As employment in California's construction industry dropped 18.5% from 2008 and lost 200,000 jobs, the Federal Highway Administration has approved
California's minority business contracting plan that purposely
excludes Caucasians, Indians, and Latinos.
In February 2009, California lost 116,000 jobs, 30,900 of those in construction.
This brought the total number of unemployed Californians
to 1,950,000.
That is an increase of 824,000 from February of last year.
The Federal Highway Administration's decision to openly discriminate by awarding public
contracts and taxpayer money on the basis on race ignores
the fact that every Californian pays taxes.
The economic downturn has affected everyone without
regard to race or ethnicity.
President Obama has called for a new age of responsibility,
yet its clear that this policy by his own administration
is only reinforcing racial differences and giving preference
without considering what counts - ability, merit, and the best deal for the taxpayer.
Federal Highway Administration: Latinos & Indians Need Not Apply
"The Federal Highway Administration this week formally
approved the department's minority business contracting plan. It seeks to award
more transportation contracts to firms owned by blacks,
Asians, Native Americans and women as part of an ongoing
effort to increase diversity. ... "It does not apply to firms operated by Hispanics or
those whose origins are from India. The department
says those groups already are sufficiently represented
in state highway contracts." (Judy Lin, "California Diversity Push Could Run Afoul Of State
Law," Associated Press, 4/3/09)
If State Does Not Comply: "Could Result In The ‘Withholding [Of] Federal Funds"
"A Feb. 25 letter from the Federal Highway Administration to
Kempton granted conditional approval to California's minority hiring guidelines but also said failure
to implement the goal could result in the ‘withholding federal funds.'
(Judy Lin, "California Diversity Push Could Run Afoul Of State
Law," Associated Press, 4/3/09)
