California Gov. Gavin Newsom, only days after receiving a $3.44 billion loan, requested an additional $2.8 billion from the state to fund Medi-Cal, the state’s health care program that covers illegal immigrants, his office has confirmed.
The decision drew more criticism on Monday from state leaders who claim the rapidly ballooning program was unfairly burdening Californians.
Newsom’s office again denied that the extra costs were the result of providing health care services to illegal immigrants, adding he planned to work with legislative leadership to tighten the budget.
“With tough fiscal choices ahead, Governor Newsom, jointly with Senate [President Mike] McGuire and [Assembly Speaker Robert] Rivas, will evaluate proposals to rein in long-term spending—including in Medi-Cal—while working to protect the core health and social services Californians rely on,” the governor’s spokeswoman, Elana Ross, told The Epoch Times in an email on Tuesday….