When California lawmakers start dreaming, it is sure to be a nightmare for taxpayers.
Yes, California lawmakers have identified another way to use taxpayer funds to benefit illegal aliens.
As part of his $4.3 billion budget plan rolled out on Dec. 13, Assemblyman Phil Ting has proposed spending $1 billion a year to provide health care to all Golden State residents regardless of their immigration status.
California already grants complete health care coverage to illegals under the age of 19 through Medi-Cal, the state’s Medicaid program.
Because the federal law prohibits Medicaid funds being distributed to those who entered illegally, the state had to foot the bill for their coverage – and would likely end up paying to expand health care benefits to even more illegal immigrants.
The Ting plan is the latest example of politicians forcing legal residents to pay for services and benefits for those who live there illegally, such as issuing driver’s licenses to illegals and allowing them to apply for professional licenses.
California dodged a fiscal bullet last year when a bill to expand state-funded health coverage to all residents, regardless of immigration status, was shelved. The Democratic head of the state assembly refused to back the measure because it lacked any specifics on how to the estimated $400 billion cost would be covered.
While Gov. Jerry Brown is pro-amnesty, it is not clear yet whether his own budget priorities will trump Assemblyman Ting’s.