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Texans
Seek to End Use of Racial Quotas and Racial Preferences |
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Texas Initiative 2000?
Voters in the Lone Star State are sick and tired of racial preferences and
quotas. Democratic legislators continually attempt to overturn Hopwood; Houston
re-worded the city's ballot initiative; Texas citizens groups introduce legislation to end
the use of quotas. The Campaign for a Color Blind America and the American Civil
Rights Institute are working hard to ensure that Texans can at last enjoy a color-blind
government! But wait! Republican Gov. George W. Bush may be running for
President in 2000! Will Bush abandon race-blind policies in order to pander to
minority voting coalitions?
Adversity.Net Special Report - Last Updated July 29, 1999 |
Most Texans Want to End Quotas! Leftists &
Pro-Minorities Prevent Ward Connerly from Speaking (05/03/99 - dead) "A gang of bullies, the self-styled Anti-Racist Organizing Committee, turned out to prevent him from being heard. They resorted to the usual thuggish tactics, yelling insults, pounding the walls, stomping their feet, waving placards. One poster demanded: ''Protect Free Speech - Shut Connerly Up!''
"This goonish behavior had been advertised well in advance. For days before
Connerly's appearance, AROC had distributed flyers egging students to ''shout him down.''
On the day he arrived, a columnist in the campus paper urged students to show that
Connerly's ''rhetoric will not be tolerated,'' noting that ''at other universities, fed-up
students have forced him off stage.'' Time and again, this is how liberals debate: not by
joining the conversation, but by stifling it." (Boston Globe 05/03/99 by Jeff
Jacoby)
Texas
Supreme Court to Hear Houston Ballot Language Case (04/08/99) Racial Quota Bill Revived
in Texas Legislature (03/31/99 - dead) "A similar bill failed to exit the committee last session, but Rangel has revived the legislation again in an effort to reverse some of the effects of the Hopwood decision. The 1997 Hopwood ruling by the 5th U.S. Circuit Court effectively ended affirmative action at Texas colleges and universities that receive federal funding. "Rangel said Morales's interpretation of the ruling established three requirements for the consideration of race in admissions, scholarships or other programs: The Legislature or a court would have to prove past discrimination, show existing effects of that discrimination and create a narrowly-tailored program to remedy those effects. "The proposed bill could meet these criteria if the Legislature declared that Texas universities have discriminated against African Americans and Hispanics in the past and that the effects of that discrimination continue into the present, Rangel said.
"But Marc Levin, executive director for the Campaign for a Colorblind America and a
UT alum, said the bill would not qualify under the Hopwood exemptions because it is not
narrowly-tailored and because it includes Hispanics, who were not subject to the same
legal segregation as African Americans." (The Daily Texan, 03/31/99, by
Danielle Cooper) Latinos As American As A
Texan (03/28/99) "Antonio R. Villaraigosa (D-Los Angeles), speaker of the Assembly, is proud of his experience as a Latino student activist. Yet, he is not interested in developing an exclusively Latino political agenda. Is he Latino, or is he American? Can one be both a Latino and an American? When a Latino says he is American, does that imply "selling out" his Latino-ness? When a Latina says she is Latina, does that imply a Quebec-style situation of divided loyalties, betrayal and separatism?
"These concerns are real, often lying just below the surface. For example, an Anglo
participant in a series of focus groups on perceptions of Latinos, conducted last year for
the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund, asked, "If we went to war .
. . with Cuba . . . whose side are you on?" The puzzle, for some Anglos, boils down
to: How can Latinos love America and still love things Latino? (LA Times, 03/28/99, by
David E. Hayes-Bautista) Bill would end race
and ethnicity info for jobs (03/25/99 - dead) "Rep. Suzanna Gratia Hupp, R-Lampasas, said House Bill 2327 is not intended to eliminate affirmative action, but to facilitate application procedures for people who are nulti-ethnic. 'The number of interracial marriages, and children resulting from those marriages, is increasing everyday,' Hupp said in a statement. 'Therefore, we should eliminate the degrading practice of forcing people to check 'other' when indicating their racial group on applications.
