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Liberal government Gavin Newsom signed a $2.8 billion relief on Monday to close the state’s bloated deficit with California’s Medicaid program.
The move, confirmed by Newsom’s office with Fox News Digital on Monday afternoon, comes after the Democratic governor last month sought $3.4 billion in loans from the state’s general fund to cover the outstanding costs of Medi-Cal, one of the state’s leading healthcare programs that take both federal and state taxpayer dollars. Additional funding will help the program continue running through June for around 15 million Californians, including non-citizens.
However, Republicans are critical of loans, claiming that the current Medicaid program is not sustainable along with illegal immigrants included in coverage.
Newsom is seeking another $300 million for the state’s health program, overwhelmed by illegal immigration
Gov. Gavin Newsom will pause at a press conference after touring Baron Park Elementary School in Palo Alto, California on March 2, 2021. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
“On the other hand, access to healthcare is plummeting. Waiting times are increasing. Democrats have chosen. Legal residents are coming second,” wrote Brian Jones, the leader of the Republican Senate in California, minority leader, to X.
State data shows that around 1.6 million illegal immigrants are currently registered with Medi-Cal, part of the program’s total of 15 million enrollees. The state initially predicted the expansion would cost just under $6 billion for the 2024-2025 fiscal year. But just a year later, it has skyrocketed far past that estimate.
Newsom’s latest budget proposal currently costs $8.4 billion to cover illegal immigrants between 2024 and 2025 and $7.4 billion the following year.
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Illegal immigrants are being detained by the US Coast Guard off the coast of Southern California. (USCG Southern California via x)
Meanwhile, state Republicans are pushing back. The new GOP proposal is primarily aimed at reducing $880 billion from Medicaid. Over the next decade, they aim to say what they say is reckless government spending.
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Fox News Digital has contacted Newsom’s office for comment.
This is a broken story. Please check for updates.
Jamie Joseph is a US political reporter for Fox News Digital, covering transgender and cultural issues, the departments of education, health and welfare, and state legislative development.
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