I-200 Foes Offer Alternative
I-200 Foes Offer Alternativeby David Postman
Seattle Times staff reporter
OLYMPIA - Opponents of Initiative 200 have decided to fight the measure by pushing an alternative and enlisting Washington businesses for their lobbying muscle and checkbooks.
And if voters are confused by the dueling measures, say opponents of I-200, so much the better.
The No! 200 Campaign wants lawmakers to send an alternative ballot measure to voters in November along with the initiative that would effectively end most government affirmative-action programs.
The alternative, Senate Bill 6689, was introduced yesterday by a bipartisan group of senators and helped fuel an anti-200 rally on the Capitol steps that drew several hundred people.
But even the sponsors of the alternative were saying it may largely be a symbolic effort with little hope of passing in the Republican-controlled Legislature.
"I don't want to raise expectations," said Sen. Adam Kline, D-Seattle. "I don't think we can really do this. But I think it would be chicken if we didn't try."
As a citizens initiative to the Legislature, I-200 gives lawmakers three choices: They can vote it into law, forward it to the November ballot by doing nothing, or vote to send it to the ballot along with an alternative measure.
The initiative would effectively ban affirmative action for minorities and women in state and local public employment, public education, state college admissions and public contracting.
The alternative measure drafted by opponents would prohibit the state from using quotas in public employment, education or contracting. It also says, "No affirmative-action program operated by the state may hire or select unqualified persons."
Supporters of the alternative say it would not change any state program, only allay fears of quotas or abuse of affirmative action.
"It's a more reasonable and thoughtful approach," said Kathleen Russell, manager of the No! 200 Campaign.
But opponents said the alternative is a do-nothing attempt to confuse the issue.
"It's the same kind of verbal duplicity that they've used to justify racial preferences for 20 years," said John Carlson, the Seattle radio talk-show host who is chairman of the I-200 campaign. "Their bill would change absolutely nothing. Every preference program, every set-aside, every quota, every double-standard, remains in place under their bill."
Legislative opponents to Carlson's initiative have debated for weeks whether to introduce an alternative.
Kline said Democrats did not want to falsely raise expectations or waste the organizational efforts needed to lobby for the bill. He also said Republican votes would be needed for any alternative and Democrats did not want to put GOP allies on the front line for something that wouldn't be successful.
But the push for an alternative has now emerged as the center of the opposition campaign.
If the alternative wins legislative approval, it would appear on the ballot along with I-200.
Voters would face a confusing choice. First they would be asked to vote on whether they support any change in state affirmative-action programs.
Then voters would choose between I-200 or the alternative.
If a majority votes no on the first question, then both are defeated. If a majority votes yes on the first question, whichever measure gets the most votes becomes law.
"Confusion does not hurt us," Edsonya Charles, treasurer of the No! 200 Campaign, told a meeting of volunteers yesterday.
Backers say the language of the alternative - with its prohibition on quotas - was written to try to draw people who would be inclined to vote for I-200.
"It's really a misguided attempt to confuse the public," protested Rep. Scott Smith, R-Graham, the original sponsor of I-200. "Everyone knows if people are confused they vote no."
Russell hopes to make the alternative more real than symbolic with help from Washington businesses.
The campaign is recruiting business leaders to help lobby lawmakers and raise money for a possible fall election campaign.
"Your support is critical if we are to defeat this divisive measure," says a letter sent recently by six Seattle political and business leaders inviting people to breakfast meetings at the downtown Rainier Club.
The letter was signed by Seattle Mayor Paul Schell, King County Executive Ron Sims, Seattle City Councilwoman Martha Choe, Seattle Times President Mason Sizemore, Jon Bridge of Ben Bridge Jeweler, and Gerry Johnson, a partner in the law firm of Preston Gates & Ellis.
"We're asking them, `Is this good business for the state of Washington?' " Sims said yesterday. He said the lobbying effort will focus on the potential effects on college and university enrollments if I-200 becomes law.
Republican leaders haven't yet said whether I-200 will be sent to the ballot, although Smith said he was confident there will be a vote.
With an alternative measure now introduced, I-200 opponents also will be pushing for a legislative vote.
"I think legislators on both sides of the aisle would prefer not to take a difficult vote," Russell said. "But I think it's important for people to know where their legislators stand."
Sims wants to know what his fellow Democrats will do.
"I'm personally curious about how Democrats feel," he said. "They're going to come here and say, `Will you endorse me or raise money.' We're looking to see who our friends and enemies are."
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Carl
Gutiérrez-Jones
Department of English
University of California, Santa Barbara
e-mail: carlgj@humanitas.ucsb.edu