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As Congress hammers out President Joe Biden’s $1.9 trillion stimulus package, California has worked out its own plan to get more cash into the hands of struggling Californians, particularly undocumented families left out of federal assistance.
After weeks of public hearings and closed-door negotiations, Gov. Gavin Newsom, Senate leader Toni G. Atkins and Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon on Wednesday announced $600 one-time payments to households receiving the state’s earned income tax credit, along with an extra $600 for undocumented taxpayers earning less than $75,000 who were ineligible for previous federal stimulus payments and other assistance for low-income residents.
The deal is a compromise version of Newsom’s Golden State Stimulus package and would help an estimated 5.7 million Californians. It now needs formal approval in the state Legislature as part of a $9.6 billion California economic stimulus package aimed at helping workers and small businesses. A vote could come as soon as Monday.
“People are hungry and hurting,” Atkins, a San Diego Democrat, said in a statement. “I’m proud we were able to come together to get Californians some needed relief.”
Under Newsom’s original $2.4 billion proposal, California would have sent $600 payments to the families of approximately 4 million workers with annual incomes below $30,000, including some undocumented workers.
But some advocates and lawmakers argued that the money would be better spent on filling gaps in federal relief, rather than trying to jumpstart the economy. Instead, they pushed for two alternatives that would send much larger cash payments payments to California’s nearly one in 10 workers who are undocumented.
Wednesday’s $3.8 billion Golden State Stimulus deal took those concerns into account. California will now send $600 tax rebates out to 3.8 million workers who made less than $30,000 last year. On top of that, an estimated 575,000 undocumented workers who make up to $75,000 a year will get an extra $600, in some cases bringing their total aid to $1,200.
Grants of $600 will also go out to 405,000 very low-income families with children enrolled in CalWorks, as well as 1.2 million elderly, blind and disabled recipients of Supplemental Security Income or the state’s Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants.
Sending out more cash
California’s coffers have grown since Newsom’s January proposal, likely increasing lawmakers’ appetite to send out more cash. The state now expects $10.3 billion more in revenue than was projected in January, driven by the pandemic gains of the state’s wealthiest residents.
Sending thousands in relief to undocumented immigrants would be a political nonstarter in most other parts of the country. But not in California, which has used its growing Democratic super majority of legislators — of which one in four are Latino — to break economic barriers for those without legal status, granting them driver’s licenses, sending them low-income tax refunds, and expanding health care for undocumented children and young adults.
“I think about my community and the 2 million people across the state who have been left out of any type of assistance,” said Assemblymember Wendy Carrillo, a Democrat from Los Angeles who was formally undocumented herself, in a hearing on the proposal.
Ineligible for federal aid
Undocumented Californians, many who work in industries ravaged both by pandemic closures and the coronavirus itself, don’t qualify for federal stimulus payments and unemployment benefits. They are also largely ineligible for other safety net benefits, like food stamps. Newsom created a program to send $500 to undocumented immigrants last spring, but there was only enough money for about 150,000 people.
Over the summer, Newsom also created Housing for the Harvest to provide hotel rooms for farmworkers who can’t safely quarantine at home. But as of late January, just 119 rooms had been reserved. Earlier on Wednesday Newsom acknowledged that the program has been “underutilized.” The early action deal doubles down on the program, investing $24 million in financial assistance and services for farmworkers.
Newsom’s stimulus will act like a boost to the California’s Earned Income Tax Credit, which is already available to undocumented workers who file taxes with an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number, thanks to a new law passed last year.
During legislative hearings, the nonpartisan Legislative Analyst’s Office recommended sending $1,800 payments just to the low-income ITIN filers, cutting the plan’s price tag to under $1 billion. Then distribute the remaining funds to the approximately half of undocumented workers who don’t have ITINS or other very low-income Californians.
Target aid to undocumented
Fiscal and policy analyst Chas Alamo said Newsom’s $2.4 billion proposal was too small to stimulate California’s $3.1 trillion economy. By contrast, he noted Californians received about $4 billion in unemployment benefits each week during 2020.
The LAO alternative had gained support from a group of 17 Assembly Democrats.
“We must continue to work together to address the void created by years of inaction by the federal government that has left our undocumented worker population in the cold, without any viable economic support to survive this pandemic,” the lawmakers wrote in a letter to the budget committee.
Meanwhile, a coalition of pro-immigrant and anti-poverty advocacy groups had called for lawmakers to build immigrant relief on top of Newsom’s original proposal: For most workers, they wanted to keep the $600 tax credits. For households making less than $50,000 last year that file taxes with ITINS, they asked California to send $1,200 per parent and child.
The compromise with Newsom was less. Advocates applauded lawmakers for sending extra help to undocumented immigrants, but said it didn’t go far enough.
“With a multi-billion dollar surplus we should be creating a real California for All,” said Sasha Feldstein, economic justice policy manager at the California Immigrant Policy Center. “And that means filling in all of the gaps left by exclusionary federal relief efforts, not just pieces.”
This article is part of the [https://calmatters.org/projects/the-california-divide/ California Divide, a collaboration among newsrooms examining income inequality and economic survival in California.
