A progressive governor-appointed committee tasked with studying the merit and feasibility of providing reparations to black Californians has recommended the Golden State provide qualifying black residents with up to $1.2 million.
The so-called Reparations Task Force did not recommend how to fund the $569,000,000–$800,000,000 reparations plan, which, on the lower end of the scale, is more than double the state’s hefty annual budget.
As a first step, some have pointed to a Denver councilwoman’s recent suggestion that white business owners be taxed and that money be given to black businesses and interests.
As a follow-up to the committee’s recommendations, the Daily Caller News Foundation reached out to California’s 42 Democrat congressional representatives for comment. The Caller contacted every representative — only two were willing to go on the record regarding the proposal.
A summary of their findings follows:
Rep. Mark DeSaulnier agreed with the decision but referred reporters to Rep. Barbara Lee’s opinion. Lee, a former Congressional Black Caucus chair, has expressed support for the reparations plan.
At Saturday’s task force findings announcement, Lee said:
“Reparations are not a luxury for our people, but a human right long overdue for millions of Americans. The atrocities committed against black Americans are undeniable, and reparations are a tangible route to acknowledging and making amends to the glaring economic and social impacts of slavery and systemic racism.”
Notably, no other California Democrat congressional representatives would go on record supporting the issue.
Republican representatives took note and criticized Democrats who push for radical initiatives but are reluctant to support them publicly.
“Let us never force one group of Americans to pay off another group to atone for the sins of others,” tweeted California Republican presidential candidate Larry Elder.
According to CalMatters, a political investigative group, and state Sen. Steven Bradford, the proposal will face an “uphill battle” if it moves through the state legislature.
Jack Brewer, a black former National Football Association player, also criticized the proposal, telling Fox News: “Our communities are ravaged right now. And you’ve got a bunch of people standing up asking for million-dollar checks. It’s absolutely insane to me.”
Notably, Gov. Newsom, who established the task force, declined to publicly support their findings, though over the weekend thanked them for their work:
“The Reparations Task Force’s independent findings and recommendations are a milestone in our bipartisan effort to advance justice and promote healing. This has been an important process, and we should continue to work as a nation to reconcile our original sin of slavery and understand how that history has shaped our country,” Newsom said.
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