Three California State Senators who voted to support an amendment to the state constitution allowing preferential racial treatment in higher education now want the bill delayed, reports the Global Times (photo by Maveric2003).
The bill known as SCA5 would essentially overturn the educational component of Proposition 209. The initiative passed by state voters in 1996 bans racial preferences in public employment, contracting and education.
State Senators Leland Yee, Ted Lieu and Carol Liu are all Chinese Americans who support SCA5, but they are urging State Senator Ed Hernandez to delay the bill in the Assembly to allow time to build consensus.
“Prior to this vote, we heard no opposition to this bill. However, in the past few weeks, we have heard from thousands of people throughout California concerned about SCA 5,” said the three Chinese American state senators in a press release dated February 27. “We have asked Senator Hernandez to hold SCA 5 until he has an opportunity to meet with affected communities and attempt to build a consensus,” they said.
A spokesman for Hernandez emphasized this it will be very slow process before SCA5 can be put on the ballot for voter approval.
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The State Senate approved the bill 27 to 9 on January 30.
Opponents fear by giving preferential treatment to underrepresented minorities, Asian American enrollment will decline.
About 500 mostly Asian Americans protested SCA5 earlier this month in front of the offices of State Assembly member Ed Chau urging him to oppose SCA5.
But others including former executive director of Chinese for Affirmative Action Henry Der think otherwise.
“People jumped to conclusions that the bill is going to impose a quota against Chinese students,” said Der to the South China Morning Post. “The word quota does not exist in the bill nor does the issue of racial parity.”
Asian American blogger Angry Asian Man was more blunt.
If you're spreading fearmongering misinformation about #SCA5 without knowing the facts, please stop. Not signing your bullshit petition.
— Angry Asian Man (@angryasianman) March 6, 2014
