Now
Fair
28°
High
32°
Low
21°
Full Forecast

Jobs

Cars

Homes

Rentals

Alerts

Subscribe
Home > News > Local
Bookmark Us   •   Make Us Your Homepage

Petitioners believe they've gathered enough names

Comments 41 comment(s)  
E-mail Story E-mail Story
Print Story Print Story
Share  Share
Text Size: 
Tools Sponsor

By the Lincoln Journal Star

Wednesday, Jul 02, 2008 - 08:53:18 pm CDT

Leaders of the Nebraska Civil Rights Initiative petition drive believe they have collected enough signatures to get the proposed constitutional amendment banning affirmative action on the November ballot.

They will hand in those signed petitions to the secretary of state’s office today, one day before the deadline, according to a Wednesday news release.

They must turn in about 114,000 signatures — 10 percent of the state’s registered voters — to get the constitutional amendment on the ballot this fall.

Story Photo
(LJS File)

Related Media

The Story So Far: Affirmative action ban

A group is seeking to end race- and gender-based affirmative action in Nebraska. Initiative supporters are working to collect enough petition signatur...

Comments: 0
Rated:

The group sponsoring the petition drive has reported spending more than $461,000 so far to collect signatures.

If approved by voters in November, the initiative would place language in the Nebraska Constitution that the state shall not discriminate against or grant preferential treatment to any individual or group on the basis of race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin in the operation of public employment, public education, or public contracting.

Supporters of the measure say it levels the playing field, giving everyone an equal chance at every job. Opponents say it plays to people’s fears that unqualified minorities are being picked over qualified nonminorities.

Affirmative action doesn’t mean giving preferences to minorities, opponents say. It’s about ensuring efforts to recruit minority candidates and keeping people accountable in hiring decisions.

Nebraska is one of five states targeted this year by the American Civil Rights Initiative’s Super Tuesday for Equal Rights Fund, founded by California businessman and activist Ward Connerly.


$1 Sunday Delivery - Subscribe Today!
Local > Back to Top of Story

Post Your Comment

Standards and Rules
All posts to JournalStar.com are subject to our Terms and Standards.
Your posted comment will appear after it has been approved.
Frequently asked questions about story commenting.
(optional)
   
Hide Comments Hide Comments   Newest First Newest First  
Justice wrote on July 2, 2008 4:42 pm:
" Justice hopes they have enough signatures. The current issue of discrimination in public hiring practices should have been curtailed years ago. There is no longer a need to give preferences and the most meritorious should be given the job or slot in the class. Current discriminatory programs do not promote minority interests. Non-discrimination should be in every state constitution as well as the U.S. Constitution. "

 Eric wrote on July 2, 2008 4:47 pm:
" Hopefully we can end this discrimination this fall. "

 Outside the Box wrote on July 2, 2008 4:51 pm:
" So the Nebraska Constituion and the democratic petition process is only worth $500,000?

I guess its good to know what the going rate is. Maybe we should make it easier for the Ward Connerlys of the world to rewrite our Constitution with their money. We could just post a menu at the state line, take their zany requests, and give them a new copy of our Constitution at the drive-thru. Save everyone a lot of time and effort.

I wonder what crazy ideas the next batch of out-staters will bring in? "

 Petitioner wrote on July 2, 2008 5:12 pm:
" Fantastic news.

Now watch as the pro-preference crowd try to lawyer away the signatures of 120,000 or so Nebraskans, using UNL alumni donations and Warren Buffett's millions to pay their attorneys. They know they can't win a vote, so they have no alternative but to try to find a judge who'll deprive a million Nebraskans of the chance to change their constitution. "

 Ted wrote on July 2, 2008 5:40 pm:
" I don't really have much of opinion on this, but if "Affirmative action doesn't mean giving preferences to minorities" then "the state shall not discriminate against or grant preferential treatment to any individual or group on the basis of race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin in the operation of public employment, public education, or public contracting" Then the proposed changes to the constitution should have no effect on afirmative action. "

 Minorities wrote on July 2, 2008 6:01 pm:
" ..have came a long way... look we have a black Presidential candidate (who will win) It's time the black people stop hiding behind AA. I'll vote to end it. "

 Er... NOT wrote on July 2, 2008 6:01 pm:
" NCRI will be turning in some signatures Thursday, probably as a press event. But if they really believed they had enough signatures, NCRI would not have asked the Sec. of State's office to stay open until 5pm on July 4th to turn in signatures. They're desperately counting on getting thousands of signatures at the independence celebrations on Thursday and Friday. "

 Lincolnite wrote on July 2, 2008 6:20 pm:
" The people against this petition make me sick. I haven't gone out to seek a way to sign this petition ... but I am 100% for our government being run by "we the people". There should be absolutely NO HARM AT ALL in putting something like this on the ballot. I would be in favor of putting ANY and EVERY law on the ballot - majority rules, folks. A democracy means we get to VOTE on these sorts of things ... not allow a committee (of any sort) DICTATE these sorts of things to us. The only group I would stop at is the US Supreme Court ... other than that, absolutely everything else is fair game.

