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June 12, 2006 09:04 PM US Eastern Timezone
Democrats Trying to Hide Half-Billion Dollars for Illegal Immigrant Healthcare in State Budget, States Assemblyman Chuck DeVore, Who Demands Removal Before Budget Vote

SACRAMENTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 12, 2006--Assemblyman Chuck DeVore is demanding that legislative Democrats remove a $500 million budget allocation for illegal immigrant healthcare from the proposed state budget. This Saturday during the Legislative Budget Conference Committee meeting, Democrats expanded the Healthy Families program to cover illegal immigrants and families of four with annual incomes of about $53,000.


"At a time when California has billions of dollars in debt, the last thing our state should be doing is increasing healthcare entitlements for illegal immigrants," explained Assemblyman DeVore. "Whatever government subsidizes, it gets more of -- we should not increase the incentives to illegally come to California."

The Healthy Families program provides low-cost health insurance. Under federal rules, illegal immigrants and families of four making more than $44,000 a year are ineligible for the program.

If California gave away more welfare than authorized by the federal government, then the state would be in jeopardy of losing the two-thirds of the Healthy Families budget that is paid for by the federal government. Additionally, federal funding of the entire Healthy Families program is scheduled to expire in September 2007, leaving the state to pay the entire cost of the welfare program for illegal immigrants.

The Legislature is expected to vote on the state budget as early as this Thursday, June 15, 2006. Because the budget must pass by a two-thirds vote, a minimum of six Assembly Republicans and two Senate Republicans are needed to approve this funding expansion, giving Republicans leverage to eliminate this program.

Assemblyman Chuck DeVore represents the 70th Assembly District, including the cities of Aliso Viejo, Irvine, Laguna Beach, Laguna Woods, Lake Forest, Newport Beach, and Tustin. For more information please visit his website at www.assembly.ca.gov/devore.

Assemblyman DeVore is available for comment and media interviews.