San Diego City Wire

In 2021, Governor Gavin Newsom expressed concerns about expanding Medi-Cal to cover undocumented senior immigrants due to potential budgetary impacts. However, by 2024, he has shifted his stance and committed California to provide healthcare for all undocumented immigrants.

Senate Minority Leader Brian W. Jones from San Diego highlighted this change in a social media video that has received nearly 600,000 views. The video points out the governor's previous apprehensions about funding healthcare for undocumented immigrants amidst a $73 billion budget deficit. "Classic Gavin ‘Gaslight’ Newsom, breaking his promise to Californians once again," stated Leader Jones. He further criticized the governor's decision as exacerbating California's structural budget challenges.

In a statement from 2021, Newsom addressed the issue of expanding Medi-Cal during a period of financial surplus: “… while we are enjoying the fruits of a lot of one-time energy and surplus … it’s not permanent. And we have to be mindful of overcommitting three plus billion dollars a year … and exacerbating some of the structural challenges that we still have to face going forward."

Earlier this year, Leader Jones called on Governor Newsom to halt the expansion plan to save taxpayers over $4 billion amid the ongoing deficit. In December, Jones participated in a bipartisan tour at the California-Mexico border to gain insights into the border crisis.