Washington seeks repeal of anti-affirmative action law

SCREEN CAPTURE / KING5

Civil rights leaders march in support of 1-1000 which would bring affirmative action back to Washington.

The State of Washington will get a chance to repeal an anti-affirmative action initiative passed by voters 20 years ago.

Washington's Secretary of State Kim Wyman certified Wednesday (Feb. 13) I-1000, an initiative designed to enhance equity, diversity and inclusion in public contracting, hiring and education. The 1998 initiative, I-200, prohibited the state government from discriminating against, or granting preferential treatment to, any person or group based on factors such as race or gender.

“Our goal is to enable the people to speak once again, 20 years later, now with greater knowledge of what affirmative action is, and that is isn't preferential treatment. And also to see the effects of the old law,” said former representative Jesse Wineberry, one of the backers of I-1000.

I-1000 would apply to public schools, universities as well as state, county, and local government jobs. Wineberry argues that women and minorities have lost $3.5 billion in potential state government contract work over the past 20 years, citing estimates given by the Office of Women and Minority Business Enterprises.

The certification will allow the initiative to be introduced in the state legislature, which could pass it as is or tweak it to go on the ballot before it to the voters. 

A public hearing on I-1000 is tentatively set for Feb. 22 in Olympia, arguments for and against the initiative will be aired.

I-1000 would allow affirmative action without the use of quotas in the state of Washington. This means that characteristics such as color, race and sexual orientation, disability, or veteran status could be used among the factors when considering a person for school, employment or government contracts. I-1000 would, however, ban preferential treatment.

I-200 used misleading language, say proponents of the new initiative. The wording at the time confused voters as its argument fell under “civil rights” yet the law was, according to opponents of I-200, discriminatory.

Opponents of I-200 argue that it has hurt minority communities, citing statistics ranging from a significant decline in college acceptance rates for First Nations people, to a decrease in government contracts with minorities from 13 percent in 1998 to just 3 percent today.

I-1000 would also create a Governor’s commission on diversity, equity, and inclusion, and would be required to issue an annual report on the progress of state agencies in achieving the measure’s goal of “guaranteeing every resident of Washington state equal opportunity and access to public education and employment.”

Leading the opposition to the new initiative is a group called Washington Asians for Equality. "If I-1000 is passed by the Legislature against people's will, the number of Asian-American students at UW (University of Washington) will definitely tank below current level," said a recent article on the group's website. "Asian-American families will likely be the ones most hurt."
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