Haters Set to End Affirmative Action in Michigan

• Review of petitions could finish this month
  

State officials this month could finish reviewing petitions submitted by a group that wants to ban race- and gender-based preferences at Michigan universities and in government hiring. State Elections Director Chris Thomas said Monday that officials could wrap up their review of the petitions as early as this month. The Board of State Canvassers met to set a deadline for challenges to the signatures. Once elections officials submit a report, individuals or groups will have 10 business days to challenge signatures submitted to get on the 2006 ballot a proposed constitutional amendment that would stop public agencies and universities from granting preferential treatment based on race, color, ethnicity, national origin or sex. That would ban several types of affirmative action programs in Michigan. Opponents to the amendment tried to extend the challenging period to 20 business days, but the bipartisan board split on a 2-2 vote, meaning the attempt failed. The Michigan Civil Rights Initiative submitted more than 508,000 signatures in early January. At least 317,757 valid signatures of Michigan voters are needed to put the proposed constitutional amendment on the ballot. [more]