Skip to content
Help support CapRadio’s local public service mission 
and enrich the lives in your community.
Support local nonprofit public media.
Donate Now

View thank you gift options

CapRadio

CapRadio

listen live donate
listen live donate
listen live
donate
  • News
    • News

    • State Government
    • Environment
    • Health Care
    • Race and Equity
    • Business
    • Arts and Lifestyle
    • Food and Sustainability
    • PolitiFact California
    News
    • News

    • State Government
    • Environment
    • Health Care
    • Race and Equity
    • Business
    • Arts and Lifestyle
    • Food and Sustainability
    • PolitiFact California
  • Music
    • Music

    • Classical
    • Jazz
    • Eclectic

    • Daily Playlist
    Music
    • Music

    • Classical
    • Jazz
    • Eclectic

    • Daily Playlist
  • Podcasts & Shows
  • Schedules
  • Events
  • Support
    • Support
    • Ways to support
    • Evergreen Donation
    • One-Time Donation
    • Corporate Sponsorship
    • Vehicle Donation
    • Stock Giving
    • Legacy Giving
    • Endowment Support
    • Members
    • Member Benefits
    • Member FAQ
    • Member Newsletter

    • Fund drives
    • Drawing Winners
    • Thank You Gifts
    Support
    • Support
    • Ways to support
    • Evergreen Donation
    • One-Time Donation
    • Corporate Sponsorship
    • Vehicle Donation
    • Stock Giving
    • Legacy Giving
    • Endowment Support
    • Members
    • Member Benefits
    • Member FAQ
    • Member Newsletter

    • Fund drives
    • Drawing Winners
    • Thank You Gifts
  • About
  • Close Menu
 We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter 
 We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter 
  • State Government
  • Health Care
  • Immigration
  •  

Trump, Gov. Gavin Newsom Spar Over Immigrant Health Care

Tuesday, July 2, 2019 | Sacramento, CA
Andrew Nixon / Capital Public Radio

Gov. Gavin Newsom presents his revised 2019 budget proposal.

Andrew Nixon / Capital Public Radio

Adam Beam, Associated Press

(AP) — California's governor vowed on Monday to continue expanding taxpayer funded health benefits to adults living in the country illegally next year, ensuring the volatile issue will get top billing in the 2020 presidential election as Democrats vying for the nomination woo voters in the country's most populous state.

Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a $214.8 billion operating budget last week that includes spending to make low-income adults 25 and younger living in the country illegally eligible for the state's Medicaid program. California is the first state to do this, with an expected cost of $98 million to cover about 90,000 people

Democrats in the state legislature had pushed to also cover adults 65 and older living in the country illegally, as well as all adults regardless of age. But Newsom rejected those proposals because they were too expensive — about $3.4 billion for all adults living in the country illegally in California.

But Monday, Newsom told a crowd of supporters at Sacramento City College "we're going to get the rest of that done."

"Mark my words," Newsom said. "We're going to make progress next year and the year after on that. That's what universal health care means. Everybody, not just some folks."

If Newsom follows through, it will ensure California's legislature will be debating the issue at about the same time California voters are voting for a Democratic presidential nominee. The state has an outsized role in the selection process this year because its primary is scheduled for March 3.

Republicans seemed to welcome the debate. Speaking to reporters on Monday, President Donald Trump said California doesn't "treat their people as well as they treat illegal immigrants."

"At what point does it stop? It's crazy what they are doing," he said. "And it's mean. And it's very unfair to our citizens, and we're going to stop it. But we may need an election to stop it, and we may need to get back the House."

Newsom's comments highlight how quickly Democrats have embraced using tax dollars to provide services for people living in the country illegally. Former Democratic President Barack Obama's health care law dramatically expanded Medicaid coverage in 2014, but only for people living in the country legally.

Last week, all 10 Democratic presidential candidates during the second night of a televised debate raised their hands when asked if they supported expanding Medicaid to cover people living in the country illegally. They included front-runners like former Vice President Joe Biden, Vermont U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders and California U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris.

