Maryland’s Democrat Gov. Wes Moore is considering signing a bill that seeks to issue taxpayer-funded slavery reparations in the state.
The Democrat-led legislation passed the state’s House by a 101-36 vote.
The bill has now landed on Moore’s desk after being advanced by state lawmakers.
The governor has said he is considering signing the legislation, according to The Associated Press.
The bill describes potential reparations as official statements of apology, monetary compensation, property tax rebates, and social service assistance.
The repartions could include assistance with down payments on homes, business incentives, child care, debt forgiveness, and college tuition payment waivers.
It also seeks to study the lingering effects of racial discrimination in the state.
The proposals in the legislation would be funded with tax dollars.
The measure was a top priority for the Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland.
While outlining the Black Caucus’ legislative session priorities at the beginning of the year, Baltimore County Del. Aletheia McCaskill, a Democrat, described the goal of a reparations commission.
“The commission will carefully examine and evaluate a range of reparations proposals that will not only consider financial restitution, but will also explore strategies to support and uplift vulnerable communities that continue to suffer the lingering and evasive effects of discriminatory practices rooted in systematic racism,” McCaskill said.
Moore, Maryland’s first black governor, has not confirmed that he will sign the measure, only that he’s considering it.
“I have said and long stated that the history of racism in this state is real,” he said to reporters.
He added that the impacts “are still very much being felt, and they’ve been structurally felt within the state of Maryland.”
However, the governor has said the state is experiencing a tough budget year.
The governor will need to keep the growth of Maryland’s economy in mind when viewing the vast tax-dollar-spending in the legislation.
Maryland is not the first state to consider such legislation.
San Francisco lawmakers passed a bill last year that resulted in a formal apology for past racist policies and the return of land or compensation to families who had property unjustly seized by the government.
However, as many have pointed out, the city doesn’t have a history of slavery.
Also, last year, lawmakers in New York City passed legislation that seeks to study the city’s role in slavery.
The legislation establishes a committee to consider reparations to descendants of slaves.
READ MORE – UN Chief Demands Slavery Reparations to Tackle ‘White Supremacy’
