Jason Hopkins on May 21, 2019
California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s plan for government-funded health care for illegal immigrants is frugal compared to proposals by other Democratic leaders in his state.
Newsom, the progressive first-term governor of California and ardent opponent of the Trump administration, wants to offer free health care services to low-income illegal migrants between the ages of 19 and 25. The plan is estimated to cost the state $98 million a year to operate.
“Young people feel the crunch of the cost crisis acutely — from high rents and student debt. Health care shouldn’t be one more worry,” Newsom said in a press release. “We are helping young adults when they come off their parents’ plan and assisting those who may not be able to join onto a parents’ insurance policy.”
Despite the nearly $100 million annual price tag, Newsom’s plan appears conservative when contrasted with the options being touted in the California state capitol.
A bill in the state Senate calls for not only 19- to 25-year-olds, but also those 65 years and older to qualify for free health care. The author of the bill argues California’s budget could easily afford the burden. In the state Assembly, there is legislation that would cover all illegal immigrants over the age of 19, costing the Golden State an estimated $3.4 billion. The state House proposal earned scrutiny from Newsom himself.
“There’s 3.4 billion reasons why it is a challenge,” the Democratic governor said during a recent press conference.
Leaders in the state Assembly and Senate are expected to finish their proposals within the week before they negotiate with Newsom on a final budget. No matter how the plans are tweaked, California appears poised to become the first state in the U.S. to offer government-funded health care to undocumented adults.
Additionally, implementation of the proposals would further establish the liberal state as a counter to the Trump administration’s immigration agenda.
The White House, for example, is considering a regulation that would dramatically expand the deportation of immigrants living in the U.S. who are dependent on public benefits. President Donald Trump’s immigration plan, which he introduced earlier in May, would reduce the number of low-income foreign nationals allowed into the country.
The California GOP panned Democrats for pushing publicly funded health care for illegal migrants while simultaneously mulling a plan that mandates health insurance and slaps a penalty on those who choose not to participate.
“We’re going to penalize the citizens of this state that have followed the rules, but we’re going to let somebody who has not followed the rules come in here and get the services for free. I just think that’s wrong,” said Jeff Stone, a Republican state senator.
Follow Jason on Twitter.
The radio host Howard Stern, who was once known as a shock jock, is defending…
Representative Matt Gaetz (R-FL) challenged Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) to follow through on his threat to…
New York’s City Council has announced plans to consider taking down statues of such legendary…
This week, the United Nations General Assembly is meeting in New York City in a…
Senator J.D. Vance (R-OH) accused Ukraine of holding an American journalist "hostage" even as President…
By Brett Rowland (The Center Square) Sewage backups and inoperable fire systems are among the…
View Comments
California's public pension is underfunded by over $400 billion. How are they going to keep paying that as people retire and age and pay for illegals? The Supreme Court has ruled that public pensions are like trusts, they cannot be touched. So California will have to cut services and/or raise taxes substantially, way past where they are, to keep providing pension funds. And with people living longer, the pension problem isn't going away.
California's public pension is underfunded by over $400 billion. How are they going to keep paying that as people retire and age and pay for illegals? The Supreme Court has ruled that public pensions are like trusts, they cannot be touched. So California will have to cut services and/or raise taxes substantially, way past where they are, to keep providing pension funds. And with people living longer, the pension problem isn't going away.
While Americans live on the streets of LA with the rats and garbage. Hey Newsome, they don't even collect garbage in LA, how about sending that money for some garbage trucks and sanitation workers? I wonder how many of those homeless people will need health care, especially if bitten by typhus and bubonic plagued rats fleas.
What I want to know is if they are offering the same benefits to Americans who need it? Because if not than that is fully discriminatory to all Americans!
What I want to know is if they are offering the same benefits to Americans who need it? Because if not than that is fully discriminatory to all Americans!
Newsome, he turns San Fran Freako into a toilet, now he wants to spread the wealth to the entire state.
BUT/AND we CANNOT FULLY FUND our own POSTAL SERVICE.......!!!????
Good reason to end all govt. subsidies to calif. and at the same time deport all illegals caught anywhere in the us to calif with penalties up to and including death for leaving that state in the future. And for future elections no california votes will be counted unless it can be verified that the voters are american citizens. California federal judges will no longer be able to make rulings that apply to any other state or the federal govt.
Good reason to end all govt. subsidies to calif. and at the same time deport all illegals caught anywhere in the us to calif with penalties up to and including death for leaving that state in the future. And for future elections no california votes will be counted unless it can be verified that the voters are american citizens. California federal judges will no longer be able to make rulings that apply to any other state or the federal govt.
So the Fed should send all the low life illegals aliens to CA.