Hupp said the bill encourages all applicants to be considered equally without regard to
race. "H.B. 2723 will move us one step closer to a colorblind society in which we
only have to check one box: American," Hupp said. (Daily Texan, 03/25/99, by
Laura Offenbacher) Tex. Gov. Bush and
Minority Contracting Quotas (03/22/99 - dead) "But before [Ward] Connerly even left town, Ellis, the state senator and [racial quota] supporter, issued a statement praising Bush's stand, 'Thankfully, Governor Bush understands the importance of inclusion.' [See Also: Terms - Inclusion]
"A week later, neither Bush nor his staff would say whether Bush supports the state's
Historically Underutilized Business program, or whether he is for or against the efforts
to eliminate it. 'I'm for affirmative access. I think the state ought to do
everything in its power to provide equal opportunity for all citizens,' Bush said at a
recent news conference. 'I think quotas pit one group of people against the
other.' He declined to be more specific." (PostNet, 03/22/99) Can Texas
Gov. Bush Have it Both Ways? (03/21/99) "Not to be outdone, state Sen. Rodney Ellis -- a Houston Democrat and ardent backer of [racial quotas and preferences] -- cited his own, equally important ally in keeping those programs: Gov. George W. Bush. "Which one is right? It depends on whom you ask, but one thing is clear:" Regarding racial quotas, Texas contracting preferences for minorities, "abortion and other potentially explosive social issues, Bush has developed an uncanny ability to have it both ways, experts say."
[Where does Texas Gov. Bush stand on increased penalties for 'hate crimes'? Bush
spokewsoman Linda Edwards says "Gov. Bush believes all violent crimes are crimes of
hate". (Star-Telegram, 03/21/99, by Jay Root) Bill to End
Racial Classifications in Texas - House Bill 2723
(03/19/99) The Campaign for a Colorblind America announced that the Governor's inclusive colorblind vision is one step closer to becoming a reality. Texas State Rep. Suzanna Gratia Hupp has filed House Bill 2723, which would prohibit state and local governments from requesting and collecting racial and ethnic information about applicants for public employment, public universities, and public contracting. This progressive legislation will end the divisive system whereby Texas must try to squeeze their vast and complex identities into one box. In our increasingly multiracial and multiethnic state, this check-off scheme too often forces applicants to choose one parent over the other and neglect one of their numerous ethnic heritages. Edward Blum, Chairman of the Campaign for a Colorblind America, said, "Rep. Hupp is doing a great public service by introducing this important legislation. We look forward to working with her and Governor Bush to prepare Texas for a colorblind 21st century." Marc Levin, Executive Director of the Campaign for a Colorblind America, said, "Rep. Hupp's legislation offers an approach everyone can agree on. It has nothing to do with affirmative action, as affirmative efforts to recruit and retain minorities would not be affected. However, this bill would ensure that hiring and admissions decisions at our public agencies and universities are blind to racial and ethnic differences."
Levin continued, "For the many critics who still complain about the 'good old boy
system' in Texas, this legislation is the perfect solution. Since those making the
decisions about admissions and hiring will not even know the race or ethnicity of the
applicants, this bill will prevent these decision makers from preferring applicants of
their own race or ethnicity over others." (Campaign for a Colorblind America,
03/19/99, web site http://www.equalrights.com ) Civil Rights Movement Has
Stooped to Victimization Contest (03/17/99) "By contrast, the addition of women, Latinos and Asians to the civil rights movement was more politics than morality. One consequence is that race lost its role as the primary determinant of a civil-rights claim. Another is that the uniqueness of the black experience became obscured by the growing list of groups -- including people aged 40 and older, gays and people with disabilities -- granted protected minority status. "But the politicization of demography leads researchers and activists to interpret any wage and education gaps between whites and minorities as prima facie proof of discrimination. Accordingly, the distinction between immigrant poverty and that of multigenerational Americans is often blurred. Income and education levels for low-skilled, recently arrived Latino immigrants are routinely -- and mistakenly -- compared with those of U.S.-born whites to prove pervasive discrimination.
"These kinds of comparisons mask the fact that different minorities face different
biases and barriers and that each group has its own strengths to draw on in combating
them. James P. Smith, a senior economist at the Rand Corp., weighed the progress of
different American groups over generations. This longitudinal approach helps to sort out
the role discrimination plays in impeding social and economic mobility."
(Houston Chronicle, 03/17/99, by Gregory Rodriguez) Lawmaker's
bill takes aim at quotas in Texas (03/09/99) "The bill is patterned after the contentious Proposition 209 California voters approved in 1996. ‘Basically, people are going to be judged on the basis of their talents and capabilities and not on the color of their skin, their religion, national origin or gender,’ said state Rep. Robert Talton, R- Pasadena, the bill's author. If enacted, the legislation would dismantle various programs in Texas aimed at providing racially-preferential access to state government contracts as well as outlawing the practice of "discounting" minority contractors' contract costs to "make them more competitive with white, male-owned firms". One glaring example of such state-sponsored programs is the Historically Underutilized Business program. "The HUB program requires state agencies to make a ‘good faith effort’ to grant contracts to minority- and women- owned firms."
