THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, February 23, 1995 TAG: 9502230339
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: WASHINGTON LENGTH: Medium: 65 lines
Affirmative action, a bedrock commitment of eight presidential administrations, suddenly is under sharp attack in a Washington dominated by Republicans. The first skirmish shattered the coalition that has protected preferential treatment of minorities for decades.
The battle threatens to divide the generation that came of age after most Americans, moved by the mistreatment of blacks, united behind equality programs.
Black and Hispanic lawmakers were able to count on the support of only seven white colleagues in Tuesday night's vote on a program that encourages minority ownership of broadcasting systems. Lawmakers voted 381-44 to scuttle it, 154 Democrats siding with the unanimous Republican opposition.
The concept of affirmative action last came under serious attack in the Reagan administration. According to Ralph Neas, executive director of a coalition of 180 civil rights organizations, Attorney General Edwin Meese III wanted to dismantle such programs but the rest of the Cabinet rallied around them and persuaded President Reagan that they were vital. Every president from John Kennedy on has taken that view, Neas said.
But evidence is accumulating that the nation is questioning any use of governmental power to give minorities or women an advantage:
California, pacesetter on many social issues, is likely to vote next year on an initiative to ban racial preferences in employment and education. If the issue is on the November 1996 ballot, it could attract a big conservative turnout and undercut President Clinton's chances of carrying California, vital to his re-election strategy.
Sen. Phil Gramm of Texas, a candidate for the Republican presidential nomination, has pledged that one of his first acts if he is elected will be to issue an executive order abolishing federal affirmative action programs. Other candidates are likely to side with Gramm.
The Supreme Court is expected to rule this summer on the constitutionality of a 13-year-old affirmative action program in which billions of dollars worth of contracts are at stake. The law under challenge pays federal contractors a bonus if 10 percent of subcontracts go to ``disadvantaged business enterprises.''
The Library of Congress delivered to Capitol Hill a compilation that showed the existence in federal law of 160 preference programs in employment, housing and education. Included were minority-based timetables, goals, set-asides and quota programs.
Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole requested the compilation two weeks ago, saying he wanted to see if the government discriminates against white men.
An unannounced agenda, drawn up by House Speaker Newt Gingrich for consideration after the GOP's ``Contract With America'' is acted upon, lists racially based affirmative action laws as a target.
At a news conference Wednesday, Gingrich argued against affirmative action. ``It is antithetical to the American dream to measure people by the genes of their great-grandmothers,'' he said.
At the White House, Clinton spokesman Mike McCurry offered a cautious defense of such programs. He said Clinton's position is that ``where there is discrimination there should be affirmative remedies.''
But he said the president also believes that what is needed is ``a civil conversation on what could be a potentially divisive issue.'' by CNB