California governor to unveil budget, could expand benefits

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California Gov. Gavin Newsom will announce his state spending plan on Friday, flush with a multi-billion surplus that state lawmakers expect he will use to give full health benefits to more low-income adults living in the country illegally.

The deep-blue state of nearly 40 million people has about 3 million people left who don't have health insurance. About 30% of those are living in the country illegally, according to the California Health Care Foundation.

Democratic leaders have been aiming to get the uninsured population down to zero, one piece at a time. In 2016, California offered full health benefits to children 18 and younger regardless of immigration status.

Last year, California became the first state to offer full health benefits to low-income adults 25 and younger living in the country illegally. They also began taxing people who refused to buy health insurance, using the money to help pay health insurance premiums for middle-income families.

This year, lawmakers are aiming to offer benefits to people 65 and older living in the country illegally. Democratic state Sen. Maria Elena Durazo said Newsom promised her he would include the health care proposal for seniors in this year's budget.

“We don't have any reason to think it won't be in there,” she said. “We can't solve the health care crisis if we don't include t hem as part of the many Californians who are uninsured.”

The plan, if included in the budget, would continue to put California at odds with the federal government's immigration policies. It would also likely influence the Democratic presidential nomination. California voters will vote on a Democratic presidential nominee in March.

It cost the state about $98 million to cover full health benefits for low-income...