Wash. Bill to Reverse Preferences Ban Dies

By PETER SCHMIDT

Washington State lawmakers have shelved, and probably killed, Gov. Gary Locke's proposal to negate a voter-enacted ban on race-conscious admissions at public colleges.

Two companion versions of the governor's measure -- one in the Senate, the other in the House of Representatives -- died last month as a result of inaction by key legislative committees, and appear unlikely to be revived this year.

The bills would have let public colleges return to race-conscious