Bid to Kill Minority Aid Rejected

In a major victory for advocates of affirmative action Friday, the Senate rejected an effort by Republican conservatives to kill a program that helps women and minorities win highway construction contracts.

Fifteen Republicans joined nearly all Democrats in a 58-37 vote against an amendment by Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) to drop the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program from a bill reauthorizing transportation projects for the next six years.

McConnell had argued that the program is “unfair, unconstitutional and just plain un-American.” Its defenders said it is constitutional and necessary to help overcome a long history of discrimination in the construction industry.

It was the first vote of the year on affirmative action and appeared to dim prospects for legislation planned in both houses for a government-wide ban on use of race- and gender-based criteria for hiring, promotion and contracting. “One would not be encouraged by this vote,” said McConnell.

The vote signaled only a slight increase in the program’s critics since the Senate voted 61 to 36 against ending the program in 1995.

The so-called set-aside program, signed into law by President Reagan, seeks to award at least 10% of highway construction work to firms owned by women and minorities.