AA Ban Proposed in Utah

On February 12, the Utah state Senate proposed a ban on affirmative action. The proposed legislation says that the state "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."

The resolution was approved by a House committee in a 10-4 vote. However, in order for the ban to go into effect, the bill must receive a two-thirds vote in both the state House and Senate, then be signed by Utah Governor Gary Herbert (R), and then approved by Utah voters in the fall 2010 election. Such a ban would not override federal laws such as Title IX. Anti-AA crusader Ward Connerly of California, who was in town to testify for the bill, said: "The government should not make distinctions; the time has come to move on. We just expect to not be discriminated against." Connerly's efforts have led to affirmative action bans in California, Michigan, Washington, and Nebraska. A similar affirmative action ban supported by Connerly was defeated in Colorado in 2008.

“Affirmative Action Ban Advances in Utah House,” Associated Press, 2/12/10; http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iMynAb8rntxTnUp35oJJ88...