West

Illegal immigrant healthcare costs in blue state triggers intense budget debate

Published

7 months ago

June 5, 2025

Illegal immigrant healthcare costs in blue state triggers intense budget debate

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The Republican minority leaders in California are responding to potential next steps for the highly scrutinized Medi-Cal program, which is insolvent, as some believe the ability for people to enroll “regardless of their immigration status” is a leading cause.

The state faces a $12 billion budget shortfall as budget talks continue in Sacramento.

The Medi-Cal program went insolvent earlier this year after it went billions over budget, resulting in $3.44 billion in loan requests to salvage the program, which covers low-income Golden State residents. Republicans said it was in large part due to illegal immigrants being allowed to enroll in the program, and Newsom also said that it was part of the spending issue, but not the whole picture, according to KCRA.

LAWMAKERS REVEAL WHETHER AMERICANS SHOULD PICK UP THE MEDICAID TAB FOR ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS

California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s May budget revision proposes a pause in adults 19 and older from enrolling in “full-scope coverage.” (AP Photo/José Luis Villegas, File)

“That’s going to continue to be a big debate here in California as we’re wrestling with a $12 billion dollar deficit and the cost of providing free healthcare to illegal immigrants is $11.4 billion dollars, so if we just didn’t do that, that would eliminate our budget deficit,” California State Senate Minority Leader Brian Jones said. “Now, there’s lots of other ways we can find $12 billion dollars to eliminate the deficit as well.”

Newsom’s May budget revision proposes a pause for adults 19 and older from enrolling in “full-scope coverage” and to start charging a $100 premium each month “for individuals with certain statuses,” Fox News Digital reported earlier this month.

“To be very clear, these proposals are the results of a $16 billion Trump Slump and higher-than-expected health care utilization. Because of these outside factors, the state must take difficult but necessary steps to ensure fiscal stability and preserve the long-term viability of Medi-Cal for all Californians,” Elana Ross, deputy communications director for Newsom’s office, told Fox News Digital in a statement.

“Governor Newsom refuses to turn his back on hardworking Californians, especially when it comes to their basic health care needs,” she added.

The proposal from the Newsom administration sparked criticism among some in the legislature, as the Democratic California Legislative Latino Caucus is suggesting a tax hike to pay for the program’s coverage for illegal immigrants, according to KCRA. The question remains whether a $100 premium would be enough to get people to leave the program.

LAWMAKERS IN DEEP BLUE STATE DEMAND AUDIT OVER SKYROCKETING HEALTHCARE COSTS: ‘ALARMING NATURE’

Migrants attempt to cross into the U.S. from Mexico at the border on Dec. 17, 2023 in Jacumba Hot Springs, California. (Nick Ut/Getty Images)

However, Jones said that Medi-Cal being offered to illegal immigrants might not be quite what Democrats present it as.

“It’s just a messaging point for the governor and the Democratic leadership. It’s not an actual thing. Meaning the governor and the Democrat leadership are promising illegal immigrants coverage, and they are on the rolls, but there’s very little access,” he said.

“A lot of doctors in California that used to provide Medicare and Medicaid have closed up shop, moved to other states. A lot of other doctors that are still here have stopped taking those kinds of patients, even if they’re here legally or illegally, because the reimbursement rates are so low, the doctors actually lose money when they take a Medicare or Medicaid patient,” Jones continued.

NEWSOM CONCEDES SKYROCKETING HEALTHCARE COSTS FOR ILLEGALS ARE ‘PARTIAL’ CONTRIBUTOR TO MEDICAID PROBLEM

“A lot of doctors in California that used to provide Medicare and Medicaid have closed up shop, moved to other states,” according to California State Senate Minority Leader Brian Jones. (iStock)

Meanwhile, Assembly Minority Leader James Gallagher told Fox News Digital in an interview that the budget shortfall is “a total disaster” that “was completely predictable.”

“You know, two years ago, Gavin Newsom and the supermajority Democrats decided to fund illegal immigrant healthcare through our Medi-Cal program. And everybody said it’s gonna be billions of dollars. It’s not sustainable. And at the time, Biden was president, and people were coming across the border, millions of people. We had no idea. And I think a lot of them came to California and signed up. And so now we have a completely unsustainable, bankrupted Medi-Cal system that’s required $3.4 billion worth of loans to prop up.”

On a federal level, the pending reconciliation bill that recently passed the House of Representatives could also create issues for the state’s Medi-Cal offerings, as it would change the federal “match” from 90% to 80% for care that is not an emergency, which the Newsom administration says could cost the state billions, The Center Square reported.

“If Republicans move this extreme MAGA proposal forward, millions will lose coverage, hospitals will close, and safety nets could collapse under the weight,” Newsom stated last week.

Cameron Arcand is a politics writer at Fox News Digital in Washington D.C. Story tips can be sent to Cameron.Arcand@Fox.com and on Twitter: @cameron_arcand

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Oregon

Oregon and No. 4 Texas Tech square off in the Orange Bowl

Published

28 minutes ago

December 22, 2025

Press Room

Oregon and No. 4 Texas Tech square off in the Orange Bowl

No. 4 Texas Tech (12-1) vs. Oregon (12-1), Jan. 1 at 12 p.m. EST.

