(2) MCRI Ballot Language

The language and terminology that are to appear on the actual ballot in Nov. 2006 are extremely important.

Michigan's State Board of Canvassers has the final say in the ballot language the voters will see at the polls on Nov. 2, 2006.

An unscrupulous Board of Canvassers could have reworded the ballot language in a way to discourage voters from approving the MCRI (as officials did with the ill-fated Houston Civil Rights Initiative).

As it stands, Michigan's State Board of Canvassers came up with compromise language which is reasonable, considering the political forces arrayed against the MCRI.

OFFICIAL STATE BALLOT LANGUAGE (compromise language): Michigan's State Board of Canvassers has proposed the following, "official" ballot language as it is to appear on Michigander's ballots in Nov. 2006. Unless a successful legal challenge is made, this is the actual language the voters will see on their ballots in Nov. 2006:

A PROPOSAL TO AMEND THE STATE CONSTITUTION TO BAN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION PROGRAMS THAT GIVE PREFERENTIAL TREATMENT TO GROUPS OR INDIVIDUALS BASED ON THEIR RACE, GENDER, COLOR, ETHNICITY OR NATIONAL ORIGIN FOR PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT, EDUCATION OR CONTRACTING PURPOSES

The proposed amendment would:

Ban public institutions from using affirmative action programs that give preferential treatment to groups or individuals based on their race, gender, color, ethnicity or national origin for public employment, education or contracting purposes. Public institutions affected by the proposal include state government, local governments, public colleges and universities, community colleges and school districts.

Prohibit public institutions from discriminating against groups or individuals due to their gender, ethnicity, race, color or national origin. (A separate provision of the state constitution already prohibits discrimination on the basis of race,color or national origin.)

Should this proposal be adopted?

HONEST, 100% ACCURATE LANGUAGE: Here is the original ballot language proposed by the Michigan Civil Rights Initiative which is the only language that truly and honestly reflects what MCRI is designed to accomplish and which was rejected by the Michigan State Board of Canvassers for the Nov. 2006 ballot. The language below will NOT appear on the Nov. 2006 ballot:

A PROPOSAL TO AMEND THE STATE CONSTITUTION TO PROHIBIT PREFERENTIAL TREATMENT OR DISCRIMINATION BY STATE GOVERNMENT

The proposal would amend the state constitution to prohibit preferential treatment or discrimination by state government, state universities, colleges, community colleges, school districts, counties and local governments to any individual or group based on race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin in the operation of public employment, public education or public contracting

DISHONEST, MISLEADING LANGUAGE: Here is the opposition proposal for ballot language by the extremist opposition group "By Any Means Necessary" (BAMN). This language was rejected by Michigan's State Board of Canvassers, and BAMN is threatening a legal challenge in order to get this misleading language on the ballot:

A PROPOSAL TO IMMEDIATELY BAN ALL AFFIRMATIVE ACTION, EQUAL OPPORTUNITY OR INTEGRATION PROGRAMS FOR WOMEN OR MINORITIES BY ANY STATE OR LOCAL GOVERNMENT.

The proposal would amend the Michigan Constitution to:

Immediately ban all affirmative action, equal opportunity or integration programs that consider race, sex, color or national origin in:

The recruitment, selection, admission or retention of students in any state university or college or in any local school district

The recruitment, hiring, training or employment of any person by and state or local authority; or

The awarding of contracts by any state or local authority.

DISHONEST, MISLEADING LANGUAGE: Here is another opposition proposal for the ballot language submitted by a pro-quota group calling itself One United Michigan. This language was also rejected by the State Board of Canvassers:

A PROPOSAL TO AMEND THE STATE CONSTITUTION TO IMMEDIATELY ELIMINATE EQUAL OPPORTUNITY AND AFFIRMATIVE ACTION PROGRAMS FOR WOMEN AND MINORITIES IN STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND PROHIBIT THEM IN THE FUTURE.

The proposal would amend the state constitution to immediately prohibit governments in Michigan, including state universities, colleges, community colleges, school districts, counties and local governments, from using any affirmative action and outreach programs in the operation of public employment, public education, public contracting, health care services or community policing, defined as those programs intended to foster diversity by offering consideration to an individual based on race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin as one of many factors among otherwise qualified individuals. The proposal would amend the Civil Rights article of the Michigan State Constitution.