BALTIMORE (WBFF) — There are just days remaining in the 2025 legislative session and among the key issues on lawmakers minds there is another bill inching towards passage in both the Senate and House of Delegates. If passed and signed into law it would establish a commission to study reparations, including financial restitution for racial injustices.
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On a Wednesday edition of FOX45 Morning News Megan Gilliland spoke with community leader and lifelong Baltimore resident Pastor P.M. Smith about the bill. He believes it’s the latest in a long line of missteps by Democratic lawmakers in Annapolis.
“It’s criminal and I don’t blame them,” Smith said. “I blame the folks who keep sending them back to Annapolis.”
Smith noted the bill’s path through Annapolis is happening parallel to discussion on how best to bridge a projected multi-billion dollar shortfall. While he says it’s likely to be signed by Governor Wes Moore if it arrives on his desk, Smith believes we’ve seen what sort of impact it will have thanks to a similar piece of legislation passed in California.
“[Democrats] want to make Maryland as much like California as they can,” Smith said. “Now [California governor] Gavin Newsom put together the commission and they passed it. And all they got was an apology and, ‘we’ll give you money one day.’ That’s all you’re going to get out of this.”
You can watch the entire discussion by clicking on the video included above and for more interviews like this one be sure to tune in to FOX45 Morning News every weekday from 4:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.