A state lawmaker has withdrawn a resolution that would have put a constitutional ban on affirmative action before Nebraska voters in November.

Sen. Mark Christensen of Imperial said Monday he was forced to abandon the measure (LR233CA) in part because fellow lawmakers had threatened not to support his other bills if he did not do so.

Because those other bills — including his priority bill, which would allow natural resources districts in the Republican River basin to borrow money from the state to pay irrigators — are critical to his district, Christensen said he was left with no choice but to withdraw the affirmative-action measure.

He wouldn’t name the senators who threatened not to support his bills, but said they numbered “more than a handful,” and that they had surprised and disappointed him by “selling out” politically.

“Every bill needs to stand on its own, with no horse-trading,” he said. “This disappoints me. It’s wrong.”

Christensen’s decision came only two days before the measure’s public hearing, which was expected to draw numerous advocates on both sides from as far away as California and Washington, D.C.

Christensen expressed regret they will not be able to testify for or against his resolution. He said his legislative colleagues apparently are afraid to discuss affirmative action.

“There’s no idea that shouldn’t be able to have a public hearing,” he said.

Christensen’s measure stood almost no chance of making it out of the Judiciary Committee, a fact he said also contributed to his decision to withdraw it.

The news was cheered by affirmative action supporters, who say a ban would hurt state institutions’ efforts to diversify their workforces.

“I think that (discussion on affirmative action) is better left to our classrooms and public forums, not the Legislature and certainly not within our Constitution,” said Jose Soto, a local diversity advocate.

Still, opponents of affirmative action have ample opportunity to get the issue on November ballots.

Allies of the California group Super Tuesday for Equal Rights are working to gather about 115,000 petition signatures by July 4 to put an affirmative action ban before voters.

The group’s efforts won’t be hindered by the withdrawal of Christensen’s measure, said Doug Tietz, executive director of the Nebraska Civil Rights Initiative, an ally of Super Tuesday for Equal Rights.

“We’re 100 percent full steam ahead,” Tietz said. “We’re going to get the signatures, we’re going to get this on the ballot, we’re going to get this passed.”

Super Tuesday for Equal Rights is led by California businessman Ward Connerly. He already has helped lead movements to end affirmative action in California, Michigan and Washington, and is targeting five more states, Nebraska included, this year.

Connerly had been scheduled to testify in support of Christensen’s resolution Wednesday.

He’ll still make the trip, and will speak about his initiative at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Tuesday evening, Tietz said.

University officials already have stated their opposition to an affirmative action ban, and a new student group, Students United for Nebraska, has formed to oppose a ban as well.

NU leaders believe a ban could put programs and organizations geared toward women and minorities in danger. Further, they say, it could send a message to faculty and student recruits that Nebraska doesn’t care about diversity.

Representatives of the Washington, D.C.-based American Association for Affirmative Action also had been scheduled to testify at Wednesday’s hearing.

They’ll still come to town, too, to voice their opposition to the Connerly initiative, Soto said.

He suspects they’ll find eager listeners.

“There are a number of folks that are seriously concerned about the move to eliminate affirmative action as a tool to diversify our workforce and to ensure representation and inclusion,” he said. “We will continue to take every opportunity to educate the public on the value of affirmative action.”

Connerly and his supporters will continue speaking publicly, too.

Tietz blasted legislators who had threatened to drop their support for Christensen.

“This is ugly and underhanded,” he said. “This is as dirty as I’ve ever seen. What’s dirty about it is this: They don’t even want to have a hearing on this.

“Talk about silencing the people.”

Reach Melissa Lee at 473-2682 or mlee@journalstar.com.