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California challenged on race-, gender-based contracts
Sacramento Bee ^ | 6/12/9 | Jon Ortiz

Posted on 06/12/2009 3:07:01 PM PDT by SmithL

Anti-affirmative action advocate Ward Connerly and a Sacramento-based legal group on Thursday blasted President Barack Obama's administration and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger for a recently enacted policy that awards some state construction contracts based on race and gender.

The Pacific Legal Foundation, a limited-government watchdog group, filed a lawsuit Thursday against the California Department of Transportation on behalf of Associated General Contractors of America. It wants to reverse a Caltrans mandate that 6.75 percent of federally funded contracts go to women, African Americans, Asian-Pacific Americans and American Indians.

The policy has a direct impact on about $2.75 billion in state projects, the foundation said.

"This should be a no-brainer, folks," Connerly said Thursday at a news conference to announce the lawsuit. "Plain and simple, Caltrans is caving in to minority politics."

Caltrans spokesman Mark DeSio said the department hadn't seen the lawsuit and couldn't comment on it.

But the new policy aims to boost the percentage of "disadvantaged business enterprises," or DBE, that receive Caltrans' contracts

(Excerpt) Read more at sacbee.com ...


TOPICS: Extended News; Government; Politics/Elections; US: California
KEYWORDS: affirmativeaction; goldenstate; governmentracism; prop209

Ward Connerly, a longtime opponent of racial preferences as government policy, announces a lawsuit against state Department of Transportation contract policies at a news conference Thursday. "This should be a no-brainer, folks," Connerly said. "Plain and simple, Caltrans is caving in to minority politics."
1 posted on 06/12/2009 3:07:01 PM PDT by SmithL
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To: SmithL

good, about time


2 posted on 06/12/2009 3:11:50 PM PDT by edcoil (Reality doesn't have to say much.)
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To: SmithL

‘But the new policy aims to boost the percentage of “disadvantaged business enterprises,” or DBE, that receive Caltrans’ contracts’

Can someone explain what a DBE is? What does that mean and how are they disadvantaged?


3 posted on 06/12/2009 3:15:44 PM PDT by joesjane (The strength of the pack is the wolf - Rudyard Kipling)
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To: edcoil
good, about time

Surely you jest? Never happen in the land of fruit and nuts. San Francisco, is making it illegal to put food waste in the trash, you must compost or else.

4 posted on 06/12/2009 3:16:42 PM PDT by itsahoot (Each generation takes to excess, what the previous generation accepted in moderation.)
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To: SmithL
Anti-affirmative action advocate ...

should read as ... anti-discrimination advocate...

5 posted on 06/12/2009 4:03:54 PM PDT by glorgau
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To: SmithL
"Anti-affirmative action advocate"

My head spins from the negative negation.

6 posted on 06/12/2009 5:00:47 PM PDT by Costumed Vigilante
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