Email Jackie Botts at jackie@calmatters.org.
Email Jackie Botts at jackie@calmatters.org.
Email Jackie Botts at jackie@calmatters.org.
Email Jackie Botts at jackie@calmatters.org.
So let me get this straight …. Newsome wants to provide legal Californians with a $600 stimulus check, but those who are here illegally will get that plus an additional $600, bringing their total to $1200.
And some people are still puzzled as to why there is a recall effort. After the vote, Gavin will be gone for good and I might add that all Californians will be better off. The people have had enough of his failed attempt at governance, and his hypocrisy.
“If a man has an apartment stacked to the ceiling with newspapers, we call him crazy.
If a woman has a trailer house full of cats, we call her nuts.
When people pathologically hoard so much money that they impoverish an entire nation, we put them on the cover of Fortune magazine and pretend that they are role models.”
(Author/source unknown)
Didn’t have to wait long for the expected curmudgeon to post. I work with undocumented people who have tried and tried to achieve legal status. One woman who cleans our office succeeded in getting a green card after living here for 25 years. And this was only achieved with the financial help of her brother and his wife, who managed to get amnesty under the presidency of Ronald Reagan in 1986. This whole thing makes me crazy. These undocumented construction workers that are employed by my company pay federal and state taxes. They pay into social security, although none of the funds will ever be correctly accounted for since they have to use false social security numbers. These people are skilled and loyal workers. They are not going back to Mexico and it’s ridiculous that this insanity of denying that they deserve legal status needs to stop.
This is much welcomed news.
Ordinarily, many undocumented family members and my friends would be reluctant to apply for such benefits fearing possible deportation.
But President Joe Biden has rescinded former President Trump’s draconian restrictions on illegal immigration and has officially declared the United States a sanctuary country. He has also curtailed ICE intervention so they can no longer detain law-abiding undocumented workers and families.
Governor Newsome is merely extending President Biden’s progressive vision and there will be many needy families and individuals who benefit from this Golden State Stimulus program.
All things considered, $1200.00 will not go very far in today’s economy but every little bit helps.
As a DACA, I too am grateful for this humanitarian gesture on the part of Governor Newsome who in many ways reflects the vision of JFK and all of the benevolent Democrats who unlike the greedy Republicans, continually do their best to create social and monetary programs to benefit the poor.
This is one reason why the Latino vote (with exception of conservative Latinos in Florida and New Mexico) will NEVER support a Republican ticket.
Next on the agenda should be a measure to allow undocumented workers to vote because many are having state and federal deductions witheld from their paychecks but who will never legally qualify for Medicare or Social Security because they are not using their real names or using fake social security numbers to get a job here in the United States.
The big joke is on former President Trump as President Biden has ceased construction of the wall between Mexico and the United States.
You see most of us are not drug traffickers but simply people immigrating to America for a better life, just like the majority of your WHITE ancestors.
“who in many ways reflects the vision of JFK and all of the benevolent Democrats who unlike the greedy Republicans”
I guess you don’t dive into history that much. Those “benevolent” Democrats helped to torpedo immigration reform because the unions didn’t like that it would ostensibly take jobs away.
Who’s greedy here?
@Me 2
Historically you are correct to a certain extent BUT it was the wealthy Republicans who endorsed and exploited the cheap labor of imported workers, many of whom were undocumented.
The wealthy Republican ranchers and manufacturers were modern day WHITE slaveowners who paid their undocumented workers pennies on the dollar and kept them in perpetual poverty.
I am DACA and currently studying history in college. My professors have pointed out many of these distasteful historical accounts citing Harding, Hoover, Nixon and Trump (all Republicans) as the worst presidents in the history of this nation.
Cesar Chavez stood up to the greedy WHITE Republican ranchers in the Central Valley where I am from. That is why there is a street named after him in San Francisco.
“My professors have pointed out many of these distasteful historical accounts citing Harding, Hoover, Nixon and Trump (all Republicans) as the worst presidents in the history of this nation.”
I presume you also studied Abraham Lincoln, a Republican? And all those Jim Crow laws passed by Southern Democrats? Wars that were started during the Wilson, Roosevelt, Truman and Kennedy administrations? The rage against the military-industrial complex by Eisenhower, a Republican?
Inconvenient truths, as someone might say.
History is not so clean, isn’t it? Using labels to paint whole groups of people with such a broad brush is, how we say, simplistic and not truthful?
Might want to expand your studying of history beyond what your professors are pushing. Sounds like they’re pushing an ideology, not history.
Me 2 is absolutely correct.
Abraham Lincoln (Republican) was a white racist who only wanted to keep the Union intact. He did not personally care about black people.
There is an upcoming cable documentary hosted by Will Smith that exposes Lincoln for who he really was.
No wonder the San Francisco School District is removing his name from one of its high schools along with George Washington as they were both cut from the same cloth.
And Franklin Roosevelt (progressive Democrat) signed the Executive Order than incarcerated thousands of loyal Japanese-Americans in internment camps during WW2.
