Two Californian bills regarding reparations for descendants of enslaved Black Americans have been shelved in the state legislature, sparking protests at the California State Capitol this past Saturday.
Democratic state Senator Steven Bradford cited fears the bills would be vetoed by Governor Gavin Newsom as a reason for not putting them up to vote.
Senate Bill 1331 attempted to create a new state fund for reparations and Senate Bill 1403 sought the passage of legislation that would establish an oversight body, similar in structure I assume to tort claim or veterans’ agencies because it explicitly stated such commission “shall not be construed as creating any right under law.”
The bills were part of a larger package that Republicans opposed as being excessive efforts to remedy the state’s racist past at Black Californians’ expense, particularly in such areas housing education and public health.
The direct payment to African-Americans though was a nonstarter despite majority Democratic support in the California legislature, which passed several other bills aimed at righting past racial injustices.
The reasoning from Bradford was he believed the bills would be vetoed by Governor Newsom if they got to him.
”We should pass this bill because we’re at the finish line – and as Black Caucus members, it’s time for us to put our money where your mouth is,” Bradford said. ”There are 40 million reasons why you need to support racial equality in California,” he continued.
California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC) Chair Assembly Member Lori Wilson also made a statement on the withdrawal of these proposals stating that they needed additional work, saying ‘We knew it was an uphill battle from the start.”
But in a statement online, the CLBC said it “could not collectively participate in the legislative process and (the) concerns with [SB 1403] only recently came to our attention.” The statement said that with the amendment deadline over, it was elected to keep working on this bill and reintroduce it in next year’s session. As opposed to Senate Bill 1331, which would end up not advancing that year.
Reparations advocates, with groups such as the Coalition for a Just & Equitable California showing up at the Capitol to press their case argued that while it did not have an affirmative vote count guaranteed in advance of a floor ballot, but several influential members said they had lined up themselves and others to support all or part of the package.
“This type of betrayal cannot go unanswered. There must be a political price to pay. Gone are the days when politicians of any race or party can disrespect Black Americans and expect no political consequences. We are not captured. We do not belong to any party or special interest. We are the living embodiment of our Ancestors who built this state and this country over 400 years and who are owed Reparations. We’re coming…No…We’re HERE, to get our checks and more,” the group wrote on X.
Republican Assembly Member Bill Essayli attempted to call the bills up for a vote, but he could not find another lawmaker willing to second. Despite promising direct cash reparations, Democrats on X instead “went into hiding,” Essayli wrote.
Essayli said he opposed Californians footing the bill for sins committed by slave states, but thought it was a matter which merited a public debate and recorded vote. “Politicians should not be able to say one thing to the folks who vote them into office and then slither away in hiding when those votes are being taken,” it reads.
Both bills ended up going to the inactive file after midnight. There are four other reparations related bills now on Governor Newson’s desk and he must sign or veto them by September 30th., but his office has not commented specifically on these plans. But he signed a $300 billion budget in June with up to $12 million for reparations legislation, although it did not detail what the money would actually be used toward.
The governor’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment Saturday, though Newsom has previously commented on the Reparations report this year: “I haven’t [just] read [the Reparations report] — I’ve devoured it. I’ve analyzed it. I’ve stress tested against things we’ve done, things we’re doing, things that we’d like to do, but can’t do because of constitutional constraints. And I’ve been working closely with the Black Caucus.”
