FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 23rd, 2008

(Grain Valley) – The Missouri Civil Rights Initiative Committee (MOCRI) received certification earlier this month from the secretary of state for a ballot measure that calls for the elimination of race and gender preferences in public employment, public education and public contracting. Unfortunately, the official ballot title language drafted by Carnahan’s office contains the exact wording of a 2008 effort that resulted in a protracted lawsuit. Supporters of the initiative have filed suit yet again to fight for new ballot language.

The MOCRI committee won relief in the 2008 court case in the form of amended language provided by a Cole County circuit judge. Carnahan’s office immediately appealed the ruling. As a result of time lost in the court battle, signatures for the 2008 campaign were not submitted before the deadline. Consequently, the initiative is being reintroduced for the 2010 campaign cycle.

“We recommended the secretary of state adopt ballot language rewritten by the court in 2008,” explained MOCRI executive director Tim Asher. “Incredibly, Carnahan’s office chose instead to resubmit the exact language the court previously found to be “insufficient and unfair.”
According to the court decree, insufficient and unfair means to inadequately and with bias prejudice, deception and/or favoritism state the consequences of the initiative.

“It is completely irresponsible of the secretary of state to waste public money defending an action that has already been struck down by the court,” Asher continued. “If the secretary of state is to act impartially- as required by state statute- why would she insist on resubmitting language already determined to be inadequate?”

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