Senate Democrats Defeat Bid to Kill Affirmative Action : Legislature: Committee’s rejection of measure sets the stage for a potentially divisive ballot initiative fight next year.

Legislation to abolish affirmative action policies for minorities and women in California was defeated Tuesday by Senate Democrats, setting the stage for a potentially divisive ballot initiative fight next year.

Rejection of the proposal by the Democrat-dominated Senate Governmental Operations Committee surprised some and appeared to write an early end to enactment of such legislation this session.

The measure by state Sen. Quentin L. Kopp (I-San Francisco) required at least six votes, but received only four, with five against it. The committee’s four GOP members favored it, while Democrats either voted “no” or left the hearing before the roll call.

An official of the fledgling ballot initiative campaign warned that unless the committee’s action is quickly reversed, plans will get under way to put the issue before voters in November, 1996.

“I think the Democrats have ensured that it will be decided during the November elections,” said Arnold Steinberg, a veteran political consultant hired to guide the prospective initiative campaign.

Steinberg and drafters of the proposed ballot initiative had decided to submit their plan to the Legislature in the hope that lawmakers would place the measure on the March primary ballot next year.

They reasoned that a March, 1996, vote was better for Democrats, rather than a potentially destructive ballot fight the following November that could hurt President Clinton’s chances of carrying California and damage the fortunes of other Democrats as well.

They had believed that the plan would win Senate approval and face its toughest battle in the Assembly, where it is opposed by Democratic Speaker Willie Brown of San Francisco. A similar measure was killed in the Assembly last year and has been reintroduced this session.

The Senate committee’s action was the first test this session for legislation that would eliminate affirmative action for women and minorities in state and local government hiring, admission to state colleges and the awarding of government contracts to businesses.

The defeated measure, a virtual copy of the proposed ballot initiative, would have outlawed “discriminating against or granting preferential treatment to” anyone based on race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin.

Proponents of repeal contend that affirmative action requirements have torn apart, rather than united, ethnically diverse California and have established a new system of unequal classifications. They argue that government hiring, contracting and admissions practices should be colorblind to be fair.

“We are engaged now in a racial classification system similar to what Adolf Hitler imposed in Nazi Germany,” said state Sen. Bill Leonard (R-San Bernardino), who favors repeal.

As an example, he said, the University of California demands that prospective faculty members and students declare their ancestry as a condition of employment or admission. He said such policies breed resentment and fuel a white backlash that he said “is threatening the whole fabric of society.”

“Government ought to take the lead . . . and be colorblind in every way,” Leonard said.

But backers of affirmative action argue that while progress has occurred since enactment of the federal Civil Rights Act in 1964, women and minorities are far from achieving equality, particularly in employment.

State Sen. Richard G. Polanco of Los Angeles, chairman of the Senate Democratic caucus, and Assemblywoman Barbara Lee (D-Oakland) testified against the proposal.

Lee, an African American who described herself as a product of affirmative action, charged that those who favor repeal were voicing arguments advanced by the Ku Klux Klan.

“I hate to see senators and members of the Assembly pushing bills which the Klan really would sanction as (its) position,” Lee told the committee.

Polanco, a Latino, cited a long list of statistics that he said demonstrated that white males dominate top levels of employment, while women and minorities trail behind. “America is still a country where all is not equal. Where are white males being left out? Show me,” Polanco said.

After the hearing, Kopp said he would ask that the committee reconsider its action, but held out little hope for a change of mind.