12 months ago
SACRAMENTO, CA - With a $55 million budget deficit staring them in the face, the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors began slicing away health care programs Wednesday.
The largest item on the chopping block was the estimated $2.4 million annual cost of providing non-urgent health care to illegal immigrants.
"There are no good choices at this point. Everything (that is cut) is going to hurt someone," said Sacramento County 4th District Supervisor Roberta MacGlashan.
She is one of three supervisors who voted in favor of cutting health care for undocumented immigrants with two voted against.
"No one wants to make these cuts," MacGlashan said. "They're very painful."
She said the cut on health services for illegal immigrants will go into effect shortly. It will need to be supplemented by a program to identify who, among those entering public health care clinics, is a legal citizen eligible for services. That program is expected to cost $500,000 a year.
The ACLU opposes the measure, saying it is unconstitutional and a "bad policy."
"It's much more cost-effective to treat people when they're not in urgent situations," said ACLU spokesman Allen Asch. "It costs a lot more money if they get sicker and go to the emergency rooms."
Asch said the ACLU is pondering legal action against Sacramento County following Wednesday's budget cuts.
On March 3, the Board of Supervisors will reconvene to discuss possible cuts to public safety. To reach News10 reporter Will Frampton, e-mail him at wframpton@news10.net. To read his blog, click here.
