Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to let folks in California and across the country know that Medi-Cal, our version of Medicaid, is facing an unprecedented threat. Its very solvency, its sustainability, and its ability to provide coverage for Californians are being threatened by a completely reckless policy enacted by Governor Gavin Newsom that does not exist in any of the other 49 States in our country. Because of this reckless policy, Newsom has just had to ask the legislature for a bailout of Medicaid, $2.8 billion, which the legislature provided. Now, of course, what I am referring to is the policy of providing free, full-scope, comprehensive Medi-Cal coverage to all illegal immigrants in the State who meet the income eligibility requirements. This, again, is a policy that is singular to California. No other State has it. It was initially estimated to cost $3.1 billion. Since that time, the cost, just for the first year of coverage, has exploded to $9.5 billion. As a result, Governor Newsom, number one, took out a $3.44 billion loan from the State's general fund. That is the maximum allowed by law. Of course, that wasn't enough to close the gap, so then, he had to go and ask for a bailout of the program to stave off insolvency. Now, you would think that this would compel Newsom and the legislature to immediately roll back this disastrous experiment, yet when Governor Newsom was asked, he said that rolling back this policy was ``not on my docket.'' Let's be very clear: Saving Medicaid in California is not on Governor Newsom's docket. Fortunately, we are fighting back and looking to take measures here that will ensure that tax dollars of Californians are reserved to provide Medi-Cal coverage for people who are in our State legally. When you think about this cost, $9.5 billion just in the first year, is a cost that is basically triple what was originally projected. Think what that is going to look like over the next 10 years. We are talking about potentially hundreds of billions of dollars that could be going toward Medi-Cal for our own residents that is instead going toward a reckless policy that exists nowhere else in the country, which is only going to entice more people who are here illegally to come to California, thereby, increasing the cost even more. By the way, because we are adding all of these additional people to the Medi-Cal rolls, that is making it more difficult for Californians who rely on the program to actually get access to healthcare. It is extremely difficult to get a doctor's appointment if you are on Medi- Cal in California. It is actually very difficult, in some cases, if you are on private insurance to get a doctor's appointment in California. The Governor's reckless policy is a big reason why. We are going to do everything we possibly can here to fight for Californians and fight for Medicaid in California. I will do everything I can to protect this program against the Governor and the legislature's reckless policy. Supporting Teach For America”