All politics is dirty regardless of party affiliation.
The only key point is that it was the white politicians who did these dirty deeds so that makes them all RACIST and not be trusted by people of color.
Lincoln cared. If not, he wouldn’t have pushed emancipation & would have lived out his life without being assassinated by a virulent racist.
It’s misleading to defend Republicans by citing Lincoln or Southern Democrats. The parties swapped many priorities around 1930’s
Eisenhower would be a liberal Democrat today per GOP. He invested heavily in infrastructure, education and overseas assistance, believed in balanced budgets & for the wealthiest to pay their fair share – highest marginal tax rates were ~ 90%.
Ike, while not perfect, had integrity and distrusted concentrations of wealth and power for the corrosive effect on democracy. His party would never have been so utterly dishonest with the public and themselves for the purpose of their hold on power and top tax cuts, which seems to be all the modern GOP stands for.
@ Bobby,
It’s probably true that all politicians lie at some point, but a false equivalence to say it’s all the same. If you don’t see the corrosive impact of the “industrial lying” of the GOP, then Jan 6 was just a warm up (see GOP strategist Stuart Stevens’ book re: GOP “industrial lying” with no equivalence on the left).
Modern GOP lawmakers keep lying, never take responsibility for anything but instead blame others constantly for what they are guilty of. It’s anticompetitive, unethical, and hurting our nation. They can say they favor various values, but if they are so unwilling to face truth of the outcome of their ideology or how antithetical their behavior is to those stated values, they’re really working against them.
Economic research shows: when a Democratic President is in office, the economy does better, has for 100 years when they’ve had similar priorities to today), despite differences in term lengths, etc. ~ 12 of the last 13 recessions began under Republicans. A recent NYT article stated if we’d had growth rates as under (modern) Democrats the last 100 years, we’d all be making twice as much today.
Newsom has a tough row now
There are a couple of quotes from historians and I forgot who said what.
One was “History is a fable agreed upon” and “History is written by the victors.”
That said and keeping in mind that history is purely subjective and not a science…Lincoln and other historical figures were a myth as were various accounts of wars and accurate depictions of Christ.
Hilarious. What a bunch of undergraduate-level ethnic studies viewpoints.
If you just assume that there is a single monolithic GOP, I assume Democrats are all the same? As corrupt as Feinstein and Maxine Waters? Or maybe as anti-Semitic as Ilhan Omar or Rashida Tlaib?
What a bunch of tribal nonsense.
White people can be Racist as this appears to be their nature, at least in America.
But racism persists elsewhere in the world as well. Where I am from, my former country is persecuting Chinese Muslims and that is morally and ethically wrong.
This is why so many people from other countries want to immigrate to the United States and America should welcome all of them regardless of their backgrounds or socio-economic status.
It should be noted that extended non-citizen families or couples residing in their children’s ADUs or even a spare bedroom can claim this recently announced Cal State benefit.
Which means that many recently arrived immigrants from Asia or elsewhere are also eligible for the stimulus payment providing their yearly earnings fall below maximum annual income ceiling which easily applies to many of them.
As a social services analyst employed by the State of California, I encourage and urge ALL undocumented immigrants who qualify to apply for this one-time stimulus payment.
This is good information as both my elder parents will qualify for the stimulus payments among others.
Anyone who qualifies for the California stimulus benefit payment should apply regardless of whether they are residing with their more affluent children and happen to be undocumented immigrants.
The money is there for the asking and every little bit helps during these rough economic times.
The state and federal governments waste enough tax-payer dollars as it is so if a $600.00 to $1200.00 state check is readily available for those who qualify, why turn it down?
Quoting Silver Linings….
“Lincoln cared. If not, he wouldn’t have pushed emancipation & would have lived out his life without being assassinated by a virulent racist.”
Now quoting Abraham Lincoln addressing freed African-American slaves during the Civil War…
“Your race are suffering, in my judgment, the greatest wrong inflicted on any people, but even when you cease to be slaves, you are yet far removed from being placed on an equality with the white race.”
“There is an unwillingness on the part of our people, harsh at it may be, for you, free colored people, to remain with us, it is better for us both, therefore, to be separated. The place I am thinking about having for a colony is Central America.”
“Consider what we know to be the truth, but for your race among us, there could not be war.”
“There is an unwillingness on the part of our people, harsh at it may be, for you, free colored people, to remain with us. It is better for us both, therefore, to be separated. The place I am thinking about having for a colony is Central America.”
^ Seriously? Abraham Lincoln was a white RACIST and it is no wonder the San Francisco School District is removing his name from any and all of their public schools.
Very unbecoming of our 16th President who to this day receives false credit for his role in freeing the black slaves.
There is a CNN special this Sunday evening where historians will finally dispel the MYTH of Lincoln.
The Lincoln Memorial in DC should be renamed and his statue removed, replaced with a civil rights leader or a historically significant African American figure.
And the same goes for the copper penny and five dollar bill.
Undocumented immigrants (illegal aliens) shouldn’t get ONE DIME. What part of they’re here ILLEGALLY don’t people understand. Money should help legal citizens. Don’t we deport illegals, not give them free money?
