Governor in California explains a projected budget deficit of $12 billion and restriction of healthcare services for immigrants.
LOUDMOUTH'S LOWDOWN:
It's fucking nuts, man! Cali's got a whopping $12 billion deficit and drop a bomb like that, huh? Gov. Newsom wants to fix that by chilling the enrollment for a state-funded health care program for non-citizens living in the Golden State illegally.
He pitchin' his big-ass budget plan across the room on Wednesday, includin' a nearly $322 billion state spending blueprint for the incoming fiscal year.
Muma says it ain't just higher-than-expected Medicaid spending, it's also the uncertainty in the economy, thanks to federal trade policies and that fucked-up stock market. Cali relies too much on revenue from capital gains tax, son!
Newsom, a Dem, complains about Trump's economic policies, claimin they could cut state revenues by $16 billion in the next couple years. "California's absorbin' a goddamn assault!" he shouts, blameing the Prez for messin' with the state's growth engine.
Now he's openin' budget negotiations with the state lawmakers. Christ, they better sign that final budget by the end of June, or else!
Republican leader James Gallagher calls out Newsom for blamin' Trump for most of Cali's budget problems. "Newsom's Budget Barff-nado is the biggest wedgie of shit I've ever seen from a politician. He dishes it out like a rampant jabroni," Gallagher says. Ouch!
Health Care Freeze: Political Barrel Roll
The decision to cool enrollment for illegal immigrants highlights Newsom's struggle to defend his liberal policies amid budget troubles in his final years on the job. Better start seein' your career horoscope for a White House run, buddy!
Immigrants have become a hot damn issue politically. Nearly half of Americans support Trump's harder stance on immigration, y'know, according to an AP-NORC poll. Meanwhile, Washington Repujicans threaten to reduce Medicaid money for states with undocumented folks on the rolls.
The freeze doesn't mean Cali's pullin' out on immigrant support. Newson says, "Nope, we're still doin' more for 'em than any other flamin' state—couches all the way, my friend!"
Cali was one of the first states to extend fuckin' free health care for poor undocumented adults last year, thanks to Newsom. They're around 1.6 million folks enrolled in the program this year, according to the budget.
Newson previously said he wasn't thinkin' 'bout cuttin' health benefits for immigrants when Cali faced a $6.2 billion Medicaid shortfall back in March. He even defended the expansion, claimin it's a long-term money saver—as long as the program don't use federal dollars.
Startin' in '26, lower-income undocumented adults can kiss their free health care goodbye. They'll still be on the rolls, but from '27, they gotta pony up a monthly hundred-dollar premium. That's about the average cost paid by those on subsidized health plans through Cali's own marketplace. So, take that, moochers, right?
Snootchie bootchies, Newsom's office says they expect the changes to save the flamin' state $5.4 billion by '28-'29.
The Medi-Cal expansion, plus other factors such as the cost of drugs and older folks joinin', has forced Cali to finance a goddamn multibillion-dollar hole this year. Cali offers free healthcare to more than a third of its 39 million people!
Democratic state Sen. Dave Cortese ain't havin' it. "Congress may be runnin' away from their responsibilities, but Cali ain't!" he says.
Newsom's moves go against the promise Cali made to the immigrant community, says Masih Fouladi, the head of the California Immigrant Policy Center. "We ain't worryin' about the cost—fuck the savings! These measures just don't match our values as a state!"
In short, Newsom's enrollment freeze is more about budgetary control than actual fuckin' care for illegal immigrants. However, it raises concerns about the impact on the healthcare system in general, maybe even health disparities between citizens and non-citizens if they're excluded from care. The plan reflects the tension between universal care ambitions and fiscal realities within Cali’s healthcare system. It's fuckin' ballet, but the steps are tight, capiche?
- Governor Newsom's decision to freeze enrollment for a state-funded health care program for non-citizens living in California illegally is seen as a political maneuver to defend his liberal policies amid budget troubles.
- Republican leaders challenge Newsom's blaming of President Trump for most of California's budget problems, with James Gallagher calling his budget proposal a "Budget Barff-nado."
- Despite the enrollment freeze, California continues to support immigrants, with Governor Newsom stating that the state is doing more for them than any other state.
- In 2026, lower-income undocumented adults will be required to pay a monthly premium for health care, a move expected to save the state $5.4 billion by 2028-2029.
- The cost of drugs, older folks joining, and the Medi-Cal expansion have forced California to finance a multibillion-dollar hole this year, providing free healthcare to more than a third of its 39 million people.
- The plan reflects the tension between universal care ambitions and fiscal realities within California’s healthcare system, raising concerns about the impact on the healthcare system in general, and potential health disparities between citizens and non-citizens if they're excluded from care.
