Has California reached its limit in providing benefits to immigrants living here illegally? That’s the sign after Gov. Gavin Newsom Vetoed three bills passed by the liberal legislature.
At least the election year has definitely stopped in the state.
Newsom publicly says he blocked the closely watched measure for good policy reasons. And those reasons were solid.
But it was also good politics for him and his Democratic colleague Kamala Harris of California in the long run.
The Vice President already has one Heavy Load of Leftist California Baggage As she runs for the top post. “San Francisco liberals” don’t need the extra burden Piled up by his home state.
The banner on a Donald Trump campaign piece last week read, “Kamala rolled out the red carpet for illegals.”
Harris is trying to thread the needle by acting as a moderate focused on appealing to Middle America while maintaining her progressive base.
While Trump claims he is responsible for out-of-control illegal immigration – as if a vice president is responsible for anything – Harris is promising to toughen border security and restrict entry.
Newsom’s chief communications adviser, Bob Salladay, denies that the governor took political influence into account when vetoing bills.
“The only political reckoning in this country is coming from the right wing, which continues to demonize and brutally attack undocumented people in California,” Sallade says.
But let’s be real. There is no governor with national ambitions who does not constantly assess the political impact of his actions.
The supermajority Democratic legislature passed all three bills by comfortable margins.
The most controversial, Assembly Bill 1840, by Assemblyman Joaquin Arambula (D-Fresno), Undocumented immigrants would be allowed to apply – Along with others who qualify – for interest-free home loans up to $150,000 if they are a first-time home buyer.
“Those who pay (taxes) into the system should be able to receive benefits like everyone else,” Arambula argued during a debate in the assembly.
Republican Assemblywoman Kate A. Trabuco Canyon Sanchez countered that the bill would “encourage more illegal – not legal – immigration into this state.” This is not rocket science. If you’re giving away free stuff, more people will come.”
In his veto message, Newsom inserted a dose of realism veiled in bureaucratic language: “Given the limited funds available … expanding program eligibility must be considered in the broader context of the annual state budget.”
Translation: This home loan program is broken and no additional money has been appropriated by the Legislature as the state is bleeding red ink.
So broadly speaking, this solution was to do a lot without doing anything.
Another proposal, Senate Bill 227 by Senator Maria Elena Durazo (D-Los Angeles), would have paved the way for Undocumented workers will receive unemployment benefits.
In rejecting the measure, the governor again emphasized – as he has for years on bills costing money – that fiscal issues will be addressed when he and the Legislature negotiate the state budget in June. Needed
But the legislature habitually tries to spend more long after the annual budget is enacted. Even when the state is running in loss.
A third bill, AB 2586, vetoed by Assemblyman David Alvarez (D-San Diego), would The University of California, California State University, and community colleges were required to hire undocumented students for campus jobs.
Newsom said he rejected the measure because it would have put state employees at risk of violating federal laws against hiring undocumented students. He said the courts should resolve the issue. And a proponent of the bill almost immediately filed a lawsuit attempting to force the court’s decision.
I called political consultant mike madrid and asked whether he thought Latino voters would be concerned about the governor vetoing bills benefiting undocumented immigrants. In short: hardly.
Madrid replied, “They would be more concerned about such bills.” “They will be opposed.”
“Latins have been telling us for years that they want an economic agenda and an upward mobility agenda and neither party has paid attention. The parties want to talk about border issues – about walls and family separations – and that’s fine. But this concerns people who aren’t even citizens and can’t vote.”
Madrid is a Republican “Never Trumper” who believes the former president is “an irresistible threat to the Constitution and our country.”
He is the author of the recently published book: “The Latino Century: How America’s Largest Minority is Transforming Democracy.”
“If Gavin signed those bills, it would be a slap in the face to Harris who is trying to move the party away from the old thinking,” Madrid said.
“She’s taking the national party 180 degrees away from California because Democrats are losing Latino voters.”
The consultant added, “Latino voters are fundamentally different now than they were in the 1990s and 2000s – because they are no longer recent immigrants.” “Prop. 187 was 30 years ago. (Young) Latino voters weren’t even alive during Proposition 187.”
That measure was intended to deny undocumented immigrants public services, including schooling. The citizen initiative passed by an overwhelming majority but a federal court ruled it unconstitutional. However, harsh anti-illegal immigration rhetoric, California fostered strong Latino political activism.
But Latinos today are more focused on economic issues and affordability, Madrid said. A lot of Democrats in Sacramento are acting like it’s still the 1990s. They need to address the serious economic problems of multi-generational Latinos who are here legally.
It’s not that California isn’t helping undocumented immigrants. For starters, they’re entitled to Medi-Cal healthcare for the poor. Plus, food assistance and college financial aid.
But Madrid is right. Sacramento Democrats must do more now to help working-class Latino citizens — and middle-class people of all races and ethnicities.
