No more leg up

The Salt Lake Tribune
Published Dec 12, 2010 11:50
PMUpdated Dec 12, 2010 11:50PM

Amendments to the Utah Constitution should be rare and sorely needed. But some lawmakers want an amendment to end affirmative action policies that have helped minimize the effects of discrimination on minority citizens and women for decades. The effort is not only unnecessary but misdirected and ill-conceived.

Full Editorial: http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/opinion/50818827-82/women-action-affirmative-minority.html.csp

Conservative Utah considers ban on affirmative action

Examiner.com (Utah)
November 14th, 2010 9:14 am MT
Alison Peek
Salt Lake City Political Buzz Examiner

Once again, conservative members of the Utah Legislature are considering a constitutional amendment prohibiting affirmative action. The legislation is backed by the American Civil Rights Institute, a national organization fighting affirmative action in at least five other states. Senator Margaret Dayton-R, Orem is expected to sponsor the proposed amendment. Similar legislation narrowly missed passage during the last legislative session.
Affirmative action was a term first coined by the Kennedy administration, and it evolved into a program to stop discrimination based on gender, race, religion, physical disability or ethnicity. Affirmative action created opportunities for the recruitment, training and advancement of people who have been discriminated against in the past. In our recent history, it was virtually impossible for these groups to make headway in business, education, and many other aspects of life without an enforceable law stating it was illegal to discriminate. Some believe this has worked in reverse, making Caucasians and men targets of discrimination.

Full Story: http://www.examiner.com/political-buzz-in-salt-lake-city/conservative-utah-considers-ban-on-affirmative-action

Panel to look at potential ban on affirmative action

Utah News
By Robert Gehrke
The Salt Lake Tribune
Updated 2 hours ago

A panel of judges, attorneys and legislators will scrutinize the legal impact of a potential amendment to Utah’s Constitution banning affirmative action policies.
“Stated very simply, the impact of [a ban] is enormous,” said retired Judge Jon Memmott, the chairman of the state Constitutional Review Commission. “And the implementation of that is fairly enormous given the almost 50-year history of affirmative action and all the programs … that this would impact at the state and both higher education and regular education programs.”
In the last legislative session, Rep. Curt Oda, R-Clearfield, proposed an amendment — a similar one had been adopted in other states — that would prohibit any level of government from engaging in any affirmative action programs.

Full Story: http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/home/50139823-76/action-affirmative-amendment-commission.html.csp

Utah backers of amendment to ban affirmative action abandon fight

The Salt Lake Tribune
By Robert Gehrke
The Salt Lake Tribune
Updated: 03/11/2010 01:58:20 PM MST

Backers of a contentious push to amend Utah's Constitution to ban affirmative action have abandoned the fight this year, unable to swing four Republican holdouts in the House.
"We've agreed to stand down," said Jeff Hartley, who had been hired by the American Civil Rights Institute to lobby for the amendment banning preferential treatment based on race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin.
Leadership offered to study the issue during the summer and it will likely be back next year.
House Minority Leader David Litvack, D-Salt Lake City, said he is relieved the fight is over. He said the amendment proponents use deceptive practices to further their cause and that the Constitutional Revision Commission raised serious concerns about the language of the amendment.
Litvack said it is an "anti-civil rights" measure that would undermine outreach programs to minority communities and women.
"There's no evidence that this idea of reverse discrimination, quotas is even happening and then we want to amend the Constitution based on that?" he asked. "This is a national agenda that is being driven into the state of Utah. We Utahns need to do what's best for Utah."

Full Story: http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_14656442

Oda's bill to ban affirmative action languishing in House

StandardNet Live
By Dan Weist (Standard-Examiner Davis Bureau)
Last Edit: Mar 9 2010 - 11:26pm

SALT LAKE CITY -- A Clearfield lawmaker still has hopes his plan to ban affirmative action by changing the Utah Constitution will get a floor vote in the Utah House, but time grows short as the 2010 session nears its end.
Rep. Curtis Oda, R-Clearfield, sponsored a resolution that would prevent local governments, state agencies and public colleges from discriminating or providing preferential treatment based on race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin.
It sailed through a legislative committee but has stalled since midsession.
"I nearly have enough votes for it," said Oda on Tuesday.
To amend the Constitution, the resolution would have to be approved by a two-thirds vote in the state House and Senate and be signed by Republican Gov. Gary Herbert. Voters also would have to approve the measure this fall.
Oda amended his original legislation to add four public meetings to hear both sides of the debate on the proposal.

Full Story: http://www.standard.net/topics/utah-legislature/2010/03/09/odas-bill-ban-affirmative-action-languishing-house

Utah Legislature: Affirmative action ban gains backing after changes

Deseret News
By Josh Smith
Deseret News
Published: Monday, March 1, 2010 9:44 p.m. MST



SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah House may give a proposed constitutional amendment that targets discrimination and affirmative action a second chance.
Submitted Friday, an unapproved substitute resolution would call for a series of public hearings during the summer, a proposal designed to placate Republican critics.
After voicing opposition to the original HJR24, Rep. Steven Mascaro, R-West Jordan, said he drafted the additional language in an effort to ensure public debate on the measure, which calls for a ban on any affirmative-action policies in state agencies, schools or government contracting.
"I was concerned that this resolution would pass without sufficient public scrutiny," Mascaro said. "With this in mind, I came up with the idea that if it passes, it will at least pass with the opportunity for the public to understand and debate these changes to our constitution."



