No one has ever totaled up the cost to California taxpayers, ratepayers, consumers and drivers to continue to uphold what Gov. Gavin Newsom calls “our California values.”
These values, according to the people in Sacramento who have the power to take other people’s money, are crucial to California’s “world leadership.” This might be more convincing if there had ever been a ballot measure asking California voters if they wanted to lead the world, accompanied by the required fiscal analysis estimating what in the world that would cost.
There once was a ballot measure that asked California voters if they wanted their tax dollars used to provide public benefits for undocumented immigrants. It was Proposition 187 in 1994, a citizens’ initiative that would have excluded undocumented immigrants from accessing publicly funded schools, non-emergency healthcare and social services. California voters said “yes” by a margin of 59% to 41%.
The courts did not allow Prop. 187 to stand. Today national polls are finding strong public backing for the mass deportation of undocumented immigrants. The Axios/Ipsos poll in January found that 66% of Americans support removing all immigrants who are in the country illegally.
In California, the same question was asked by the USC Dornsife/Los Angeles Times poll in March 2016, when Donald Trump was the Republican presidential front-runner. At that time, only 16% of California voters favored the deportation of all undocumented immigrants, but 62% viewed illegal immigration as a “major problem” in the state. Regarding public benefits, Californians opposed allowing undocumented immigrants to qualify for student loans at state universities by a margin of 50% to 46%, and they opposed making all illegal immigrants eligible for Medi-Cal, the safety-net state health insurance, by 52% to 43%.
Perhaps the general public’s views were summed up in 1994 by a voter in the Crenshaw district who told the L.A. Times, “I think it’s not fair that others come into California and get benefits.”
But the state government thought it knew better. Lawmakers gradually extended full Medi-Cal coverage to every low-income undocumented immigrant in the state, regardless of age or length of residency.
According to the California Department of Health Care Services, as of January there were more than 1.4 million undocumented immigrants enrolled in full-scope Medi-Cal. In other states, immigrants without legal status are entitled to restricted-scope Medicaid (the same program’s national name), which covers a limited category of benefits, such as emergency and pregnancy-related care. But upholding California Values meant state taxpayers would pay for everything — specialists, prescription drugs, dental care, even long-term care. What’s the annual cost? So far, about $6 billion more than the roughly $6 billion that was budgeted.
By coincidence, or maybe not by coincidence, the state’s budget deficit roughly equals what the state has spent on full-scope Medi-Cal for illegal immigrants. When Gov. Newsom suggested mild cutbacks to the benefits for the undocumented population, Senator Lena Gonzalez led a rally of lawmakers to demand the continuation of full coverage. She said she would not rule out supporting a tax increase to pay for it.
Speaking of tax increases, the California Teachers Association announced a campaign to renew temporary income tax increases on higher-earning state residents. The teachers’ union said if the tax increases are not renewed, there will be a 15% budget cut to public education.
By coincidence again, or maybe not, an estimated 15% of children enrolled in California’s public schools are there as a result of illegal immigration. According to the legislative analysis of Senate Bill 48, “the Migration Policy Institute estimates that 133,000 undocumented children between the ages of 3 and 17 years are enrolled in California public schools, and 750,000 K-12 students have an undocumented parent.” That’s a total of 883,000 students, or 15% of the 5.8 million children enrolled in California’s public schools through grade 12.
It was Proposition 187 in 1994, ….. California voters said “yes” by a margin of 59% to 41%. What is lost in this percentage is the fact that almost 60% of the American Citizens of Mexican/Hispanic heritage voted to support that proposition.
What is happening with Obama judges? Exactly the same thing. Legislative rule by activist anti American judges.
How were the voters of Calif. denied??? Simple a radical Clinton appointed Federal Judge in Orange County had the anti voter block of the Democrat Party file a suit in her court. What did the Socialist Judge rule? Oh that is right she did not rule. That low life sequestered the suit for 5 years, a time that the radicals in the Calif. Legislature played legal games and it was defeated by tactics. Once again the Democrats won by deceit.
Today “…an estimated 15% of children enrolled in California’s public schools are there as a result of illegal immigration. ….”
And what is the Radical Weiner / Newsom willing to saddle the taxpayers of the State with? The above mentioned students and then don’t forget the families of illegals are being given free medical and free welfare?
Getting tired of it?
Getting tired of Democrats denying the will of voters?
You voted for them. Why?