[Q13Fox] OLYMPIA, Wash. -- A measure that reinstates the use of affirmative action in state employment, contracting and admission to public colleges and universities was narrowly losing Tuesday night in early returns.
Referendum 88 asked people whether they wanted to approve or reject Initiative 1000, which was passed by the Legislature in April. I-1000 amends current statutes that prohibit state government from discriminating against or giving preferential treatment to individuals or groups based on race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin in public employment, public education, or public contracting.
While it was passing in King County, the state's most populous, it was being rejected in most other areas.
The left put tricky wording in the proposition to hide the fact that it would gut previous law and also it required a 'no' on the proposition to do this. The pro quota people outspent the anti quota people by about 10-1 and the pro quota side had numerous endorsements from newspapers, politicians and big biz. Lot of votes yet to count so this is not over |