BetMGM College Football Odds Opening Line: Oregon by 1.5. Against the spread: Oregon 6-6, Texas Tech 12-1.

How to watch: ESPN

Key stats

Oregon Offense

Overall: 468.9 yards per game (11th in FBS)

Passing: 251.8 yards per game (45th)

Rushing: 217.1 yards per game (13th)

Scoring: 39.2 points per game (9th)

Oregon Defense

Overall: 271.4 yards per game (8th in FBS)

Passing: 158.1 yards per game (6th)

Rushing: 113.3 yards per game (24th)

Scoring: 16.3 points per game (10th)

Texas Tech Offense

Overall: 480.3 yards per game (5th in FBS)

Passing: 289.4 yards per game (11th)

Rushing: 190.9 yards per game (26th)

Scoring: 42.5 points per game (2nd)

Texas Tech Defense

Overall: 254.5 yards per game (3rd in FBS)

Passing: 186 yards per game (24th)

Rushing: 68.5 yards per game (1st)

Scoring: 10.9 points per game (3rd)

Both teams perform well on third down. Oregon ranks 14th in the FBS, converting 48.4% of the time. Texas Tech ranks 6th, converting 51%.

Texas Tech leads the FBS with a +17 turnover margin.

Oregon is 122nd in FBS in red zone defense, allowing opponents to score on 90% of trips. Texas Tech’s red zone offense ranks 47th, scoring on 87.7% of red zone opportunities.

Team leaders

Oregon

Passing: Dante Moore, 3,046 yards, 28 TDs, 8 INTs, 72.4 completion percentage

Rushing: Noah Whittington, 798 yards on 116 carries, 6 TDs

Receiving: Malik Benson, 645 yards on 36 catches, 6 TDs

Texas Tech

Passing: Behren Morton, 2,643 yards, 22 TDs, 4 INTs, 67 completion percentage

Rushing: Cameron Dickey, 1,097 yards on 198 carries, 14 TDs

Receiving: Caleb Douglas, 845 yards on 55 catches, 7 TDs

Last game

Oregon beat James Madison 51-34 on Saturday, Dec. 20. Moore led Oregon with 313 yards on 19-of-27 passing (70.4%) for four touchdowns and two interceptions. He also carried the ball one time for 5 yards and one rushing touchdown. Jordon Davison had 90 rushing yards on 10 carries. Benson put up 119 yards on five catches with two touchdowns.

Texas Tech won 34-7 over BYU on Saturday, Dec. 6. Morton threw for 215 yards on 20-of-33 attempts (60.6%) with two touchdowns and no interceptions. J’Koby Williams carried the ball 15 times for 80 yards, adding one reception for -2 yards. Reginald Virgil recorded 86 yards on eight catches.

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Utah

Keller wins it in OT, Mammoth recover from Jets’ late rally | NHL.com

Published

1 hour ago

December 22, 2025

Press Room

Keller wins it in OT, Mammoth recover from Jets’ late rally | NHL.com

The goal was Connor’s 300th in the NHL. He is the third player in Jets/Atlanta Thrashers history to hit the mark, behind Scheifele (353) and Ilya Kovalchuk (328).

“Just a pretty cool milestone,” Connor said. “Once you look back on your career, that’s kind of the stuff you’ll remember. But right now it’s focusing on winning, trying to be the best player I can, and helping out.”

Connor scored his second goal at 15:23 of the third period, beating Vejmelka blocker side with a one-timer to cut the lead to 3-2.

“I think we just knew that we needed to be better,” Connor said of the comeback. “I think we were on our toes more, jumping and making plays and hemming them in.”

Barron scored just 25 seconds later, beating Vejmelka glove side with a snap shot tie it 3-3.

“That first period was ugly. It was really ugly,” Winnipeg coach Scott Arniel said. “We got better in the second, certainly dominated in the third, but at the end of the day, you can’t play two periods in this league and look to have success.”

Crouse gave the Mammoth a 1-0 lead at 5:20 of the first period. Guenther skated in from the blue line and shot through the legs of Jets defenseman Logan Stanley to put the puck on Hellebuyck. The rebound of his shot then found Crouse in front, where he scored blocker side with a slap shot.

“We made it interesting on ourselves,” Crouse said. “Definitely not the way we wanted the third period to go, but credit to our group, that’s not easy. They scored two right away and then we went right into OT pretty much, so credit to the group for having the right mindset and being able to get the win.”

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Washington

Washington Commanders bring back former QB after another injury

Published

1 hour ago

December 22, 2025

Press Room

Washington Commanders bring back former QB after another injury

Update: Commanders announce the Driskel signing, and place Sam Cosmi on IR due to a concussion

The Washington Commanders are reportedly signing QB Jeff Driskel from the Arizona Cardinals practice squad. Marcus Mariota is day-to-day with hand and quad injuries, and Jayden Daniels has been shut down for the season. Josh Johnson is the only other QB on the 53-man roster, and Sam Hartman is available on the practice squad.

Dan Quinn said yesterday that the team could look to sign another QB, and Driskel was the most logical choice. He was the team’s third-string QB last season, but wasn’t re-signed. He played one snap for Washington during the regular season, and was on the Las Vegas Raiders practice squad to start this season. The move is not official, and the team will have to announce a corresponding roster move.

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