Letters to the Editor: Medi-Cal is the most cost-effective option for covering undocumented Californians
People get sick and eventually require medical care, and someone will always have to pay the bill. Without a universal system of financing care, it will always be those of us with private insurance as we watch our premiums rise to pay for the care given to the uninsured. That care is far more expensive because these uncovered individuals wait until their conditions are severe and end up in our emergency rooms and hospital beds instead of getting access to regular, lower-cost preventive primary care through public insurance.
Covering historically underserved and uninsured people will always be more expensive initially since the chronic conditions many of them have will need time to be brought under control through access to regular, affordable care. Over time the costs will come down, as there will be savings from avoided emergency visits and hospitalizations. Cutting off care for the undocumented is penny-wise and pound-foolish policy.
Dr. Steve Tarzynski, Santa Monica
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To the editor: Skelton proves one doesn't have to be full MAGA to perpetuate one of their biggest lies. He writes:
' ... Democrats whiffed on last year were inflation — caused partly by federal government overspending ... '
If that were true, how did President Biden reduce the annual inflation rate between 2021 and 2024, given the massive federal stimulus and infrastructure packages he championed? Reading your articles to see how the other side thinks is a waste of time. You're all alike.
Thomas Gillman, Los Angeles
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San Francisco Chronicle
6 minutes ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
Several states consider redrawing congressional maps after Texas kicks off fight
Texas Republicans' push to redraw congressional maps to secure five more GOP seats in the U.S. House has kicked off a no-holds-barred battle between blue and red states, each threatening to redraw their own House seats. The process of changing congressional maps to ensure one party's victory over another — called gerrymandering — has typically been done more furtively, with parties fearing a backlash from voters wary of a rigged system. But President Donald Trump's call for Texas to blatantly redraw the maps to better ensure that Republicans retain control of the House in the 2026 elections has blown the lid off of the practice. Texas kicked it off, but Democrats fled the state Dozens of Democrats left Texas in a Hail Mary to halt a vote on redistricting, leaving the legislature without enough lawmakers present — called a quorum — to proceed. Democrats, who didn't show up for a second day Tuesday, wouldn't have the votes to stop the bill otherwise. In response, Gov. Gregg Abbott and fellow Republicans are threatening the Democrats who left with arrests, fines and removal from office. The state Attorney General Ken Paxton warned he could ask the courts to vacate their seats if they don't show up when the House convenes on Friday. Trump and Texas Sen. John Cornyn have also asked the FBI to get involved. Still, past efforts by Democrats to abscond and deny Republicans a quorum only delayed the passage of bills, but didn't quash them. Through it all, Abbott has been adamant that redrawing districts with political bias is legal. California Democrats propose retaliation In response to events in Texas, Democrats in California are considering a draft proposal to reshape their own district maps and cut away five Republican seats while securing more precarious seats already held by Democrats. Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom has been outspoken about wanting partisan redistricting if Texas moves ahead with its plans. Unlike Texas, however, California has an independent commission that handles redistricting after the census every decade, which is typically when districts are reshaped to account for population shifts. Any changes would first need the approval of state lawmakers and voters. Newsom said he'd call a special election in November for California residents to do just that. Missouri's governor under pressure from Trump The Trump administration wants Gov. Mike Kehoe to call a special legislative session for congressional redistricting in favor of Republicans. Kehoe has expressed interest in doing so, discussing it with Republican legislative leaders, but has not made a decision. Republicans now hold six of the state's eight U.S. House seats, and the GOP could pick up another by reshaping a Kansas City area district held by a Democrat. New York Democrats try to change state law New York, similar to California, has an independent commission that redistricts only after the census. Last week, state Democrats introduced legislation to allow mid-decade redistricting. Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul said if Texas proceeds, 'we must do the same.' The proposal, however, would require an amendment to the state constitution, a change that would have to pass the legislature twice and be approved by voters. That means the soonest new maps could be in place would be for the 2028 elections. Wisconsin Democrats try a different tact While Republicans control the legislature in the battleground state, Democrats turned to the courts to try to force a redrawing of congressional district boundary lines before the 2026 midterms. A pair of lawsuits were filed in July after the liberal-controlled Wisconsin Supreme Court previously declined to hear challenges directly, without saying why. Maryland Democrats promise a response to Texas The House Majority leader, David Moon, a Democrat, says he will sponsor legislation to trigger redistricting in Maryland if Texas or any other state holds redistricting ahead of the census. Florida's governor hints at support for redistricting Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis has said he was considering early redistricting and 'working through what that would look like.' Ohio must redraw its maps before the 2026 midterms That's because a law in the Republican-led state requires it before the 2026 midterm elections. The GOP holds 10 of its 15 House seats already, and could try to expand that edge. Indiana's governor will speak with the Vice President J.D. Vance Republican Gov. Mike Braun told reporters Tuesday that Vance will visit Indiana to discuss several matters, including redistricting in the solidly GOP state. Braun, who would have to call a special session to draw new maps, said he expects a 'broad conversation' with legislative leaders on the constitutionality of such a move and said no commitments have yet been made. 