Key slavery reparations bills in California have come to a halt on the final day of the legislative session, with state lawmakers pointing to Governor Gavin Newsom's office as the cause.
According to a report from POLITICO, Democratic state Senator Steven Bradford and other advocates claim that Newsom's aides pushed for significant changes to a proposal for a new state reparations agency.
The proposed amendments, obtained by POLITICO, suggest redirecting $6 million to California State University to study the implementation of recommendations from the state's reparations task force. This shift would effectively remove the bill's primary purpose of establishing a new Freedmen Affairs Agency, instead opting for further study of the issue. The changes have sparked controversy among lawmakers and advocates who have been working towards concrete reparations measures.
Senator Bradford's office confirmed the authenticity of the draft amendments and stated that they originated from the Newsom administration. According to Bradford, the governor's office cited cost pressures as the reason for the proposed changes, given that the state had to trim billions from its budget this year.
When asked about the amendments, Newsom's spokesperson, Izzy Gardon, declined to provide specific answers. Instead, Gardon stated that the governor has been working collaboratively with the Legislative Black Caucus on their reparations package. He referred to a statement Newsom made during his January budget presentation for further context.
The proposed changes have created tension between the governor's office and advocates of the reparations bills. Some lawmakers and activists view the amendments as a significant setback to the progress made by the state's reparations task force, which issued a comprehensive report last year with wide-ranging recommendations.
The California Legislative Black Caucus now finds itself in a difficult position. While several reparations bills promoted by the caucus passed the legislature this year, the two bills that stalled on Saturday were considered crucial components of the reparations package.
Bradford, who served on the reparations task force, expressed his disagreement with the decision to shelve the bills. He suggested that pressure from the governor's office led to this outcome: "You hear challenges on every piece of legislation. That doesn't mean that you don't move forward with it."
Some caucus members reportedly worried that potential vetoes from the governor would reflect poorly on the rest of the reparations bills. This concern appears to have influenced the decision to hold back the legislation.
The stalling of the bills has sparked outrage among activists who have been pushing for concrete reparations measures. Chris Lodgson, lead organizer for the Coalition for a Just and Equitable California, expressed his frustration with the situation. Lodgson criticized the decision to hold back the bills, stating:
If the governor wants to veto the bills, don't call your Black legislators and tell them to stop the bills from coming to your desk first. You be a man. Veto the bills with your chest and stand on that as a man.
There appear to be conflicting accounts of the amendment process and its implications. While Bradford and some activists claim the governor's office sought to significantly alter the bills, Lori Wilson, chair of the Black Caucus, denied that the administration recommended further study instead of creating a new agency.
Wilson stated that the amendments obtained by POLITICO represent only a snapshot of a larger discussion. She emphasized that they do not reflect the final changes the caucus wanted nor what the bill will contain when it is reintroduced next year.
In conclusion, California's reparations bills hit a significant roadblock on the final day of the legislative session. Governor Newsom's office is being blamed for proposing amendments that would dramatically alter the purpose of key legislation. The situation has created tension between lawmakers, activists, and the governor's office, with differing accounts of the amendment process emerging. As the Legislative Black Caucus plans to bring the bills back next year, the future of reparations legislation in California remains uncertain, with various stakeholders expressing frustration and disappointment over the current impasse.
