Writer misrepresents proposition on the ballot
Editor:
I knew nothing of Proposition #1 on this year’s ballot until I read the letter from Mr. Lauricella. I did some digging and here is the text with changes to our current constitution as stated below:
“Concurrent Resolution of the Senate and Assembly proposing an amendment to section 11 of article 1 of the constitution, in relation to equal protection: Section 1. Resolved (if the Assembly concur), That section 11 of article 1 of the constitution be amended to read as follows:
Ҥ 11. a. No person shall be denied the equal protection of the laws of this state or any subdivision thereof. No person shall, because of race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, disability, creed [or], religion, or sex, including sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, pregnancy outcomes, and reproductive healthcare and autonomy, be subjected to any discrimination in [his or her] their civil rights by any other person or by any firm, corporation, or institution, or by the state or any agency or subdivision of the state, pursuant to law.
“b. Nothing in this section shall invalidate or prevent the adoption of any law, regulation, program, or practice that is designed to prevent or dismantle discrimination on the basis of a characteristic listed in this section, nor shall any characteristic listed in this section be interpreted to interfere with, limit, or deny the civil rights of any person based upon any other characteristic identified in this section.
“§ 2. Resolved (if the Assembly concur), That the foregoing amendment be submitted to the people for approval at the general election to be held in the year 2024 in accordance with the provisions of the election law.”
In my reading I fail to see the conclusions drawn by the letter’s author. I will also add that I am not endorsing this amendment merely giving your readers the opportunity to make an informed decision based on their personal interpretation of the material.
Thank you.
Dayton Hausman
Medina
