitution to prevent race, ethnicity and gender from being taken into account in hiring, scholarship or contract decisions made by public agencies. Officials from the University of Nebraska and state colleges say the proposed amendment would jeopardize outreach programs aimed at recruiting more minority students. The movement has roots in situations that are quite different than what can be found in Nebraska. In California, for example, there are more college applications than the system can handle. In Nebraska that is not the case. Any student who meets admission requirements can attend the University of Nebraska. There are no quotas. Funds to pay the petition circulators largely come from out of state. Of the $181,000 reported in donations, about $120,000 came from the California-based organization that is behind efforts in several states. Another $50,000 came from New York businessman Paul Singer.

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