While Newsom’s Busy Podcasting, CA’s Begging for Billions to Fund Health Insurance for Illegals

In 2024, California became the first state to offer unlimited free health care through its Medi-Cal program to illegal aliens. The program is California's piece of the Medicaid puzzle, and in an outpouring of kindness and disregard for the taxpayers, the impeccably coiffed Governor Newsom signed that measure that took effect on New Year's Day, 2024.

Now, Medi-Cal is out of money, and Newsom is going to the state legislature with his hand out.

Gov. Gavin Newsom's Department of Finance on Wednesday notified state lawmakers that California will need a $3.44 billion loan to cover costs associated with the state's Medicaid program known as Medi-Cal.
The letter did not specify why exactly the program fell short on funds. While experts note there are many factors that go into Medicaid costs, some are pointing to the money the state spends providing health insurance to undocumented people.

Then this happened:

During a line of questioning in an Assembly budget hearing last month, Assemblyman Carl DeMaio, R-Riverside, asked about the expense. Newsom's Department of Finance said the state is estimated to spend $9.5 billion to provide Medi-Cal to undocumented people, with $8.4 billion coming from the state's general fund. The number had grown from the $6 billion that was initially projected.
DeMaio criticized the expense, and Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas eventually removed him from the committee weeks later.

You don't say. Assemblyman DeMaio didn't take that sitting down.

DeMaio said in part: (emphasis mine)

...California Democrats lied to the taxpayers over a year ago when they said giving free health care handouts to illegal immigrants really wouldn't cost a whole lot of money. There would only be $6 billion and that even that would be reimbursed by the federal MediCal...Medicare program. We have now since found out that Gavin Newsom's gift of free healthcare to illegal immigrants in the state of California has cost taxpayers already $9.5 billion dollars, 43 percent higher than originally claimed; and that almost none of it is being reimbursed by the federal government.

Finally, for all the details, the author of the KCRA piece linked above, Ashley Zavala, took to X to present the receipts.

New: Gov. Newsom’s Dept. of Finance notified CALeg it needs a $3.44 billion loan for Medi-Cal.

Letter doesn’t say it, but state leaders expanded Medi-Cal last year to provide health insurance to undocumented people.

The administration underestimated how much that would cost. pic.twitter.com/EoKEGsh5VC
— Ashley Zavala (@ZavalaA) March 13, 2025

California is broke and getting broker by the moment, and this is due in large part to just this kind of stupidity and mushy-headedness. Too bad the state's governor is busy trying desperately to revise his political history, while hosting a new podcast, as we previously wrote:

Ouch: Gavin Newsom's Attempt to Revise His Political History Suffers Another Direct Hit

There are many moving parts in this story, but the underlying cause seems apparent: California Democrats, led by Gov. Newsom, want it clearly known how compassionate they are. They are more compassionate than we are; they are so compassionate that they not only refuse to call illegal aliens, illegal aliens, but insist instead on calling them "undocumented," as though they just left the house and forgot their wallets instead of sneaking into the United States in violation of our laws. Not only that, they are willing to bankrupt a program that is intended to help provide legal Californians with healthcare services.

But that's OK, they told Assemblyman DeMaio, as he relates, "...that would be reimbursed by the federal ...Medicare program." So it's not just California's problem. Now, it's all of our problem.

Why Does California GOP Asm. Devon Mathis Support Giving Illegal Aliens Taxpayer-Funded Healthcare?

California is in desperate need of a better class of elected officials. And, should that happen, this problem shouldn't be that hard to fix. Many problems don't have easy solutions. This one does. The Medi-Cal system should cut off anyone who is in the country illegally. That would, incidentally, also eliminate one of the huge draws bringing the illegal aliens into California in the first place.

Seems like a win-win.

Every single day, here at RedState, we will stand up and FIGHT, FIGHT, FIGHT against the radical left and deliver the conservative reporting our readers deserve.

Help us continue to the truth about the Trump administration and its major wins. Join RedState VIP and use promo code FIGHT to get 60% off your membership.