"Ward Connerly, the architect of the successful California initiative who appeared
with [State Representative Robert Talton] at a Capitol news conference, said
discrimination still exists in America but called affirmative action a ‘morally
wrong’ solution." (Express-News, by Jaime Costillo, 03/09/99) Reverse Discrimination
Foe Blasts Bill Compromise (03/09/99) "Moderators threatened several times to have disruptive students removed, but no one was arrested. 'You may not like the Hopwood decision, but it is going to be the law of the land,' Connerly said. 'The question is how do we make the transition?' "At a news conference earlier in the day, Connerly criticized as 'shuck and jive' a deal forged last week by state senators that revised the state's Historically Underutilized Business program. Instead of concentrating on the number of contracts that state agencies make with businesses owned by women and minorities, the new program would focus on efforts to diversify contracting.
"Connerly's appearance at the Capitol lent support to a bill filed Monday by state
Rep. Robert Talton, R-Pasadena, to prohibit discrimination or preferential treatment in
public employment, contracting or education when that discrimination or preference is
based on race, color, gender, ethnicity or national origin."
(American-Statesman, 03/09/99, by Mary Ann Roser and Osler McCarthy) Liberal Lawmakers
Criticize Opponents of Racial Quotas (03/09/99) A member of the Texas Legislative Black Caucus, state Rep. Sylvester Turner (D-Houston), said that popular support by a majority of Texas citizens to end reverse discrimination "only serves to divide us and create unnecessary tensions. We [minorities] should go into this next millennium as one unified force -- for the betterment of this state [or at least for the betterment of our own race-based economic interests]." "The Campaign for a Color-Blind America, led by Houstonian Edward Blum, is pushing legislation to abolish race and gender preferences in state hiring, contracting and higher education. A bill to that effect, filed by state Rep. Robert Talton, R-Pasadena, is the first of several measures planned by the organization this session.
"Another bill, which has yet to be filed, would eliminate the boxes on state
employment and higher education admissions forms where applicants denote their
ethnicity. (based on Houston Chronicle, 03/09/99, by Julie Mason) Houston Opponents of
Reverse Discrimination Take Fight to Austin (03/07/99) "The Campaign for a Color-Blind America, led by anti-affirmative-action provocateur Edward Blum, launches its Capitol blitz today. 'Because the movement to end discrimination and preferences seems to be sweeping the entire country, it only seems right to me that our state representatives should also have the opportunity to vote on ending these practices by the state itself,' Blum said. "Blum's group has lined up sponsors for a roster of legislation and also is organizing appearances by Ward Connerly, the University of California regent and national anti-affirmative-action figurehead. "Discussions also are under way about a possible state constitutional amendment similar to those passed in California and Washington", aimed at ending racial quotas and racial preferences programs in state government and university admissions. "State Rep. John Culberson, R-Houston, also is filing a bill that would prevent home-rule cities such as Houston from rewording ballot language submitted by petition -- a measure that harks back to a pivotal episode in the 1997 Proposition A campaign. 'What I am proposing is a truth in voting proposition aimed at ending slippery and confusing ballot language and ensuring honesty and integrity in the process,' he said.
