California Republican rips Gavin Newsom for backing away from $1.2million reparations payment and says the Governor is in a 'lose-lose' and will anger part of his liberal base no matter what he does

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California Gov. Gavin Newsom has come under fire for backing away from his plans for reparations payments to black residents.

The governor created a task force to study the economic effects of slavery and discrimination in the state back in September 2020, making California the first state to embark on studying the possibility of reparations for black Americans — even though slavery was banned from California even before it joined the union.

It approved its final recommendations last week for reparations payments of a minimum of $360,000 for black Californians, though the payments may go up to $1.2million.

But on Tuesday, Newsom declined to endorse any specific recommendations made by the task force, as he argued that dealing with the effects of slavery and discrimination is 'about much more than cash payments.'

Now, a Republican critic said Newsom found himself in a 'lose-lose' situation as speculation mounts that he might run against President Joe Biden in the primaries.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom (pictured earlier this month) has refused to endorse a proposal to pay black residents up to $1.2million in reparations

Republican Assembly Leader James Gallagher said the Democrat governor now finds himself in a 'lose-lose' situation of his own making

'No matter what he does, he's going to anger part of his base,' Republican Assembly Leader James Gallagher told FOX News Digital.

'It will take an absurd mental gymnastics to require California taxpayers, including new immigrants, low-income workers and even some African Americans have to pay for a wrong committed by other states more than 150 years ago, but that's the position Newsom put himself in,' Gallagher said. 

He then slammed Newsom for making 'big promises he can't or won't keep.'

Newsom signed the bill creating the task force in September 2020, following widespread protests over the death of George Floyd, who was killed by a white Minneapolis police officer in Minnesota.

The task force's hearings have attracted large crowd, and impassioned activists calling for hundreds of thousands of dollars for black residents.

In a statement to FOX News Newsom said: '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.

'Dealing with that legacy is about much more than cash payments,' he added, as he pledged to continue to 'advance systemic changes that ensure an inclusive and equitable future for all Californians.

'Many of the recommendations put forward by the task force are critical action items we've already been hard at work addressing: breaking down barriers to vote, bolstering resources to address hate, enacting sweeping law enforcement and justice reforms to build trust and safety, strengthening economic mobility — all while investing billions to root out disparities and improve equity in housing, education, healthcare, and well beyond. 

'This work must continue,' he said.

But the governor never explicitly endorsed the reparations payments the task force suggested, which are set to be sent to the California State Legislature in July. 

Instead, he said, 'Following the task force's submission of its final report this summer, I look forward to a continued partnership with the Legislature to advance systemic changes that ensure an inclusive and equitable future for all Californians.' 

California's reparations task force has approved a plan which could give black residents up to $1.2million each as compensation for slavery and discrimination

The final report is to be sent to lawmakers before July 1 where it will forecast compensation estimates calculated by several economists the group is working with

The nine-member group vote last week to recommend that the state send checks of up to $1.2million to black Californians, based on what has been lost to specific types of racial discrimination.

That includes $2,352 lost per person per year for the over-policing and mass incarceration of black communities and $3,366 per person per year of residence between 1933 and 1977 for 'discriminatory lending and zoning'.

It also figures $13,619 per person per year for residents in California for 'injustices and discrimination in health' and $77,000 per person for black-owned business losses and devaluations. 

This means a lifelong black California resident aged at least 71 could receive more than $1.2million in compensation. 

The reparations task force has also asked for those eligible to receive cash 'down payments' as soon as any recommendations are forged into law while they wait for the compensation to be calculated. 

Those eligible for the payments include any descendant of enslaved African Americans or of a 'free black person living in the United States prior to the end of the 19th century.'

It wrote in its report: 'The initial down payment is the beginning of a process of addressing historical injustices not the end of it.'

If legislation is passed for the payments, the committee suggested that a state agency be created to process claims and make payments with elderly black residents being the priority. 

Around 1.8 million people in California identify as black or African American.

The total cost of the program is estimated at $640billion, more than double the state's $300billion budget. 

Those eligible for the payments include any descendant of enslaved African Americans or of a 'free black person living in the United States prior to the end of the 19th century' 

Around 1.8 million people in California identify as black or African American 

It comes as the state is facing its first deficit in years.

The projected $31.5 billion shortfall would mark California's first budget deficit since Newsom took office in 2019, and follows several years of booming surpluses as tax revenues surged. 

California has a progressive tax system that relies heavily on rich people and taxes investment gains as regular income, meaning it gets about half its revenues from just 1 percent of the population. 

When the economy is good and the stock market surges, the wealthy pay more in taxes and revenues can soar quickly. When the economy is bad, they pay less and revenues can plunge just as fast. 

The economic reality means that payments of hundreds of thousands in reparations were exceptionally unlikely. 

The projected $31.5 billion shortfall would mark California's first budget deficit since Newsom took office in 2019, and follows several years of booming surpluses as tax revenues surged

Critics now say Newsom only came up with the idea of a reparations task force to score political points, figuring it would never pass the state legislature.

But proponents of the payments have been pushing for Newsom to us his authority as governor to unilaterally enact the proposal.

'This futile reparations exercise exposes the non-serious nature of Governor Newsom's leadership,' Republican Assemblyman Bill Essayli said.

'Rather than deal with the problems of California head-on, he prefers headlines and do-nothing commissions.

'It might work in a Democrat super-majority state like California,' Essayli said, 'but the rest of America will see right through him.'

Elizabeth Kolstad, the chairwoman of the Fresno County Republican Committee also said: 'Creating this committee was another half-baked ploy for votes and accolades that has landed him in dangerous water with no path to safety.'

'What is clear, is if Gavin's committee recommendations are implemented, CA is going to sink faster than the Titanic — only the Titanic's lights were on it when it went down.'

Still, Task Force Chair Kamilah Moore said she is hopeful recommendations, including the payments, could get enough support from state lawmakers.

'We've gone above and beyond,' Moore said of the group's work.