'It looks like it's going to happen across many Republican states,' Braun said in a video by WRTV in Indianapolis. ____
The Hill
6 minutes ago
- The Hill
Abbott sues to remove Texas House Democratic Caucus Chair Gene Wu from seat
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) has sued to remove Texas House Democratic Caucus Chair Gene Wu from his seat amid a battle between Texas Democrats and Republicans over redistricting. 'What is at stake here? Nothing less than the future of Texas. If a small fraction of recalcitrant lawmakers choose to run out the clock today, they can do so for any, and every, Regular or Special Session, potentially bankrupting the State in an attempt to get their way,' the Texas Supreme Court suit from Abbott reads. Texas House Democrats left the state Sunday to deny Republicans a legislative quorum as part of an effort to stop Republicans from redrawing Texas congressional maps. 'On the ground in Chicago… Fighting for the rights of Texans and all Americans. #txlege,' Wu said in a post on the social platform X later Sunday. Wu previously brushed off a threat from Abbott to remove Democrats from the Texas Legislature after they left their state 'Frankly, Democrats say, 'Come and take it,'' Wu said in a Monday CNN interview, talking about threats aimed at lawmakers' seats. Abbott's suit argues that the Democrats who left Texas 'have abandoned their official duties required by the Constitution, which would allow legislation to pass in a 30-day session that is vital to Texans' needs, such as flood relief, property tax relief, and public-school reforms.' 'Public records suggest that the absconding Democrats even solicited money to pay the fines incurred for their absence,' the suit continues. 'The problem here is that the harm these members have inflicted can continue perpetually. They may return from a quorum break for a few days and then abscond once again if legislation that does not please them is put to a vote.' The Hill has reached out to Wu and the Texas House Democratic Caucus for comment. 'Lawless Texas Governor Greg Abbott can mimic Donald Trump all he wants, but his baseless lawsuit to remove Texas House Democratic Leader Rep. Gene Wu is not only morally repugnant, it's a weak attempt at Trump-style intimidation,' Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin said in a Tuesday statement.
NBC News
7 minutes ago
- NBC News
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott sues to remove state House Democratic Caucus chair in redistricting standoff
Gov. Greg Abbott filed an emergency petition Tuesday with the Texas Supreme Court to remove state Rep. Gene Wu from office after Wu and other Democrats left the state in an effort to delay Republican efforts to redraw congressional district lines. The lawsuit from the Republican governor argues that Wu, the Texas House Democratic Caucus chair, violated the state Constitution and that his absence amounted to abandoning office. With their absence, Democratic state lawmakers have denied Republicans the legislative quorum needed to move forward with plans to redraw congressional boundaries and give the GOP five more House seats in Congress. The suit argues that quorum provisions make attendance in the state House 'an affirmative constitutional obligation.' 'Representative Wu has openly renounced these constitutional mandates by fleeing the State of Texas to break quorum, obstruct legislative proceedings, and paralyze the Texas House of Representatives,' the lawsuit states. 'Absconding from the State during a constitutionally mandated session, not for lawful cause, but for the very purpose of subverting the Legislature's ability to function, constitutes a flagrant violation of Wu's oath and is an intentional abandonment of his constitutional duty,' it adds. Wu did not immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday evening. In a social media post Sunday, from Illinois, Wu said he was "On the ground in Chicago… Fighting for the rights of Texans and all Americans." Abbott said in a statement that Wu and more than 50 other Democrats who left the state had failed to meet quorum requirements in refusing to return. 'Texas House Democrats abandoned their duty to Texans, and there must be consequences,' Abbott said. The Republican governor had warned in a statement Sunday that he would seek Democrats' removal if they weren't present when the House convened the following day. During the the Democratic lawmakers' absence Monday, he ordered the state's Department of Public Safety to arrest them following a vote by the Texas House to compel the sergeant-at-arms to 'send for' the return of the lawmakers 'under warrant of arrest, if necessary.' Asked whether the FBI and federal government should get involved in locating and arresting the lawmakers, President Donald Trump told reporters earlier on Tuesday that they "may have to." 'A lot of people have demanded they come back. You can't just sit it out. You have to go back. You have to fight it out. That's what elections are all about,' Trump said.
