Prop. 54 will be back, says Connerly

[jamesinca]

Prop. 54 will be back, says Connerly
If it fails, language will be 'improved' for next go-round

Tanya Schevitz, Chronicle Staff Writer Tuesday, October 7, 2003

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If Prop. 54 fails in today's election, the author and leading proponent of the initiative said he will make another go at banning the state from collecting racial and ethnic data after cleaning up "flawed" and confusing language in the measure.

UC Regent Ward Connerly, who wrote the proposition, said that much of the opposition to the measure from the medical community is due to confusion about the broad exemption allowing collection of data on "medical research subjects and patients." He said people have interpreted it narrowly when it was intended to cover any medical data, and even included a provision allowing the Legislature to add exemptions with a two-thirds vote.

"I think the language of Prop. 54 could have been improved. It is flawed. I thought, 'Geez, we've covered it.' But once you get into a political campaign, you realize how the opponents can interpret it," Connerly said. "When people are in doubt with something as important as their health, they will vote no."

The proposition has attracted strong opposition from public health advocates, who say it would rob doctors and health agencies of information needed to identify and address problems specific to certain groups.

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2003/10/07/CONNERLY.TMP

[Name removed]

1. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[PurityOfEssence]

2. "I promise to screw my people if it takes the rest of my life"

Connerly is so blindly in love with his own theories that no fact will dissuade him; he ought to be in the Bush Administration.

[beanball]

3. Ward the worm

the darling of shuffling repugs( Colan,Condi,&co.)

[shanti]

4. and we'll vote against your crap bill

every time you do, ward!~

[realFedUp]

5. Isn't it so much easier to remove one official

than pay for one more initiative.