Recall Newsom!
If Lincoln wasn’t a racist then pigs can fly.
…a speech Lincoln delivered in 1858 in Charleston, Ill.:
“I will say, then, that I am not, nor ever have been, in favor of bringing about in any way the social and political equality of the white and black races—that I am not, nor ever have been, in favor of making voters or jurors of Negroes, nor of qualifying them to hold office, nor to intermarry with white people;”
African Americans who hold Abraham Lincoln in high esteem are either in denial of reality & ignorant of their ancestral history.
We were all brainwashed in elementary school and only now are the walls of deceit & mistruths crumbling.
@Jennifer
Governor Newsome allocated’ over $11.5B in unauthorized pandemic-relief unemployment benefits to ILLEGAL recipients in Russia, China, Nigeria and prison inmates throughout California.
Many undocumented immigrants actually work for a living in California at menial jobs. Now given the choice, what is worse….the massive EDD benefits paid out to foreigners and convicts OR a meager one-time only $600.00 check to
those who maintain your landscaping, changes your sheets in hotels, or does your laundry etc.?
As for Lincoln, he was a fraud who also authorized the killing of 57 Native Americans to get them off land that the government had assigned them as part of a previous treaty.
He didn’t care about Indians or black people, just white man economic interests which included the preservation of the Union.
The earlier comment about Lincoln’s assassin being a ‘virulent racist’ is partially true as Boothe was an anti-abolitionist…Lincoln was just more subtle in his personal agenda, a smooth-talker that some historians compare to Bill Clinton.
ruben — Which is worse? Both. The one time stimulus checks should go to legal citizens who are making less than 30K. People on social security, disability, low wage workers (who are here LEGALLY) or anyone who might be unemployed with zero income. Anyone here illegally should get nothing. I don’t care if they’re making beds in hotels. Unless you’re here legally you shouldn’t be hired. They’re taking away jobs from legal citizens, and yes — low wage Americans will take those jobs. There are more than a few Americans with less than a high school education, and their job options are limited.
I agree with Jennifer’s comments.
Undocumented immigrants (aka illegal aliens) should not be receiving any California state stimulus benefits regardless of whether they are poor working minorities here illegally or elder minorities from Asia and elsewhere here illegally and residing with their working children who are making good incomes as Google employees or health care professionals.
The monetary resources should only go to actual AMERICAN citizens enduring economic hardships due to the pandemic.
The ease of access to social services including medical care and monetary assistance is why so many people from abroad wish to immigrate to this country.
And this constant migration has absolutely nothing to do with seeking political asylum or humanitarian assistance.
‘Land of the free’ has taken on a new meaning for some and Governor Newsome’s reckless fiscal decisions only perpetuate the problem.
There are currently 1.4 million signatures on the recall petition and 500,000 more needed to place his removal on the CA ballot.
True Republicans and moderate Democrats need to intervene and finally bring an end to the Newsome tenure of office.
If Gavin Newsome had any hopes or intentions of becoming a future presidential candidate on the Democratic ticket, those options have since vanished.
Potential and future undocumented immigrants need to further explore economic opportunities in their homelands as that is the only way they can build their countries. Then maybe fewer will find the need to come to America.
@ Jennifer
Where is your Christian spirit of giving and sharing towards others?
Does it truly matter if one is an actual American citizen or a hard-working undocumented immigrant in this country illegally?
Consider asking yourself if Jesus would draw a line in these matters and then ask yourself if you are following in his footsteps.
I give and share towards others (as a Christian) whether people are here legally or illegally. Like volunteering yesterday at a church food pantry, where more that a few clients aren’t here legally. The food is donated from grocery stores (food they’re going to throw away) and it doesn’t cost anyone a dime. Feeding the poor is in the Bible. It’s not in the Bible to give tax dollars to people who are here illegally. I draw the line on my tax dollars. If that makes me a sinner – so be it. We’re all sinners. Enabling people who are here illegally (with our tax dollars) isn’t something I believe in. And yes — to me it does matter if you’re here legally or illegally. That money we’re giving to illegal aliens should be given to people on social security, disability, or workers (or the unemployed) who make less than 30K. Until we can take care of our own (LEGAL Americans) we shouldn’t give our money away to those who are breaking the law to be here. especially if hard working taxpayers are paying for it.
End of sermon.
The sheer illogic of politicians rewarding and attracting more often-dependent, undereducated undocumented persons here makes me shake my head.
I don’t oppose a seasonal farm worker entry program.
Why bother showing your passport when YOU fly somewhere or enter this country, while certain economic immigrants are invited in, released, and even prioritized for Covid vaccines?
Free medical, births.
I understand (long deceased) famous farm labor leader Cesar Chavez wanted a guest worker program, correct me if I’m wrong.
Should his name be removed, too?
Recall Governor Gavin Newsom. Democrat, hypocrite who dined at The French Laundry while over-exercising executive “powers” to lecture Californians on severe Covid-related restrictions on our personal freedoms, movements.
