Newsom’s dilemma after providing Medi -Cal to undocumented immigrants – The Mercury News

The will of Governor Gavin Newsom to the political center struck a slowdown bump: he missed a path next to the budget for health care for undocumented immigrants.

Let’s put this in perspective:

Newsom probably repositioned himself to present himself to the presidency in 2028 – less as a liberal of California with wild eyes and more as a reasonable moderate which can attract votes in swing states.

He wants, at least, to be considered and respected on a national scale as a high -level presidential perspective.

But the two biggest political questions that the Democrats fulgiled last year were inflation – partly caused by the excessive expenses of the federal government – and an unwanted southern border which allowed countless immigrants to flow illegally into the country. Maga Republicans said that an attraction for migrants was the general benefits in liberal states like California.

“Kamala deploys the red carpet for the illegals” was the banner on a campaign piece by Donald Trump attacking Democrat Kamala Harris, whose Californian vulnerable political roots were deep.

Newsom, in fact, boasted that California was a national pioneer by becoming the first state to offer government health care to all low -income persons, regardless of their immigrant status.

So, we can only speculate on the way it would play with voters of the purple state across America – Newsom who breaks the bank on health care for people illegally living here. My speculations: she would play like a ball player taken off the base.

This would be well integrated into the stereotype of many Americans of a modern California governor: the leader of a radical, left -handed and uncontrollable state.

Of course, Newsom could be rescued politically by President Donald Trump and the Republican Congress if they stupidly strike Medicaid health care for the poor and the support of Medicare for the elderly in order to provide tax reductions to the richest Americans. This could overshadow the excessive expenditure of Newsom in Medi-Cal for undocumented immigrants.

A failure to plan

Medi-Cal is our version of Federal Medicaid. It provides health care at around 15 million Californians, 38% of the state population and half of children.

California began to phase in Medi-Cal for undocumented immigrants 10 years ago when Gov. Jerry Brown has signed legislation covering children. Under Newsom, the elderly were following a coverage. And undocumented people of all ages – approximately 1.8 million – were included last year.

It should not be surprising that the government of the State has not planned adequately for the expansion of Medi-Cal. Budget editors last June set the cost of $ 6.4 billion. In January, the overall costs of Medi-Cal had considerably exceeded the initial projection, which prompted Newsom to borrow $ 3.4 billion to pay the bills this month.

Recently, the governor asked the legislature of additional $ 2.8 billion to cover the expenses of Medi-Cal until June. Of the total of $ 6.2 billion in additional costs, the administration refused to make public the quantity of undocumented health care.

I suspect that the governor – and probably the legislative assembly – cooked the figures last year to show a “balanced” budget on paper. Shock, shock. It is a secular custom in the Capitol of the State.

Next year’s budget

Thus, Newsom and the Legislative Assembly face a difficult task to make a budget for the next financial year that begins on July 1.

They could reduce Medi-Cal services for all beneficiaries. Or they could reduce care to undocumented immigrants – perhaps keep them away from the plan. It seems nothing that the Democrats kiss.

They could tighten eligibility, reducing the number of beneficiaries. They could add co-paids. Or the reimbursement rates of the back of back – already so low that many doctors refuse to accept Medi -Cal patients. Forget that.

They could reduce other state programs to help pay Medi-Cal-perhaps a logical decision, but that would cause cries.

Or they could increase taxes. A non-starter.

There are always budgetary gadgets – borrow, backfilling other funds, giving a boost on the road.

What they will most likely do: use the numbers.

The funding of Medi-Cal is particularly problematic because of the way it works. The federal government corresponds to public spending for legal residents, but not for undocumented persons except in an emergency. The state is mainly alone in providing care for undocumented patients.

Pay for all others – around 13 million people – Newsom and the Legislative Assembly are now at the mercy of Trump and the Congress controlled by the GOP.

Going towards the center, Newsom avoided a lot of political sorrow last year by opposing three bills that the Legislative Assembly adopted to help undocumented immigrants.

The most controversial they would have made it possible to request uninteresting domestic loans of up to $ 150,000 if they were buyers for the first time. There was not even enough money in the existing pot to help citizens, noted Newsom in his veto message.

A second veto bill would have paved the way for undocumented workers to receive unemployment benefits. A third party would have forced public universities and community colleges to hire undocumented students for jobs on the campus.

Trump and Congress could currently strike Medicaid and give Newsom a solid justification to reduce health care for undocumented Californians. It would be a ugly and hurtful policy.

But whatever happens, I hope the governor will use unwashed figures this time.

George Skelton is a columnist for Los Angeles Times. © 2025 Los Angeles Times. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency.