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Anti-affirmative action proposal approved in Washington state
(AllPolitics, November 3) -- The state of Washington has become the second state to abolish most of its government affirmative-action programs, as voters approved "Initiative 200" Tuesday.
"Shall government be prohibited from discriminating or granting preferential treatment based on race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin in public employment, education, and contracting?" the measure asked.
Supports say the measure will end discrimination against qualified white males in school districts, state colleges and universities as well as city, county and state governments. But opponents worried that the initiative was too vague and open to interpretation that could end up eliminating welfare-to-work job training and school programs designed to get girls interested in math and science.
Although polls showed support for the measure was dropping as Election Day approached, voters ultimately agreed to follow California's lead and abolish public affirmative-action programs.
Millions were spent in the fight over "I-200" and television advertising escalated in the week before the election. The Washington Civil Rights Initiative, sponsors of the measure, reported raising $239,990 by mid-October, while "No! 200 Campaign" raised $997,260, according to state financial records. But that did not include the hundreds of thousands of dollars individuals poured into the fight.
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