I am a registered Democrat, but oppose Newsom. Very poor “leader.” Look up his shenanigans while mayor of San Francisvo, wow, talk about sleazy behavior.
quoting Jennifer…
“I give and share towards others (as a Christian) whether people are here legally or illegally. Like volunteering yesterday at a church food pantry, where more that a few clients aren’t here legally. The food is donated from grocery stores (food they’re going to throw away) …I draw the line on my tax dollars. If that makes me a sinner – so be it. We’re all sinners.”
and now quoting the Bible…
“Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others.”
Matthew 6:2
Lastly…
“You cannot serve both God and money.”
Luke 16:13
“When people ask you for something, give it to them.”
Matthew 5:42
Tossing ‘throwaway’ food to the needy & patting oneself on the back is not what Jesus had in mind.
Nor is holding back one’s money from the needy.
Jesus believed in paying one’s taxes but he says nothing about how these funds are to be allocated.
Gavin Newsome is also blowing his own trumpet…but he is a politician.
Judith – Mr. Beckham asked me “where is your Christian spirit” and I answered his question. I’m not patting myself on the back. It’s not in the Bible to give taxpayer money to illegal aliens. Get real.
Recalling Newsom and having a governor that isn’t progressive is the only logical thing to do. Otherwise. California is will end up more of a mess than it already is. Liberals have ruined California, and liberals I know are willing to admit it.
I tend to agree with Jennifer. Our tax monies could be better spent (i.e. towards statewide infrastructure improvements) and Jesus never mentioned anything about providing for undocumented immigrants in the Bible.
Unfortunately (or perhaps fortunately) and as noted by another poster, undocumented immigrants who are already financially secure and residing with their children professionally employed in the high-tech and/or medical fields are also eligible to receive these state stimulus payments.
It seems one-sided as Jennifer has pointed out in her rebuttal, to focus one’s wrath primarily towards the poor and undocumented immigrants who are struggling to make ends meet.
This perspective in itself is very un-Christian-like as Jesus had true empathy for the poor while chastising the wealthy.
Reading the news every day the International Section is usually in the front section. Who is in the News? Nigeria – One race – different religions performing unspeakable actions to each other. Libya – people in refuge camps trying to get in a little boat to escape to Europe. Macron of France is trying to recognize their past colonial connections to correct the problems that are now occurring in Europe relative to the immigrants which have a different religion. The topic is bigger that the US. It is Europe’s problem as they are arguing over who is suppose to absorb the migrants in the EU countries. The EU is trying to disperse the migrants to specific countries who are now objecting. Europe is the point of origin of colonization. The point of origin of slavery in Africa was well established before the North American continent was colonized. We need to help these countries provide a living for their residents.
WE do not have to assume responsibility for world issues as though we created those issues. The State of CA cannot absorb more people – right now we have a huge number of people who are out of work, out of a home, out of resources.
@ resident 1-Adobe Meadows
In YOUR words,
“Europe is the point of origin of colonization. The point of origin of slavery in Africa was well established before the North American continent was colonized. We need to help these countries provide a living for their residents.”
^ As someone noted awhile back, 99% of these racial problems can be traced back to WHITE people regardless of whether they were WHITE western Europeans or WHITE Americans.
So cough up some serious dough and make good on all that was stolen or exploited by the WHITE man.
Then we will talk as subsidized government handouts don’t work, agreed.
Talk is cheap and passing the buck doesn’t cut it.
It would be interesting if everyone took ownership of their respective histories. PBS is running the Africa- Great Civilizations series which starts with the beginning of the human race in Africa. It all started there and then people fanned out to other locations around the world. Great tribal leaders were in charge of areas and built kingdoms. They used other people to help build those kingdoms. They fought wars. They developed huge trading activities with other nations because they had huge resources.
Own the history. Yes – passing the buck does not cut it. White people did not build the great temples and pyramids in Africa – that was one tribal king using other tribes to do that.
You all now are American citizens – you have access to schools, jobs. That is the pay-off that all of those refugees in Libya are looking for.
According to Resident 1-Adobe Meadows:
“White people did not build the great temples and pyramids in Africa – that was one tribal king using other tribes to do that.”
∆ Historically correct but the practice of exploiting the labor of fallen tribes & defeated countries is not a viable excuse for past societal wrongdoings.
Perhaps the United States government should seriously consider monetary reparations to all legitimate American-citizen descendants of African slaves brought over and sold to work the southern plantations.
Around $400K per descendant would be a reasonable starting point given post 1865 inflation, cost of living, and in deference to General Sherman’s promise of ’40 acres and a mule’ to all freed slaves following the Civil War.
Maybe then we can begin to move forward as only fiscally-neurotic Republicans and blatant or closet racists would oppose such compensation.
“…Jesus had true empathy for the poor while chastising the wealthy.”
Agreeing but Jennifer apparently begs to differ if the recipient of these state-mandated stimulus payments are poor, non-American citizens, many of whom are employed and exploited by unscrupulous employers with a keen eye for watching the bottom line (aka payroll overhead).