Full Story: http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700013179/Utah-Legislature-Affirmative-action-ban-gains-backing-after-changes.html

Group mobilizes to fight ban on affirmative action

The Salt Lake Tribune
By Sean P. Means
The Salt Lake Tribune
Updated: 02/27/2010 05:16:21 PM MST

A coalition of Utah community groups is mobilizing to stop a proposed amendment to Utah's constitution that would bar any affirmative-action policy in schools, workplaces or government services.
HJR24 passed out of a Utah House committee Feb. 11, one day after it was introduced, and awaits action by the full House. If passed by a two-thirds majority in both houses and signed by Gov. Gary Herbert, it could appear on the ballot as soon as November.
Speakers at an educational forum organized Saturday at Salt Lake City's Horizonte Instructional Center told an audience of about 60 that they must spread the word that affirmative action is not "reverse racism" -- as labeled by those backing HJR24 -- but a tool to foster equality that benefits everyone.
"The people at the greatest risk from not having diversity are white people," said William Smith, associate professor of educational policy at the University of Utah, who is black. "You're at risk of being culturally and civilly retarded. ... If you put all of your savings in one area, you're bankrupt. I'm talking culturally bankrupt."
Rep. Curtis Oda, R-Clearfield, the sponsor of HJR24, calls affirmative action a failure.
"You're promoting discrimination to stop discrimination," Oda said in a phone interview Saturday. "You're telling these people, 'You're not good enough to do it on your own. Let's just hand it to you.'"

Full Story: http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_14484512

Utah Legislature: Anti-affirmative action measure sinking fast in Utah House

Deseret News
By Josh Smith
Published: Friday, Feb. 19, 2010 9:31 p.m. MST

SALT LAKE CITY — Conflicting conservative values may sink a proposed anti-affirmative action constitutional amendment, at least for this legislative session.
Four Republican representatives told the Deseret News they do not support the resolution as currently written.
As a constitutional amendment, HJR24 requires a two-thirds majority to pass. In the House, that means at least 50 votes.
Minority Leader David Litvack, D-Salt Lake City, confirmed that, as of Friday, all 22 House Democrats oppose the proposal.
With at least four Republicans saying they are opposed to passing the current resolution and more representatives on the fence, the proposal's chances for success may be slim in the House.
The proposed constitutional amendment prohibits state entities from discriminating or granting "preferential treatment" based on race or sex, among other factors.

Full Story: http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700010743/Utah-Legislature-Anti-affirmative-action-measure-sinking-fast-in-Utah-House.html

Affirmative action still needed in Utah

deseret news
By Jeanetta Williams
Published: Saturday, Feb. 20, 2010 12:25 a.m. MST

The NAACP Opposes HJR24 (Joint Resolution on Equal Treatment). This joint resolution of the Utah Legislature proposes to amend the Utah Constitution to enact a provision prohibiting discrimination and preferential treatment by government entities. This resolution proposes to amend the Utah Constitution to: prohibit the state, public institutions of higher education and political subdivisions from discriminating against or granting preferential treatment to any individual or group on the basis of race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin with respect to public employment, public education or public contracting; and to provide exceptions; to authorize the Legislature to provide a remedy for a violation and provide limits for a remedy; and to provide that the prohibition is self-executing.
The NAACP strongly opposes this legislation and urges a no vote. Furthermore, we do not understand the fast pace of this purposed constitutional amendment.

Full Story: http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700010658/Affirmative-action-still-needed-in-Utah.html

Affirmative action ban advances in Utah House

Associated Press

By BROCK VERGAKIS (AP) – 1 day ago
SALT LAKE CITY — Lawmakers moved quickly Friday to place a ban on affirmative action in the Utah Constitution, despite little evidence the practice is being used or has caused problems.
A resolution that would prevent local governments, state agencies and public colleges from discriminating or providing preferential treatment based on race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin sailed through a legislative committee only two days after it was made public.
To amend the constitution, the resolution would have to be approved by a two-thirds vote in the state House and Senate and be signed by Republican Gov. Gary Herbert. Voters also would have to approve the measure this fall.
The proposal is likely to have little trouble getting the necessary votes for passage in the GOP-dominated Legislature.
A House committee approved the measure known as House Joint Resolution 24 with a 10-4 vote Friday. The full House will likely vote on it next week.

Full Story: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iMynAb8rntxTnUp35oJJ88Yi4BHgD9DQSFHO0

Picture: Curt Oda (KCPW)

Another story on this topic: http://kcpw.org/blog/local-news/2010-02-12/oda-looks-to-abolish-affirmative-action/

Utah Legislature: Lawmaker proposes ending affirmative action in higher education

Deseret News
By Josh Smith
Published: Thursday, Feb. 11, 2010 6:33 p.m. MST

SALT LAKE CITY — Utah lawmakers are considering a resolution that would call for a constitutional amendment that could effectively end affirmative action and "preferential treatment" in state agencies and higher education.
Rep. Curtis Oda, R-Clearfield, is proposing legislation that would forbid state agencies, contractors and universities and colleges from providing preference based on race or sex.
Under the proposed HJR24, state entities "may not discriminate against, or grant preferential treatment to, any individual or group on the basis of race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin with respect to public employment, public education, or public contracting."
Federal law, such as Title IX, would still trump any state amendment and the law would not apply to private businesses or schools, except those that contract with the state, Oda said.

Full Story: http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700008867/Utah-Legislature-Lawmaker-proposes-ending-affirmative-action-in-higher-education.html