So are goals still needed?
When women and minorities make up a substantial number of small business owners, yet their participation in the state and federal contracting arena are drastically less, goals are still a good way to open the market and increase competition.

The US Department of Transportation is requiring California (Caltrans) to reinstate race-based goals. A requirement of providing fair opportunity for contracting to all is of important state and national interest. Prop 209 was faulty in that it sought to do away with goals as well as quotas (set-asides). Quotas restrict trade and competition and goals/affirmative action creates greater competition and opportunity.

Deborah Wilder is the president of Women Construction Owners and Executives, USA (www.wcoeusa.org), an attorney licensed in California and Oregon, and the owner of a construction consulting company.