Her viewpoint is reflective of a white, conservative, self-professed Christian Republican voter and a primary reason America remains a land of haves and have-nots.
When one’s kingdom is based on the dollar sign (or a preoccupation with tax dollars), the kingdom of God will ultimately leave that individual in its wake.
Edith – What part of ILLEGAL don’t you understand? If you or I do something illegally, we can be tried in a court of law and sent to prison. But yet you think it’s okay to be here illegally, work here illegally (with fake social security numbers) and get stimulus payments from our tax dollars (unethically). If they’re being “exploited” they shouldn’t be employed. Your mindset is typical for an enabler, which is what progressives are. They’ve destroyed California and America. For the record — I’m a moderate and you have no idea what party I am.
What is interesting here is that we have had 5 generations of people going to school, being in business, being in politics, being in theatre world and yet a bunch of people have reverted to when people got off the ships. It is like 5 generations have not existed? So who wants reparations? Oprah? Gale King? Whoopie Goldberg? Corey Booker? Barack Obama – he was never in the south? People on the Warriors? NFL?
Reality – a lot of people have gone to school, got good jobs, applied themselves to work and family, and are doing good. It is like half have not recognized the role models that are in front of their faces and prefer to claim role models of people from multiple generations ago – a different time and period of the world. No recognition of the value of education. The government has instituted many programs supporting all.
Jennifer says, “What part of ILLEGAL don’t you understand?”
The question is Jennifer, “What part of LEGAL do you not comprende?”
BTW…comprende means ‘understand’ in Spanish.
President Biden has declared the ENTIRE nation a ‘sanctuary’ country which means that ICE activities have been severly curtailed when it comes to wrongful deportations of non-criminal undocumented immigrants.
Which also means that ALL of the undocumented immigrants (regardless of their race, color, or creed) in California are ALL ‘legally’ eligible to receive the state-mandated stimulus payment of $600.00 to $1200.00.
Undocumented immigrants are no longer ILLEGAL aliens but members of American society.
Kudos to the progressive Democrats for promoting this societal ideal as conservative Republicans would mostly likely nix the concept because the majority of them do not care about people, just bean-counting dollar signs.
Your presumed savior Jesus would be proud of this humanitarian endeavor and it would have his blessings.
Comprende?
Undocumented immigrants ARE here ILLEGALLY. Ignorance of the law is beside the point.
Illegal immigrants and their children cost the state of California a net $30.79 BILLION per year. This equates to $7,352 per illegal alien, or roughly 17.7 percent of California state budget.
If $30.79 billion per year doesn’t tick you off as a taxpayer, you probably aren’t one. Or you’re clueless.
Understand? And yes — anyone from any country who is here illegally should be deported. It happens, and rightfully so. Biden is an enabler as well.
Jennifer…your points were well taken from a fiscal standpoint but I must ask, did these state expenditures on behalf of undocumented immigrants directly impact your family’s well-being?
In other words, did you and your family struggle to buy food, pay the utilities, meet your medical expenditures or experience difficulties purchasing clothing due to any state sanctioned benefits being dispersed to undocumented immigrants?
If so, you have a right to criticize the upcoming stimulus payments to be distributed to various non-citizens.
If not, ask yourself…is simply dispersing disposable foodstuffs to needy families (that you and your organization got for free) a personally gratifying gesture of your own Christian spirit?
Outside of maybe picking the food items up and stuffing them in bags, were there any real sacrifices on your part outside of a few hours of personal time and maybe some gas? Has your inner soul been truly uplifted?
It is not for me to judge but to merely ask as you can only answer this question on your own terms and from within your heart.
In closing, God bless you Jennifer and may you walk in the light of a true Christian spirit.
Sister Magdalene
Some of these so-called church and community distributors of outdated grocery items pick-up the surplus foodstuffs from the supermarkets and then rummage through the inventory first, keeping the good stuff like fancy bakery items for themselves while leaving the remnants like old bread, old fruit, outdated eggs and stale cookies for the eventual recipients.
I have personally witnessed this practice but some folks will say that beggars cannot be choosers. To me this is not very charitable but perhaps those actively involved in the practice of ‘pre-screening’ preferable food items think otherwise as they are performing what they believe is their Christian duty to serve the needy.
Resident 1-Adobe Meadows writes:
So who wants reparations? Oprah? Gale King? Whoopie Goldberg? Corey Booker? Barack Obama – he was never in the south? People on the Warriors? NFL?
No silly. Not the wealthy and successful African Americans but rather the poor and disenfranched descendents of slaves who lack the professional skills of those you have listed as YOUR examples.
$400,000.00 to every African American citizen earning below $75,000.00 would be a good starting point.
@Jennifer
I believe the term illegal alien is no longer PC.
Aliens are from outer space and some scientists believe they are already here among us.
Hopefully they will not be signing up to receive stimulus checks as well.
It is very un-Christian to be preoocupied with one’s taxes and whether certain individuals are receiving stimulus checks.
