Multiple Reparations Bills Halted As Black Caucus Pulls Them Only Hours Before Votes

The two reparations bills that would have created a new state fund for reparations were pulled by the California Legislative Black Caucus only hours before they were to be voted on. The bills would have created the California American Freedman Affairs Agency to assist Californians with reparations programs, but were moved to the inactive file over the weekend.

Senate Bill 1403, authored by Senator Steven Bradford (D-Gardena), would have created the California American Freedmen Affairs state Agency, under the control of a newly created Secretary, who would be appointed by the Governor. SB 1403 would have also required the agency to implement the recommendations of the Task Force, as well as require the agency to determine how an individual’s status as a descendant would be confirmed. The bill would also have required proof of an individual’s descendant status to be a qualifying criteria for benefits authorized by the state for descendants. To accomplish these goals, the bill would have required the agency to be comprised of a Genealogy Office and an Office of Legal Affairs.

The other bill, Senate Bill 1331, also authored by Bradford, would have established the Fund for Reparations and Reparative Justice in the State Treasury for the purpose of funding policies approved by the Legislature and the Governor that address reparations. The bill would have authorized the fund to receive moneys from any other federal, state, or local grant, or from any private donation or grant.

Both of the bills were part of a block of 14 reparations bills brought up this year. While many were of little to no cost, the more expensive options proved controversial. Two of the bills by Bradford were actually killed in May over cost issues as the state is tens of billions of dollars in debt. Other bills proved less divisive, including a slavery apology bill, currently sitting on the Governor’s desk.

While supporters said that both SB 1403 and SB 1331 were necessary to help fund and facilitate all current and future reparations programs and laws, both of the bills nonetheless proved divisive. GOP legislators, as well as a handful of Democrats, came out in strong opposition to the bills due to the high cost, as well as being seen as a “backdoor reparations scheme.” The bills were also seen as going too far in addressing the reparations issue.

Despite this, both bills sailed through the legislature all year, with voting divided on party lines, albeit with a few Democrats joining the GOP at points. This can be seen in May where SB 1403 passed the Senate 30-7 with 3 abstentions and SB 1331 passed 29-8 with 3 abstentions. The latest votes had also proved encouraging for the bill, as they both made it past Assembly Appropriations by a healthy margin.

However, the real wild card in all of this has not been the GOP, but Governor Gavin Newsom. With the state in debt the last few years, Newsom has become known for vetoing any expensive programs to keep state spending down. Over the weekend, with it becoming more obvious that Newsom would be vetoing the expensive bills, Senator Bradford, as well as the California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC), pulled the bills for the year before the vote, placing them on the inactive file so that they could possibly return next year.

CLBC Chairwoman and Assemblywoman Lori Wilson (D-Suisun City) attempted to spin the decision on Saturday, saying that the bills simply needed more work. “We knew from the very beginning that it was an uphill battle. And we also knew from the very beginning that it would be a multiyear effort,” explained Wilson.

However, Bradford was far more blunt, saying that the bills didn’t move forward out of fear that Gov. Gavin Newsom would veto them.

In a letter posted on X, the CLBC gave an official statement, saying that they were “Unable to participate in the legislative process collectively and only recently became aware of the concerns with SB 1403. We are well past the amendment deadline; therefore, the decision has been made to continue working on this bill and reintroduce it in the next session. Regarding the status of Senate Bill 1331, the CLBC will not be moving it forward this year.”

pic.twitter.com/g7QwPB5S6e

— @clbcpolicyinstitute (@CABlackCaucus) August 31, 2024

The last minute removals irked reparations supporters, including the Coalition for a Just & Equitable California. Dozens of supporters found their way into the Capitol on Saturday, shouting at CLBC lawmakers to pass the bill and not to shelve it. Reportedly, some even had even allegedly shouted death threats and other vulgar things at lawmakers as they passed by in a last ditch attempt to sway them. Shouting could also be heard through the Capitol, with two staffers telling the Globe on Monday that they could hear them from across the building.

Outraged at the bills being taken down before the vote, the Coalition for a Just & Equitable California proceeded to blast social media. In their own statement on X, they wrote that “The truth is that the CLBC lied and cheated to stop reparations bills from getting to the Governor’s desk. Again, Black legislators stopped Reparations bills for Black Americans in California. We had the votes to pass the bills and they knew it, so they refused to bring the bills up for a vote. 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.”

This statement is false. The truth is that @CABlackCaucus (CLBC) lied and cheated to stop #Reparations bills from getting to the Governor's desk. Again, Black legislators stopped Reparations bills for Black Americans in California. We had the votes to pass the bills and they knew… https://t.co/Y8gjcrL8ap pic.twitter.com/q5FZ75xhAe

— Coalition For A Just & Equitable California (@cjecofficial) September 1, 2024

However, reparations opponents breathed a sigh of relief over the weekend, albeit knowing that the battle over the bills were not over as they were simply placed in the inactive file and not killed outright.

“The war is still being fought, but a battle was won by opponents on Saturday,” said Katherine Douglas, a Washington-based analyst who focuses on state reparation efforts, to the Globe on Monday. “The bills would have cost millions that the state just does not have. Plus, there are major issues besides cost with both bills.

“But the big thing was cost. We’re talking about dozens of employees, at least. That’s salaries, plus fund for offices, startup costs, establishing a huge fund, and so many other costs. Yeah, the state just does not have the money. Newsom was looking for a veto. CLBC members do not want any vetoes on the bills, as it would look very bad for bills going forward in the future and create a precedent for future bills to veto the ones that could causes issues for the state.

“These will be coming back, and they are going to need to find a way to drastically reduce costs and set hard limits on funding to even be considered. But it was all also pretty telling. The Coalition you showed me? Their press release said the quiet part out loud by saying that they wanted their checks. Their money. That’s all this is about to them.

“Some reparations bills will be signed by Newsom, but not these two, which are the most important ones to come up this year. Next year will likely bring more, but until any sort of agency or funding is established, they aren’t going anywhere. And until reparations supporters realize that they aren’t getting any money directly, this big fight will continue. Incidents like all those people shouting at lawmakers in the Capitol? It is only going to get worse. And they need to realize that it makes them look like crazy people doing that, and not people trying to get a bill passed.”

Multiple passed reparations bills are to be decided by the Governor later this month.