*New 2022-23 budget plan presented
California Governor Gavin Newsom on Monday proposed his 2022-2023 state budget, which includes extending health care coverage to all low-income residents in the state, including undocumented immigrants; if successful, the state would become the first to offer universal health coverage.
While California taxpayers already pay for health care for people under 26 and undocumented low-income people over 50, the new bill provides for coverage for everyone.
Newsom’s proposal, which would expand access to Medi-Cal — the state’s version of Medicaid — is estimated to cost about $2.7 billion annually once the expansion is fully implemented by 2024.
"We're doing something no other state has done," Newsom said during the announcement of his proposal.
The overall project, which would have a total budget of about $286.4 billion, with a general fund of $213.1 billion, will focus on five points, which he called "existential threats": combating the current COVID-19 pandemic, climate change and its effects, homelessness, income inequality and public safety.
“With significant new investments to address the greatest threats to our state’s future, California’s Blueprint lights a path forward to continue the historic progress we’ve made on our near- and long-term challenges, including responding to the evolving pandemic, combating the climate crisis, confronting persistent inequality and homelessness, and keeping our streets safe,” said Governor Newsom.
He also noted that with a surplus of $45.7 billion, the California Plan contemplates a fiscal base that includes $34.6 billion in reserves, and continues to pay long-term pension debts.
Fighting Covid-19 with science
Newsom said he will continue to protect Californians by fighting COVID-19 based on science and with a focus on keeping schools open and the economy moving.
The plan includes an additional $2.7 billion to increase vaccinations, boosters, testing statewide, and increased medical staff to address potential surges in cases.
Fighting the climate crisis
On climate, the bill seeks to address the extreme weather conditions that have occurred in the state, such as forest fires, and will provide $648 million to support firefighters, obtain more helicopters and bulldozers, along with an additional $1.2 billion, based on last year's $1.5 billion investment, to intensify forest management and other life-saving practices.
The government will also seek to address drought, with an additional $750 million in water spending to help residents, farmers and wildlife in addition to last year's $5.2 billion water package.
The ambitious plan also calls for reducing California's dependence on fossil fuels and a complete transition to clean energy, seeking to invest billions of dollars in research and development of climate technology, clean cars, and preparing Californians for career opportunities in the field.
Facing homelessness
The governor's plan will seek to ensure that vulnerable people have the help they need to get off the streets and receive the mental health treatment they need. The plan adds $2 billion for housing and mental health services and cleanup camps.
Governor Newsom’s new investments expand on last year’s $12 billion package, creating a total of 55,000 new housing units and treatment spaces for people exiting homelessness.
Addressing the cost of living
Too many Californians find themselves on the wrong side of income inequality, crushed by the rising costs of even the most basic expenses like health care, housing, child care and keeping a small business open.
To that end, Newsom seeks to create universal access to health care coverage, with universal access to health coverage for all state residents, regardless of immigration status.
Additionally, it will seek to invest in students by adding thousands of child care spaces and increasing access to summer school programs.
The project will add $2 billion in new grants and tax credits to create more housing, while supporting small businesses by cutting red tape and providing hundreds of millions in grants and tax breaks.
Security
The project includes its Royal Public Security Plan, which focuses on three key areas to combat and prevent crime:
Strengthen law enforcement and local response to stop and apprehend criminals, including $255 million in grants for local law enforcement and creating a new “Smash and Grab” Enforcement Unit to combat organized retail crime and grants for impacted small businesses.
It also calls for more prosecutors to hold perpetrators accountable by ensuring district attorneys prosecute criminals effectively and efficiently, and by creating a new statewide team of investigators to pursue perpetrators.
He added that other plans include creating a new statewide gun buyback program, holding the gun industry accountable with state-leading legislation and interdicting drugs at the border.
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