Gov. Newsom is ignoring California voters’ will to back Medi-Cal services | Opinion

Last November, Californians overwhelmingly passed Proposition 35 — sending a clear message to protect Medi-Cal, fund rural hospitals and bring accountability to the health-care system.

In the San Joaquin Valley, support was resounding: more than 70% of voters across Kern, Tulare, Kings, Fresno, Madera, Merced, Stanislaus, and San Joaquin counties said yes.

But nearly six months later, Gov. Gavin Newsom still hasn’t implemented Prop. 35. Because of his administration’s failure, California missed a key federal deadline to secure hundreds of millions in matching funds. Now, our rural hospitals and vulnerable residents are left hanging — while the governor records podcasts and flies across the country to talk about democracy.

This isn’t just a bureaucratic delay. It’s a betrayal of the voters — and putting politics over people.

Let’s be honest: Newsom never liked Proposition 35. It created a dedicated stream of health care funding he couldn’t raid to backfill his pet projects. Prop. 35 guarantees that 99% of funds go directly to patient care — not into his discretionary pot. Now, with no incentive to act, he’s slow-rolling implementation. Imagine deliberately delaying critical Medicaid dollars just because you can’t control them. Sadly, the governor has raided hundreds of millions in Medi-Cal funds before.

He claims the implementation process takes “up to 18 months.” But last year — before Prop. 35 passed — when he had full control over the money, his administration successfully made similar federal requests for Medi-Cal in just five months. So what’s changed? Just the fact that voters locked him out of the cookie jar.

While Newsom continues to deliberately sit on his hands while begging for more money, Republican legislators are taking action to protect the most vulnerable in our communities. I recently led efforts to ask President Trump for an emergency extension for California while also welcoming an investigation to identify fraud, waste, and abuse. Not because I think Washington should clean up Sacramento’s mess — but because my constituents can’t afford the consequences. Without federal relief, access to care for veterans, seniors, and low-income families is at serious risk.

The Legislative Analyst’s Office confirmed what many feared: the Newsom administration never even submitted a complete plan for implementation. That’s not a delay. That’s negligence.

Meanwhile, Newsom continues to promote his so-called “Campaign for Democracy,” making high-profile visits to places like the Central Valley to champion civic participation. But democracy doesn’t stop at the ballot box. It requires implementing what the people vote for in elections.

And this failure couldn’t come at a worse time. There’s a national debate underway about the future of Medicaid — especially for expansion populations, like low-income adults and rural communities. States are positioning themselves to protect access and stabilize funding. And we welcome the audit and investigation of any misuse of federal funds as many states don’t have the proper safety locks in place on their funds.

It was through the recent passage of the Prop. 35 that voters cleaned up waste and abuse in the state’s Medi-Cal funding. California should be leading in this regard. Prop. 35 not only ensures funding, but guarantees accountability for how taxpayer dollars are spent at a time when the national conversation is centered on fraud, waste, and abuse. Instead, Newsom is missing deadlines, forfeiting funds, and weakening our ability to advocate for ourselves at the federal level.

We’re not asking for miracles — just competence. Voters gave this administration a clear directive. But until that directive is followed, it’s the people of the Central Valley — and communities like it across California — who pay the price.

Newsom talks a lot about values. Here’s one to remember: if you leave hundreds of millions on the table while taking out loans, filing lawsuits, and playing politics, your priorities are broken.

State leadership is not just talking about protecting Medi-Cal. We’re demanding it.