Why Washington should repeal its affirmative-action ban

Washington should reverse Initiative 200, a 1998 law that bans using race in college admissions and limits the ability of state colleges and universities to diversify student enrollment.

By Seattle Times editorial board

NOW that affirmative action is back in the public discourse, Washington should consider repealing Initiative 200, a law voters approved in 1998 that outlawed the use of race in college admissions.

Read the story here.

Factions lining up for battle on affirmative action proposal

Tulsa World
By BARBARA HOBEROCK
World Capitol Bureau
Published: 11/6/2011 2:26 AM
Last Modified: 11/6/2011 4:32 AM

OKLAHOMA CITY - Several organizations are forming a coalition to oppose a state question that would abolish affirmative action in the public sector.
The measure, State Question 759, is expected to appear on the November 2012 ballot.
SQ 759 would abolish affirmative action public employment, contracting and education, with some exceptions. It would apply to the state, public agencies, counties, cities, towns, school districts and other state subdivisions.
Lawmakers put the issue on the ballot last session after a failed initiative petition effort in 2008.


Read more from this Tulsa World article at http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=336&articleid=20111106_16_A24_OKLAHO96167

GOP lawmakers push to abolish affirmative action

NECN.Com Apr 5, 2011 4:33pm OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — A Republican-backed plan to wipe out any affirmative action programs in Oklahoma appears headed for approval by the Legislature, prompting a bitter response from some minority lawmakers that it is merely a political ploy to play on racial fears and draw conservative voters to the polls. If approved, the measure would go on the 2012 state ballot. The affirmative action proposal by state Sen. Rob Johnson, R-Kingfisher, and Rep. Leslie Osborn, R-Tuttle, would prohibit special treatment based on race or sex in public employment, education or contracts. The bill, which already passed the Senate on a party-line vote, is scheduled for a hearing Wednesday in a House committee. Full Story: http://www.necn.com/04/05/11/GOP-lawmakers-push-to-abolish-affirmativ/landing_politics.html?&blockID=3&apID=ea836d24dc904596abeb679115451ff4

Victory on Equal Opportunity in Missouri

The Leadership Conference
February 26, 2010 - Posted by Tyler Lewis

Civil rights advocates in Missouri have successfully kept a proposed ballot initiative that would have amended the state's constitution to eliminate equal opportunity programs in higher education, employment, and contracting off the 2010 ballot.
Political operatives in Missouri affiliated with equal opportunity opponent Ward Connerly filed to withdraw the proposed initiative earlier this week rather than face an ACLU lawsuit challenging the language of the initiative.
"The state of Missouri has a constitutional obligation to ensure that no one is denied opportunity because of unfair and unjust discrimination," said Stephen Douglas Bonney, legal director for the ACLU of Kansas and Western Missouri. "America is the land of equal opportunity and these proposed initiatives flew in the face of some of our most cherished ideals."
Missouri has been a focus of Ward Connerly and his allies, who have been attempting to qualify similar initiatives all over the country for more than a decade. However, this is the second time in the last two elections that they have failed to qualify their anti-equal opportunity initiative for the ballot in Missouri.

Full Story: http://www.civilrights.org/archives/2010/02/897-missouri-eo.html