House panel proposes ending affirmative action in Arkansas

Little Rock, Arkansas – After complaints that it may threaten dozens of programs across the state, a House panel on Monday delayed a plan to prohibit affirmative action by government agencies in Arkansas.

It is a good idea to have a backup plan in case something goes wrong. The bill would outlaw discrimination and preferential treatment on the grounds of race, sex, color, nationality, or national origin. It was narrowly adopted by the majority GOP Senate last week.

The legislation was put on hold after a motion by Republican Rep. Marcus Richmond was submitted.

“If you’re going to do something that has that much impact, you need to do your due diligence on it,” he said.

Sen. Dan Sullivan, a Republican, who is the measure’s sponsor, was contacted for comment. Sullivan has stated that the bill is an effort to combat prejudice.

Several state and municipal programs, including initiatives to enhance the health of racial minorities and support historically Black colleges, are allegedly threatened by the idea, according to opponents.

The University of North Carolina and Harvard University both have admissions policies that take racial diversity into account among other things, and the U.S. Supreme Court is currently considering a challenge to these policies.

Affirmative action is already prohibited or restricted in a number of states. Idaho was the most recent state to pass such a ban in 2020.