"Currently mired in the courts is a legal challenge by Blum's group against the city
of Houston for [illegally] rewriting the ballot language for Proposition A, a gambit that
both sides agree changed the outcome of the election." (based on Houston
Chronicle, 03/07/99, by Julie Mason) Texas State Representative Ron Wilson (D-Houston) has filed legislation (House Bill 1394) that would open to the public the contents of files related to businesses enrolled in the state's contracting racial and gender quota program. These are businesses classified as Historically Underutilized Businesses (HUB) based solely on the race and gender of the owner. State Senator Rodney Ellis did not actually sponsor the so-called Ellis Amendment, but was responsible for ramrodding it through the last session. It was quietly attached to a bill as a rider and then signed by Governor George W. Bush into law. Despite being a steadfast supporter of affirmative action and even once getting into a physical altercation with a legislator who proposed abolishing it, Wilson wants to allow the public to inspect affirmative action files. This would enable the media and the public to determine which businesses certified by governmental agencies are truly disadvantaged. Former Houston Mayor Bob Lanier used the Ellis rider to close affirmative action files in 1997 when insider dealing in the Houston affirmative action program was exposed. A series of articles published by this author in the Houston Forward Times documented how most major affirmative action contracts dispensed by the City of Houston were going to politically connected insiders and elected officials. It raised questions about whether some businesses were actually "fronts" for white males. Senator Ellis was exposed as one of the insiders with city minority contracts. Several senators are being lobbied to sponsor Wilson's legislation in the Senate. Wilson expects the bill to be passed and signed into law by Bush. Wilson says, "There is no good reason to hide these files from the public. Any credible company or individual who wants to do business under the affirmative action statutes ought to be able to stand before the light of the public and explain who they are and why they're qualified just like any other individual or business would have to do if applying for a contract that does not fall under the affirmative action statutes." Wilson wants to make sure minority firms certified under affirmative action programs in Texas are not "fronts" for wealthy white businessmen. "All the more reason for us to make those records available to the media and public so we weed out those who might be taking advantage of the program," adds Wilson. Wilson has shown his ideological independence from the liberal Democratic agenda on many other issues, such as his support for school choice and the concealed carry law. Note: State Rep. Robert Talton is sponsoring similar legislation that would also repeal the Ellis Amendment. Bill to overturn Hopwood
rule filed in Austin (02/26/99 -dead) "State Rep. Irma Rangel's bill would allow colleges to consider African-American race and Mexican-American origin in admissions recruitment and financial aid policies. Rangel, D-Kingsville, [maintains that] her proposed legislation is consistent with the 1996 Hopwood ruling, in which the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals banned the use of race-based criteria for admissions, scholarships and financial aid in Texas public colleges and universities.
"Rangel's bill takes advantage of language in the Hopwood ruling which said race may
be considered if the Legislature or a court finds evidence that past discriminatory
practices have had a current impact on diversity." (based on Express-News,
02/26/99, by Lucy Hood) Texas Related Stories and Links These three intertwined case studies present an unusual and accurate insight into the manner in which the Executive Branch of our government conspires with regulated industries, and with racial interests such as the NAACP, to impose unpopular and unconstitutional racial quotas upon the nation! Read all three of these: (1 of 3) Texaco, Inc.: Oil giant is humbled before onslaught of the NAACP, Clinton's Justice Department, and an illegally made tape recording. (Shades of Linda Tripp!) Texaco suddenly becomes an ardent quota supporter, and helps to defeat Houston's Civil Rights Initiative which sought to end quotas in city contracting. See Case 14 - Texaco Toes the Quota Line. (2 of 3) Paine Webber: The imperial (former) Mayor of Houston, Bob Lanier, told investment giant Paine Webber to forget about its lucrative bond underwriting business with the city unless the investment firm ponied up and helped to stop the Houston Civil Rights Initiative. And by the way, said Mayor Lanier, please silence that pesky broker of yours, Edward Blum, who is opposing racial quotas in Houston. See Case 15 - Paine Webber Silences Quota Opponent. (3 of 3) Houston Civil Rights Initiative: Proposition A would have ended Houston's use of racial quotas in city contracting. But (former) Mayor Bob Lanier and his city council illegally reworded the ballot initiative so that voters were not actually allowed to vote on ending quotas! Along the way, former Mayor Lanier extorted support from many private businesses by bluntly threatening to cancel their city contracts unless they came out on his side! The courts may yet order Houston to conduct another ballot which accurately reflects the language of the iniative to end racial quotas. See Houston Civil Rights Initiative. Campaign for a Color-Blind America The Campaign for a Color-Blind America, Legal Defense and Educational Foundation is a 501(c) (3) not-for-profit organization. The Board of Directors includes nationally prominent civil rights activists, social scientists and legal scholars. It is the goal of the organization to challenge race-based public policies and educate the public about the injustices of racial preferences.
Chairman: Mr. Edward Blum (former Paine Webber trader forced to resign for
supporting the Houston Civil Rights Initiative in 1997). Campaign for a Color-Blind
America American Civil Rights Institute
The American Civil Rights Institute is a national civil rights organization created to
educate the public about racial and gender preferences. Ward Connerly currently serves as chair of the ACRI, is on the board of the California Chamber of Commerce and is chairman of the California Governor's Foundation. The American Civil Rights
Institute - END of Texas Initiative 2000 - |
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