Unlike Jennifer (who is entitled to her fiscal mindset), given how our tax-payer dollars are spent/wasted by politicians (primarily Democrats) and useless government bureaucrats anyway, passing along $600.00 to an undocumented immigrant working here in America doesn’t bother me all that much.
Besides, $600.00 doesn’t go very far to begin with.
If anyone should have their pay docked (or contribute to this stimulus package out of pocket), it’s Governor Newsome based on his fiscal mismanagement of the state EDD program, scaredy-cat public health-related business closures, and hypocracy when it comes to practicing safe-distancing and SIP protocols that he himself mandated.
Bon appetit Gavin and may you eventually be recalled and run out of office like a previously fiscally-inept California Democratic governor named Gray Davis.
Democrats are fiscally irresponsible, and I felt that way when I was a Democrat. I was young. $600 per illegal alien adds up, and it’s already costing California $30.79 billion per year. That’s a heck of a lot of money. If that doesn’t bother you as a taxpayer, it should. It also bothers me that if you’re here legally you’re only entitled to the money if you’re income is less that $30K, and you claim EIC. For illegals, they’re eligible if their income is less that $75K. Once again, if it doesn’t bother you that illegals are entitled to more money than legal Americans in California, it should. I am pre-occupied with my tax dollars because we pay a higher percentage of taxes than average, and I’m sick of picking up the tab.
Lastly, religion has NOTHING to do with stimulus checks, and dragging faith into the conversation is pathetic. I should’ve ignored the comments.
I believe the reason the State is considering authorizing relief funds to some undocumented workers with higher incomes than citizens is that undocumented workers did not receive federal stimulus checks, and are thus considered likely to be in more dire financial straits than citizens with the same incomes.
Of course, federal stimulus payments and I think the ones California is considering are based on pre-COVID 2019 taxes, so many people’s actual current incomes are likely far different than reported, and many people who earned comfortable incomes in 2019 are now in dire financial straits.
And in the end, all of the federal payments or prospective State ones will not provide significant relief to most people who are suffering. Especially in the Bay Area, with its astronomical housing prices, the two federal payments so far, combined with the next proposed federal payment and the State one, are likely not enough to cover even two months of expenses for an individual–and these payments, if all of them happen, would end up being spaced over a year or more.
Bottom line: if you want to get by in America–or more specifically California–relying on the government doesn’t really work.
Jennifer is correct. As tax-paying AMERICANS, we do not owe outsiders from other countries anything.
And from a religious standpoint, God helps those who help themselves thus it is not our responsibility to subsidize or support those who are here illegally and draining the social service system.
It is time for proud Americans to regain control of our country by voting for and electing candidates who have the best interests of the nation in their hearts and minds.
Progressives supporting undocumented immigrants are un-American subversives and need to be purged from the legislature.
Tax-payer funded public assistance should not involve aiding those who have not immigrated via the proper channels.
Charity (if truly needed) should begin at home for American citizens FIRST and not for the benefit of illegal aliens who do not speak our language.
Unlike Buck and Jennifer, I still believe in an America that welcomes newcomers along with the Christian spirit of charity.
The Homestead Act which opened America to westward expansion was free land and many of the settlers were not American citizens at the time.
And as for the Christian spirit of charity, Jesus taught (some of us) via the words in Timothy, that “money is the root of all evil” along with sharing what we can afford to with others more needy.
Complaining about the use of tax-dollars is pointless and very Mitch Mcconnell ish, a trademark of a tight-fisted Republican mindset that cares little about people whether they are citizens or non-citizens.
What is the point of being a citizen of the US.? If non citizens get pandemic relief our State is incentivizing more non citizens to come and live in Calif., whatever the personal cost. I object to Our benefits, my tax payer dollars going to non citizens. If families want to adopt “immigrants” and support them with their own money, that is fine. Our government has a basic duty to put its citizens first. We are in a pandemic, so many citizens are desperate…..if we have such a large surplus, the $$ can go to Texas, Arizona, Georgia, or save $$ for next pandemic!
I am an American citizen and pay my taxes but I have no problem with undocumented immigrants in California receiving stimulus checks.
California was stolen by American citizens from the Indians and Mexicans who previously resided here.
And the Homestead Act previously referenced allowed American citizens and only white immigrants ‘free’ land stolen from the plains Indians.
Why no Homestead Act for African Americans and Hispanics or Asians?
This grumbling over stimulus checks is all about white Republican-inspired racism.
It is OK to pay an undocumented laborer pennies on the dollar to pick your fruit, right? But not OK to reciprocate in some small manner so they can better provide for themselves and their families during the pandemic?
America was founded on white man’s greed and hypocritical Christians who know nothing about Jesus or his teachings.
Unlike Juliet and Julien, I don’t support undocumented immigrants or anything illegal. It’s shameful to support illegal activity. I don’t support stimulus checks for white people who are here illegally from Europe, Canada, etc. either. Race has nothing to do with it. If you’re here illegally (from any country) you should be deported, not be able to work illegally (with fake social security numbers – hopefully a felony) nor should you be taking jobs away from legal Americans who are out of work.
