Anti-afrmative action bill proposed in Texas

The call to end affirmative action got one voice stronger last week as Texas State Rep. Robert Talton (R-Pasadena) proposed a bill that would outlaw the use of race in admissions or hiring practices in Texas.

The bill's objective is similar to that of California's anti-affirmative action Proposition 209, which outlawed the use of racial preferences in the state in 1996, but the two are not identical.

A proposition appears on the state-wide ballot during an election, but a bill may only be voted on by elected legislators.

Wendi Ayles, legislative aid for Talton, said he has an interest in the issue of affirmative action.

"I know he's worked with people in the district on it," Ayles said. "I know it's a concern to him."

Ward Connerly, a former University of California system regent and a major proponent of the California initiative, met with Talton when he announced the bill last week and said he supports Talton's efforts.

"I like the legislation," Connerly said. "It parallels the propositions in California and Washington state."

Connerly said that while the bill does not have a strong chance of passing, Talton and his supporters should not give up.

"The bill ... frankly is not going to go anywhere. There's probably a 5 percent chance it will pass," he said. "But you don't back off of a principle you believe in just because its prospects are not altogether good."

Ayles said Talton and his supporters are keeping their fingers crossed about the passage of his bill.

"We've been getting a lot of press about it," she said. "We're just going to see what happens and hope for the best."

University of California system Regent Bill Bagley said the effects of Proposition 209 combined with a regent-sponsored resolution banning the use of preferences in the California school system has changed the make-up of the schools.

"There's no question it's been a negative thing," Bagley said, adding that both the number of minority applications and number of admissions of minority students have declined significantly.

Bagley said it is next to impossible to form a diverse student body without the use recruiting techniques geared toward minorities.

"If you want to reach out, do you go to Beverly Hills, or do you go to urban Detroit?" he asked. "Diversity is an integral part of education."

After Proposition 209 passed, Connerly expressed his interest in seeing similar actions in other states, including Michigan. Last month Connerly spoke with state Sen. David Jaye (R-Macomb) about efforts to get an initiative outlawing the use of preferences on the 2000 ballot in Michigan.

Jaye has long been an opponent of hiring and admissions practices he says steal "opportunities from more eligible Asian and white students." He said the end of affirmative action is inevitable.

"It is only a question of time before we outlaw racist and unfair actions," Jaye said. Jobs and admissions to public universities are "stolen by unqualified and less qualified minorities. It's an outrage."

But state Rep. Liz Brater (D-Ann Arbor) said she would not support a bill similar to the Texas legislation.

"I would be opposed to that type of legislation," Brater said. "It's very important that we have affirmative action in order to give everyone an opportunity to have access to education and employment."

Jaye said his current work on the issue takes place on four fronts:

n Attempts to reduce the amount of state money allotted to the transportation department if it continues to use minority preferences in hiring.

n Encouraging universities to choose visiting professors based on research or academic experience and not on the basis of race.

n Continuing his involvement with the class action lawsuit against the University for its use of race in the College of Literature, Science and the Arts' and Law School's admissions practices.

n Garnering support for his petition to put the issue of outlawing affirmative action on the ballot in 2000.

03-18-99