Gop Bill Opposes Racial Preferences

Responding to President Clinton’s call for a national dialogue on race, a group of Republican lawmakers Tuesday introduced legislation to bar the government from granting preferences based on race or gender.

“Whenever we give a preference to one person, we are in effect discriminating against another,” said Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee and a supporter of the measure.

The proposal, drafted by Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and Rep. Charles T. Canady, R-Fla., would prohibit the federal government from granting preferences to individuals based on race, color or national origin in decisions on federal contracts, jobs and other programs. Historically black colleges, Indian tribes and military rules that exclude women from most combat roles wouldn’t be affected.