What are these anti-ballot people afraid of????? "

 K wrote on July 2, 2008 6:25 pm:
" Great news! Hope they've checked each one. "

 american wrote on July 2, 2008 6:52 pm:
" HOw do I retract my signature on this petition. As I understand it it is a lie and going to do the opposite!

Anyone? I know there is a website. "

 jon wrote on July 2, 2008 7:19 pm:
" I believe a form to remove your signature can be found on www.nebraskansunited.org. It has to be filled out, notarized (at a bank for free), and postmarked by July 3 (tomorrow). "

 Barry Freed wrote on July 2, 2008 7:32 pm:
" american - go to nebraskansunited.org and click on the signature removal link. Fill out the form and take it to a notary for approval (usually banks have notaries on staff). "

 Educate yourself on both sides... wrote on July 2, 2008 7:32 pm:
" http://www.nebraskacri.org/
http://nebraskansunited.org/ "

 Democrat wrote on July 2, 2008 8:08 pm:
" It is easier to pay a State Senator to work on this?
Think, Nantkes. "

 Harry the Antenna Guy wrote on July 2, 2008 8:38 pm:
" If it has the necessary signatures, then the measure goes on the ballot. If you haven't signed it yet, get out there and "get 'er dun". "

 Go NCRI wrote on July 2, 2008 8:47 pm:
" The petitioners are spending July 4 at home, guys, knowing they did a great job. See you in November. "

 E Jr wrote on July 2, 2008 9:27 pm:
" How embarrassing for our state. "

 j wrote on July 2, 2008 10:38 pm:
" I find it funny that the opponents of the group getting the signature have admitted that they can't win at the ballot box, so they are trying to prevent the people from voting on it at all. "That's our only chance" they have said. "

 JB wrote on July 2, 2008 10:52 pm:
" Bought and paid for!? Don't like out of staters coming in and trying to buy elections. How much do they pay for each signature? "

 Justin wrote on July 3, 2008 12:30 am:
" Direct democracy and majority tyranny go hand-in-hand. This proposed amendment is an absolute joke... "

 its about time wrote on July 3, 2008 6:38 am:
" i for one will be glad to see the end of race and gender preferences. white men have been given preferences in hiring for way too long, it's about time it stop and the most qualified person be hired. think about it, most of the time you deal with someone who was promoted beyond their capability, it is a white man. there are so many mediocre white men out there it will be nice to finally have some competent people to deal with. "

 MarkyMark wrote on July 3, 2008 7:49 am:
" If Affirmative action is "no longer needed", why are so many on this post completely spinning Affirmative Action into something it's not? Could it be closet racism? "

 JMK wrote on July 3, 2008 7:52 am:
" What difference does it make where the people who started this come from??? I am just happy SOMEONE did start it. Most of the people in this sorry state just complain about stuff and never actually do anything about it. Be thankful that their are people (Even if it is out of state people) are willing to help out. And for all of you complainers who say we need gambling, just remember it was out of state people who tried to help with that also. "

 Macy wrote on July 3, 2008 8:10 am:
" Why are the pro-affirmative action folks so afraid of the people voting on this? If we TRULY want equality, affirmative action stands in the way of that. "

 Good news wrote on July 3, 2008 8:23 am:
" What good news for the 4th of July weekend, democracy is working. "

 Comm UnSense wrote on July 3, 2008 9:05 am:
" Many comments are saying that affirmative action is still needed. Then why, oh why, was the only reason we were given not to sign was to protect ourselves from identity theft. How lame is that? Maybe some of these bloggers should have volunteered their services. "

 Outside the Box wrote on July 3, 2008 9:06 am:
" Many Nebraskans would prefer to complain instead of getting involved the process.

However, when the Ward Connerlys and out-state casino owners try to buy our Constitution, they are rarely doing it with Nebraska's best interest at heart. They are doing it to serve their own interests and further their own agendas.

I truly believe that Nebraskans would love to pass casino laws - however the ones on the ballot were put there by casinos who were only concerned about their profits - not relieving our tax burden.

I oppose many of these out-state petitioners because they are motivated by their own ego and greed, not by doing what's best for Nebraska.

