GAIL’S CALIFORNIA REPORT: As loyal readers know, I’ve been spending a lot of my time opposing Assembly Constitutional Amendment 7 (“ACA7”). It passed the Assembly months ago on a strict party-line vote and is now pending in the Senate. If it becomes law, it will essentially gut the state constitution’s ban on preferential treatment based on race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin (put there in 1996 by Proposition 209).
ACA7 is a little different from the recent failed effort–known as Proposition 16–to repeal Proposition 209 entirely. ACA7 “simply” gives the Governor the power to make EXCEPTIONS. But the exceptions will swallow the rule. (Indeed, that’s the intent.)
Like Proposition 16, ACA7 will require a vote of the people, which I hope and believe it will not get. But I’d much rather not have to go through a full-scale, expensive and exhausting campaign. I’d rather the issue die a merciful death in the Senate.
One thing that gives me real hope that the Senate will kill it is that the Black Caucus (as well the bill’s primary sponsor) keep telling people that ACA7 is part of their plan for REPARATIONS. Reparations are unlikely to play well anywhere outside the state’s wokest precincts. Proposition 16 (the straight repeal effort in 2020) was defeated by 57% of voters. If ACA7 is linked to reparations, the NO votes may come in even larger numbers. Alas, the fight will be bitter and divisive.
If you have time and the inclination, please do me a favor. If you haven’t already signed our PETITION, please do so. The petition has been essentially on ice for three months while we tried to deal with Facebook. I think it’s on track now. But we need more signatures. You don’t need to be a Californian to sign. Also if you have Twitter/X account, “liking” and “retweeting” the tweets that tag our state senators (as the one below does) are greatly appreciated.
We only need six Democratic senators to join with the eight GOP senators to block ACA7. We believe we have two Democrats so far and reason to believe we can get more. For some it’s a matter of self-preservation.
Now that its sponsors have explicitly (and repeatedly) tied ACA7 to reparations, I suspect you couldn’t get voters to approve it even if it were the right thing to do (which it isn’t). Putting it on the ballot will only result in a harvest of bitterness.https://t.co/cE7hzrTJvb…
— Gail Heriot (@GailHeriot) April 4, 2024
Post Script: We hope to start picketing one or two Assembly Members who voted for ACA7. It’s important that Senators know how seriously we are taking this.