And, minorities, who make up one-third of the state's population, received only nine percent in contracts during the same time period. The reported percentages may actually be too high because the tally apparently omitted one-billion dollar s in awards. In the final analysis, white men continue to receive a highly disproportionate number of the state's public contracts. The study also found that government agencies fail to adequately monitor affirmative action practices. Last year, state audits of seven hundred contracts found that nearly one-third of them involved fronts or other practices used to subvert affirmativ e action.
Fronts entail white male business owners claiming that women or minorities own their businesses.
In an interview with Barbara Walters, which airs Friday September 15, Colin Powell said he supports a woman's right to choose and affirmative action. Powell also came out in support of silent prayer in schools, gun control and capital punishment. In the interview Powell did not disclose whether or not he would run for President in '96. Nor did he state which party he would run as if he did make t he bid for the presidency. A federal appeals court struck down a Louisiana law on Monday which prevented Medicaid payments for abortions in case of rape or incest.