I would be treated the same way (in another country) if I was there illegally, including deportation. We have LAWS for a reason, and people who don’t abide by them are unethical. Where is your self respect? I agree — why have citizenship if enablers are making excuses as to why it’s no big deal that illegal aliens are breaking the law and entitled to our taxpayer money. I welcome newcomers who come here legally from any country. They will qualify for federal stimulus checks (income under $75K) and Newsom’s bill will be unnecessary. Other states aren’t doing this.
Recall Newsom now!
~…nor should you be taking jobs away from legal Americans who are out of work.
@Jennifer
When white ‘legal’ Americans are seen out in the fields harvesting the fruits and vegetables that you consume as a legitimate American legal citizen, we can take this discussion further.
The last time your observations had any reality was when John Steinbeck wrote The Grapes of Wrath.
And as far as Christian spirit is concerned, handing out bags of perishable food that grocery stores can no longer sell due to spoilage factors or expiration dates hardly qualifies anyone as a true follower of Christ.
Times have changed and we must learn to get used to it.
Undocumented immigrants are also automatically eligible vote based on receiving a California DMV issued driver’s license.
Which means they also have the same rights as all American citizens to vote in local, state and national elections via ballots mailed to their listed address.
Undocumented immigrants will now have a voice in American politics and while this remains a debatable topic/issue, perhaps they should also be eligible to receive pandemic-related CA stimulus checks if eligible.
It is not for American citizens to go up against the grain of mandated laws. It is permissable to air one’s discontent but that is all lest we have another January 6th uprising by subversive right-wing elements delusionally calling themselves ‘patriots’.
We are global citizens regardless of our birthplace and everyone can now consider themselves an American if so desired.
And what’s wrong with that?
America is a great country and traditionally open to all.
Of note:
As of April 1, 2018, illegal aliens in California who have recently obtained state driver’s licenses legally, or obtained them previously by lying about their immigration status, will automatically be registered to vote. Since January 2015, according to the California DMV, A.B. 60, a law passed by the California Assembly, “allows illegal immigrants to the United States to apply for a California driver’s license with the CA Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV)” [emphasis original]. As of December 2016, more than 800,000 California driver’s licenses were issued to illegal aliens under the A.B. 60 law. Additional thousands of illegals may have been granted licenses prior to 2015 because they lied on their driver’s license application forms and claimed they were in the country legally. (No proof of legal residence has been required by the DMV).
The purpose of this legislation is to help people who are suffering because of COVID-19, whether from the disease itself or from government-mandated shutdowns to slow its spread. Just because someone living in California entered the US without first obtaining government authorization does not mean they have no rights and should be left to destitution, sickness, or death. Even if you think people who enter the US “illegally” should face consequences for their actions, letting them suffer during a global pandemic while others are helped is not an appropriate response. It is also not legal: laws to exclude undocumented residents from basic rights and services tend to be struck down by the courts as unconstitutional. The State of California–which ultimately means all of us who live here–has a moral and legal obligation to help as many people as possible during this difficult time.
The purpose of this legislation is to help undocumented immigrants — period. Other states aren’t following suit, and people are suffering across the county, and around the world. If the legislation was to help “people who are suffering because of Covid-19” it would include the elderly on social security. Who didn’t grow up with IRAs, 401Ks, etc. and could really use an extra $600 because they’re living off of social security, and their income is below $30K. It would include the disabled man in his 40s with a wife and teenagers that would like to work for a living, but can’t because he’s disabled. He could use an extra $600 too. It would include unemployed people (with zero income) who could really use the money more than anyone with an income, but they’re not eligible.
No, this legislation that Newsom came up with is to help illegal aliens — period. Because they didn’t qualify for federal stimulus payments (either did we) and being the progressive enabler that he is — this is what he came up with. California is hardly the only state with illegal citizens, and other governors aren’t doing this.
Under the Fourteenth Amendment people here illegally have constitutional rights too, but it shouldn’t include a huge stimulus package ($7.6 billion) that California can’t afford. $600.00 will not keep someone from “sickness, destitution or death.”
A lot of illegals are essential workers, and essential workers are WORKING. The state of California does not have a “legal obligation” to help undocumented workers. If the US had any obligation to help illegals, they would’ve qualified for federal stimulus checks.
The proposed legislation described in the article above includes billions of dollars in aid for many different kinds of low-income households and programs, not just undocumented immigrants.
“Undocumented immigrants are also automatically eligible to vote based on receiving a California DMV issued driver’s license.”
∆ Hmm…that pretty much makes them U.S. citizens for the most part regardless of any required documentation status.
Jennifer…are you more concerned that most of them will be voting Democrat?
With the possible exceptions of Orange County, the Central Valley, and some other rural areas, California is pretty much a blue state to begin with and chances are, the newer undocumented voters in these areas will solidify the statewide color code.
And so the $600.00 CA stimulus check to undocumented immigrants/new voters is a savvy move on the part of Gavin Newsome and the CA Democratic state legislators.
Fat chance the Republicans would promote such a measure and besides, most Republicans don’t give a hoot about the underlings anyway, regardless of their origins.