combined 14% of students at the university of washington while asians account for 24% and that's not including the many asian foreign students. state reps in a democrat and korean american admit some especially bright chinese applicants won't get in. >> what we're giving the institutions and the workplaces that hey, go ahead and take a look at the diversity, their background, not just the test scores not just their grades. reporter: government contracts will also go to more minority and women-owned businesses. backers say leveling the playing field. >> it's exposing a opportunity that we can go ahead and bid on those projects, so there is no favortism. reporter: but opponents say voters should decide just like in 1998 when they banned racial preferences. asian groups are busy collecting signatures hoping to get a referendum on the november ballot. >> when you use race when you're deciding who gets into