SACRAMENTO : Dispute Dooms Bond-Measure Bill

An $800-million bond measure to build new schools failed in the Assembly in a dispute over a provision designed to allow some of the construction contracts to go to women and minorities. The measure by Sen. Leroy Greene (D-Carmichael) had 40 “yes” votes to 2 “no” votes, but most of the Republicans abstained in protest of the provision favoring women and minorities. It required 54 votes or two-thirds of the 80-seat house for passage. Assemblyman Phillip Wyman (R-Tehachapi) urged his GOP colleagues, the minority party in the lower house, to abstain even though their own leaders and Gov. George Deukmejian had agreed to the measure.