“Resist the gravitational pull of politics” and restore Affirmative Action, WFSE/AFSCME leader tells senators
AFSCME Council 28 (WFSE) Executive Board member Kevin Allen -- on behalf of all of us – Friday (Jan. 26) called on legislators to pass legislation to repeal Initiative 200, the 1998 ballot measure that ended Affirmative Action.
PHOTO: On the scene at the Capitol to support SB 6406 to restore fair treatment of underserved groups in public employment, education and contracting. Would repeal I-200. From left: Fircrest School Local 341 retiree Claude Burfect; and King County DSHS Local 843 members Jacqueline Jones-Walsh and Kevin Allen. Hearing in Senate State Government Committee.
“Let’s resist the gravitational pull of politics and let’s rise above that,” Allen told a packed hearing room of supporters at Friday morning’s hearing of the Senate State Government Committee.
I-200 simply hasn’t worked and has led to “disparate treatment, bias and unequal pay” in public employment, college enrollments and contracting, Allen said.
“Reverse the trend that’s been taking place over the past 20 years,” he added. “We need to pass this bill and bring back fairness and equality in Washington state.”
Allen is a disability adjudicator for the Department of Social and Health Services and member of King County Human Services Local 843.
The legislation, Senate Bill 6406, would repeal I-200 and restore the fair treatment of underserved groups in public employment, education and contracting.
Only one person – a radio and TV reality personality and founder of the Washington Policy Center “think tank” considered biased against state employees and all workers – opposed the bill.
John Carlson, who led the 1998 I-200 campaign, phoned in his testimony and spent much of it stuck in 1998.
But the top two sponsors on SB 6406 said times have changed. Sen. Maralyn Chase of the 32nd Dist. and Sen. Bob Hasegawa of the 11th Dist. echoed Allen in telling the committee that I-200 has failed and caused harm.
Affirmative Action is needed to maintain the quality of life in our state, they said.
“It’s not a quota, it’s a goal,” Allen said.
“(I-200) is ruining the financial health of many of our working families,” Chase said.
“Give people of color and minorities a real chance at equity again,” Hasegawa said.
The Senate State Government Committee sent out an alert this afternoon that its vote on SB 6406 has been moved up to next Wednesday, Jan. 31.
