According to the article of KFF Health News, California legislators approved a $211 billion budget for the 2024-25 fiscal year, defying Governor Gavin Newsom’s proposal to reduce in-home care services for low-income elderly, blind, and disabled immigrants lacking legal residency.
Despite facing a $45 billion deficit, Democratic lawmakers found ways to fund essential programs by drawing from reserves and adjusting corporate tax structures. This approach protected health and social services from the cuts proposed by Newsom. Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel, speaking in Sacramento, emphasized the budget’s commitment to safeguarding safety-net programs that assist vulnerable populations.
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The current budget represents an agreement between the state Senate and Assembly. However, negotiations with Governor Newsom remain ongoing. Whether he will resort to his line-item veto power to address the state’s financial situation is unclear.
Newsom’s plan to eliminate a new in-home benefit for qualified immigrants faced significant opposition, leading California lawmakers to preserve the program and reject cuts to public health agencies. However, they did agree to delay food assistance for low-income older immigrants without legal status, highlighting the complexities of budget negotiations.
Advocates Applaud California’s Protection of In-Home Care Amid Budget Talks
Supporters praised California lawmakers for protecting the In-Home Supportive Services program, which provides essential home care for vulnerable populations and helps prevent the need for more expensive institutional care. They argued against cuts, highlighting the significant cost difference between in-home support and nursing home care. Stakeholders are awaiting Newsom’s decisions on final budget adjustments and their impact on Medi-Cal recipients and undocumented immigrants across California as discussions continue.
