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League of Women Voters of California

Proposition 209 -- No

Prohibition Against Discrimination or Preferential Treatment by State and Other Public Entities. Eliminates those affirmative action programs for women and minorities run by state or local governments in the areas of public employment, contracting, and education that give "preferential treatment" on the basis of sex, race, color, ethnicity, or national origin. ("California Civil Rights Initiative").
LWVC Nonpartisan Analysis of Proposition 209

WHY THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF CALIFORNIA RECOMMENDS NO ON PROPOSITION 209

LWVC's opposition to Proposition 209 is based on the League of Women Voters of the U.S. Equality of Opportunity position: "[We] support. . . equal access to education, employment, and housing" and ". . .efforts to bring laws into compliance with the goals of the Equal Rights Amendment."

Passage of the Proposition 209 would have two devastating effects on minorities and women:

  1. it would eliminate programs (like affirmative action, outreach, counseling and recruitment programs) designed to prevent discrimination in public employment, contracting, and education; and
  2. it would specifically permit discrimination against women and girls that is now illegal.

Language in Prop. 209 (Clause (c)) would amend the state Constitution to specifically permit such discrimination against women. If the CCRI passes, an employer could argue that the costs associated with pregnancy and child care could justify not hiring or promoting women. Women could also be excluded from such non-traditional jobs as policing and firefighting. The CCRI would effectively wipe out thirty years of progress in expanding employment opportunities for women.

Many political pollsters acknowledge that "as California goes. . .so goes the nation." The most insidious result of this initiative could be its effect on the plans of anti-affirmative action forces to eliminate these programs nationwide. It is imperative that all of us understand and oppose the CCRI because of its widespread threat to the civil rights of women and minorities.


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Last updated: October 20, 1996
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