Seriously, how much time to do you think Ward Connerly has ever spent in Nebraska? I'd be willing to wager it's less than 30 days. In my life I've spent about 30 days in California, but I don't think it qualifies me to influence how they run their state. "

 Figures wrote on July 3, 2008 11:05 am:
" How many of these posts are done by a non-white individual? I am guessing not many. How many of you have lost out on a job because of some non-qualified "minority" was swooped out of the unemployment line and donned with a fancy suit? Ridiculous folks!! Simply ridiculous. The actuality of it is, QUALIFIED minority folks get picked over time and time again based on their skin color and vocal accent every day for some white person with the exact or lesser qualifications. We aren't where you all think we are. Wake up. We are in a society still were the "Imus's" of the world exist. "

 Darrell wrote on July 3, 2008 11:29 am:
" What Nebraskans United never mention is that Ward Connerly is an African American. "

 To Figures wrote on July 3, 2008 11:29 am:
" Imus' will always exist. So will Rev. Wrights. I'll throw in the towel as soon as we have "American Caucasian Heterosexual Male Average-Build Average-IQ Day" or a scholarship or anything to celebrate that heritage. This isn't just black and white, and to suggest it shows where racism really exists. This is also about "race, sex, ethnicity, or national origin". It's not merely a color issue, and shame on you for trying to make it sound that way. You want equality - then call us all Americans and dispel the rest of the 'qualifiers'. "

 J wrote on July 3, 2008 11:33 am:
" How much did each signature cost? "

 E Jr wrote on July 3, 2008 11:37 am:
" I am a white male who is against this petition. I have been privileged by my skin color and gender all my life. White males almost always get preferential treatment in hiring and promotions. Affirmative action continues to be necessary to prevent discrimination. "

 Old Guy wrote on July 3, 2008 11:45 am:
" Well all the Bigots who signed this should be happy now. "

 WOMEN ARE CONSIDERED MINORITIES wrote on July 3, 2008 12:08 pm:
" Just so everyone knows....AA is not just for skin color or ethinicity...it is also to help the WOMEN out there who are turned down for jobs because a MAN(any color, any race), thinks she can't do the same work a man can do.! "

 Smile wrote on July 3, 2008 12:32 pm:
" It gives me a good feeling about Nebraska to know that most of the considered statements coming in are from people who see the proposed initiative for what it is -- a joke and something that would be very bad for Nebraska!

It gives me hope that if the initiative does indeed make it to the ballot, that it will lose. "

 rac wrote on July 3, 2008 12:49 pm:
" I signed the petition, I'm white, I'm male, I'm not a bigot or racist, and I'm not apologizing for being who I am. I AM against all of the "secret" quotas that go on, and everybody knows they go on, especially in academia and government. Don't start with the "quotas are illegal" bs - they exist. "

 Confused wrote on July 3, 2008 1:22 pm:
" Are we part of the Union still or did we morph into a Confederate State? Majority rules on discrimination issues? Does that make any sense at all? Discrimination issues should "Never" be on a ballot. Especially in hick backwoods states like ours. "

 Snb wrote on July 3, 2008 1:24 pm:
" Uhhh..."Lincolnite," this petition is not for this country being run by "we the people." That comment didn't even make sense. Plus, everyone who commented that they don't understand how people are against this petition: It's probably because you're a white male, and obviously not a very smart one at that. "

 Female wrote on July 3, 2008 3:41 pm:
" As someone who was recently passed up for a scholarship in favor of a minority with lesser qualifications than myself, I signed the petition. "Confused" yes it should be put on the ballot because AA IS discrimination. Or as some people put it "reverse discrimination" because it does go against whites, males, heterosexuals, etc. "

 Lincolnite wrote on July 3, 2008 4:45 pm:
" My point was that the three branches of government are to complement each other, and ultimately all three are either directly or indirectly chosen by the people (or the people who put the others in authority). There is NOTHING that I would be afraid to see on a ballot ... that is what's great about freedom, after all. If "we the people" vote on something and the majority of a geographic area chooses something that conflicts with our federal government, the checks & balances are there to make things right again. I stand by my earlier comments - LET US VOTE. For cryin' out loud, I would wager that most of the folks who don't want a vote on this are the same ones complaining about lack of voter rights/etc. in our presidential elections ... do you want freedom, or only when it's convenient??!?!? "

 Smile wrote on July 4, 2008 10:34 am:
" Rac and Female: Your comments astound me.

Secret academic quotas? Don't you realize that the public institutions in Nebraska don't put a cap on enrollment? In other words, EVERY Nebraskan applicant who meets the minimum requirements has the opportunity to attend one of these institutions. Yes, efforts are made to recruit minorities and females (in sciences and engineering), but these efforts do not deny others their rightful places.

A less-qualified minority applicant was awarded a scholarship rather than you? Unless you were on the award committee who evaluated each applicant, I wonder how you know any details about the winner's qualifications. More over, how do you know you came in second rather than, say third, fourth, or fifth? Sounds like a case of sour grapes to me. Sure, be disappointed, but consider the possibility that you simply weren't the most qualified applicant... "

Ads by Yahoo!