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Folks - This morning I was hosting a meeting where a Flint area group is continuing to plan our attack on the Michigan Civil Rights Initiative and I came across a press release that the MCRI prepared just about 2 years ago that struck me simply because of some of the names listed. I have pasted it in below and have attached a copy as well. (The URL I listed is no longer valid, but I did save a copy on my hard drive.) Inasmuch as we are taking a close look at both the House and the Senate as they deliberate over appropriations, and particularly given the tight party line voting that is prevalent on the House side, I thought it might be interesting to take a look at those representatives and how some of them have "signed on" and have come down on the side of supporting the Michigan Civil Rights Initiative's Ballot Initiative. Although the constitutional amendment proposal did not make it to the 2004 ballot as they originally planned, it is presumed it will be on the 2006 ballot. As we deliberate over who we can "reach" and solicit support for KCP funding, this list might be very telling about what position they might take in restoring KCP funding to the 2006 budget. Tendaji ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Educational Opportunity Initiatives (EOI) EOI People are Extra Ordinary Individuals ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Announcement of July 23, 2003 Press Conference +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Tuesday, July 22, 2003 Contact: Justin Jones (916) 444-2278 or [log in to unmask] SACRAMENTO, CALIF.-Continuing in his drive to qualify and pass the Michigan Civil Rights Initiative (MCRI), which will prohibit the state from granting preferential treatment to anyone based on race or gender in public education, public employment or public contracting, Ward Connerly will announce tomorrow the creation of a statewide MCRI Steering Committee. That committee will include several prominent Michigan state legislators, who will join Mr. Connerly in his announcement. The announcement will occur at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, July 23, in the first-floor rotunda in the Michigan Capitol. Mr. Connerly is the chairman of the American Civil Rights Coalition (ACRC), a public advocacy group that promotes the elimination of racial and gender preferences. The MCRI Steering Committee will be responsible for organizing statewide support for the initiative and will initially focus on gathering signatures. Every member of the Steering Committee supports and endorses the goal of MCRI: for all Michigan citizens to receive equal treatment under the law, regardless of race or gender. Those members of the Steering Committee who will join Mr. Connerly in his announcement tomorrow include: Representative Leon Drolet, District 33 Representative Jack Brandenburg, District 24 Representative Dan Acciavatti, District 32 Representative Matt Milosch, District 55 Representative John Garfield, District 45 Representative David Robertson, District 51 Representative Tom Meyer, District 84 Representative Scott Hummel, District 93 Representative Jack Hoogendyk Jr., District 61 Representative Joe Hune, District 47 Representative John Stahl, District 82 Representative Craig DeRoche, District 38 Tim O'Brien, Executive Director, Small Government Alliance Charles Nunez Jr., Executive Director, Character Resources of Michigan Other Michigan lawmakers who may not be able to attend tomorrow's press conference with Mr. Connerly but nevertheless serve on the MCRI Steering Committee with equal commitment include: Representative Susan Tabor, District 71 Representative John Pastor, District 19 Representative Stephen Ehardt, District 83 Representative Fulton Sheen, District 88 Representative Tom Casperson, District 108 Representative John Stakoe, District 44 Representative Kenneth Bradstreet, District 105 Representative Rick Shaffer, District 59 "The score of lawmakers willing to stand up and swear their support for equal treatment under the law represent over one-and-a-half million Michigan citizens," said Mr. Connerly. "And I have no doubt that more public officials and prominent citizens will join us soon as they see our cause is morally just. The majority of Michiganians, like the majority of Americans, want to be treated equally, not judged by the color of their skin. They want their kids to be accepted into college by the same standards as everyone else. They want public jobs and contracts to be awarded based on skill and qualifications, not race or gender. They hold the same beliefs that were codified in the 1964 Civil Rights Act. Forty years later, we're going to ensure those beliefs are upheld by voting for MCRI in November 2004." Mr. Connerly has led ballot initiatives to eliminate racial and gender preferences in California in 1996 and Washington state in 1998, both to success. The American Civil Rights Coalition is a national civil-rights organization created to work with grassroots supporters and elected officials at the local, state and federal level to end racial and gender preferences and racial classifications. ACRC engages in activities including, but not limited to, initiative campaigns and lobbying and is based in Sacramento, California. For more information on the Michigan Civil Rights Initiative, please visit www.michigancivilrights.org. Source: http://www.michigancivilrights.org/72303-press.html Accessed: 072503