Dispute Over Federal Funds and Illegal Immigration
On “The Five” this past Friday, Fox’s Kennedy challenged Democratic strategist Jessica Tarloff regarding federal money allocated to some undocumented immigrants. This discussion unfolded against the backdrop of a government shutdown, which began early Wednesday. Republicans have been vocal in their criticism of Democrats for allegedly attempting to fund healthcare for undocumented immigrants in their proposed budget resolution, although some Democrats have rejected these claims. Tarloff specifically pushed back, asking Kennedy to point to examples in California.
“I’m sorry, but both parties bear responsibility,” Kennedy stated. He expressed concerns about government overreach, suggesting that as taxpayers contribute more money, government control increases. He added that framing MEDI-CAL spending in California merely as funding for illegal immigrants is misleading, pointing out that California’s Governor Newsom has decided to allocate funds to undocumented residents. Wisconsin representative Mark Pokan also asserted that this matter isn’t primarily a federal issue since the federal government does not fund MEDI-CAL, which is instead financed by Medicaid.
Despite Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer calling Republican assertions a falsehood, Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson has referenced specific texts in various interviews to bolster his party’s stance.
Since June, the Trump administration has been reportedly tracking undocumented immigration concerning Medicaid. Authorities shared information with deportation officers about millions of Medicaid enrollees, including those residing in areas that permit undocumented individuals to register for the program, such as California and Illinois.
Kennedy further noted the federal involvement in Medicaid funding and rebuked Democrats for criticizing the Republican spending plan, arguing it leads to rising health insurance premiums. “Medicaid is funded equally by state and federal governments, except when we consider the ACA,” he explained. He argued that with the pandemic receding, maintaining current spending levels is unsustainable and detrimental. “This was a reckless promise made by Democrats about socialized medicine, but the more government involvement, the more complications arise, especially in over-subsidized sectors like healthcare,” he remarked.
During an appearance on “Special Report with Brett Baier,” Johnson implored viewers to examine page 57 of Schumer’s bill and refer to Section 2141. According to this section, titled “The Abolishment of Health Subzones,” there are proposals to eliminate certain provisions related to Medicare and tackle system waste, fraud, and abuse, including measures about undocumented individuals’ eligibility for Medicaid.