"I think the anti-immigrant stance by the Trump administration has in some sense created this as the bigger issue," said Larry Levitt, executive vice president for health policy at the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. "The Trump administration has pushed Democrats even further to defend immigration and provide services to people who are already here."

California's $214.8 billion operating budget, which took effect Monday, also brings back an Obama-era tax on people who refuse to purchase private health insurance. State officials will use the money from the tax to help middle income families — including families of four who earn as much as $150,000 a year — pay their monthly health insurance premiums.

"To Donald Trump: eat your heart out," Newsom said.


Follow us for more stories like this

CapRadio provides a trusted source of news because of you.  As a nonprofit organization, donations from people like you sustain the journalism that allows us to discover stories that are important to our audience. If you believe in what we do and support our mission, please donate today.

Donate Today  

    Related Stories

  • Alex E. Proimos / Flickr

    State Lawmakers Debate Medi-Cal Coverage For Undocumented Californians

    Wednesday, June 5, 2019
    CapRadio healthcare reporter Sammy Caiola is tracking proposals to provide Medi-Cal coverage to undocumented Californians. She updates Insight on the latest moves by state lawmakers.
  • Photo by Robert Hanashiro, USA TODAY Staff

    Undocumented Children Can Get California Health Care. Now Gavin Newsom Wants Young Adults To Have It, Too.

    Monday, April 29, 2019
    While R. Lopez's low income family qualified for government-funded health coverage, her legal status prevented her from accessing full-scope Medi-Cal for much of her childhood. That changed in 2016.
  • Andrew Nixon / Capital Public Radio

    California’s Patchwork Of Care For The Undocumented: Where You Live Matters

    Friday, March 22, 2019
    While comprehensive care is elusive for the undocumented in all California counties, where a person lives can make all the difference in whether health care is available at all outside of emergency rooms.

Sign up for ReCap and never miss the top stories

Delivered to your inbox every Friday.

 

Check out a sample ReCap newsletter.

Thanks for subscribing!

Thank you for signing up for the ReCap newsletter! We'll send you an email each Friday with the top stories from CapRadio.

Browse all newsletters

More State Government Stories

Rahul Lal / CalMatters

California colleges rush to get more students on food assistance before pandemic rule ends

March 18, 2023

Photo by Larry Valenzuela, CalMatters/CatchLight Local

State may scale down its new home loan program designed to assist first-time homebuyers

March 22, 2023

AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File

California’s Covid misinformation law is entangled in lawsuits, conflicting rulings

March 19, 2023

Most Viewed

California could be the first state in the country to ban some much debated food additives

California coronavirus updates: Second round of Sacramento’s universal basic income program funded in part through COVID-19 relief budget

10 new California laws that go into effect in 2023

Proposed bill would overhaul referendum petition process in California

California coronavirus updates: Medicaid enrollees may start getting removed from program as pandemic-era rules expire

We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter

Most Viewed

California could be the first state in the country to ban some much debated food additives

California coronavirus updates: Second round of Sacramento’s universal basic income program funded in part through COVID-19 relief budget

10 new California laws that go into effect in 2023

Proposed bill would overhaul referendum petition process in California

California coronavirus updates: Medicaid enrollees may start getting removed from program as pandemic-era rules expire

Back to Top

  • CapRadio

    7055 Folsom Boulevard
    Sacramento, CA 95826-2625

    •  
      (916) 278-8900
    •  
      (877) 480-5900
    •  Contact / Feedback
    •  Submit a Tip / Story Idea
  • About

    • Mission / Vision / Core Values
    • Stations & Coverage Map
    • Careers & Internships
    • Staff Directory
    • Board of Directors
    • Press
  • Listening Options

    • Mobile Apps
    • Smart Speakers
    • Podcasts & Shows
    • On-Air Schedules
    • Daily Playlist
    • Signal Status
  • Connect

    •  Facebook
    •  Twitter
    •  Instagram
    •  YouTube
  • Donate

  • Listen Live

  • Newsletters

CapRadio stations are licensed to California State University, Sacramento. © 2023, Capital Public Radio. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Website Feedback FCC Public Files: KXJZ KKTO KUOP KQNC KXPR KXSR KXJS. For assistance accessing our public files, please call 916-278-8900 or email us.