Newsom’s seeks $3.4B bailout for Medi-Cal after spending $9.5B on noncitizens

California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s Medi-Cal system is seeking a $3.4 billion taxpayer bailout after spending $9.5 billion this year on noncitizen immigrant health care. A new report also highlighted how California “launders” national taxpayer funding to cover its Medi-Cal bills and is enabled by federal law. Newsom’s proposed budget for the 2025-2026 fiscal year includes a $7 billion reserve withdrawal. It’s unclear whether this emergency loan request for Medi-Cal either will result in or reflects the need for a higher budget for the taxpayer-funded healthcare program. “California now spends 22% of its General Fund Medi-Cal budget on healthcare for over...