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.…”