Florida's Republican attorney general is questioning the constitutionality of state laws supporting minority contracting and diverse appointments. Democratic lawmakers said Thursday that the opinion ignores ongoing racial discrimination and could harm Black residents. Attorney General James Uthmeier released the opinion on Monday, claiming around 80 laws and programs violate the Fourteenth Amendment's equal protection clause. Members of the Florida Legislative Black Caucus denounced the opinion as a political stunt. They argue it threatens decades of bipartisan policies and ignores Florida's history of racial segregation. Uthmeier, appointed by Governor Ron DeSantis, is running for election this year.
