California GOP pushes back on bill that would give unemployment benefits to illegal immigrants

California Democrats are working to advance another bill aimed at providing benefits to illegal immigrants, but Republican lawmakers are pushing to block the new bill. 

"It’s insulting that California Democrats are even considering expanding unemployment benefits to illegal immigrants," Senate Majority Leader Brian Jones said in a statement to Fox News Digital. "Under the Newsom administration, the unemployment insurance fund is already broke with a $20 BILLION deficit. We cannot afford to expand benefits to those here illegally."

In a letter to Gov. Gavin Newsom, Jones explained that the Employment Development Department (EDD) is still recovering from its shortcomings in managing the overwhelming demand for benefits following the COVID-19 shutdowns.

SB 227, introduced by Democratic Senator María Elena Durazo, would require the EDD to develop a detailed plan to establish a permanent Excluded Workers Program to provide cash assistance that resembles unemployment insurance benefits to unemployed workers who are ineligible for unemployment insurance due to their immigration status.

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Jones mentioned that not only is the EDD still recovering from COVID-19, they are also dealing with its failure to prevent tens of billions of dollars in fraudulent unemployment claims.

"Until the EDD demonstrates it has effective systems and procedures to ensure timely benefits and prevent fraud, it should not be tasked with new responsibilities and costs," Jones continued.

Jones also stated that enacting this bill would impose additional demands and expenses on the EDD, divert resources away from implementing essential reforms, and further plunge the state into undermining federal immigration laws.

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"This radical proposal sends a dangerous message: come to California and get free money for not working. As California goes, so goes the rest of the nation." Jones said. "Americans should be very concerned about a Harris-Waltz Administration taking this policy nationwide." 

California Assemblyman James Gallagher also echoed Jones and said small businesses are suffering due to the mismanagement of funds. 

"Newsom is already jacking up taxes on small businesses to pay off the debt he rang up with his mismanagement of our unemployment system during COVID," Gallagher said. "Democrats plan to open up the benefits to illegal immigrants is only going to invite more fraud and waste more money."

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"Wouldn’t it be great if Democrats focused as much on bringing down our highest-in-the-nation unemployment rate as they do on pushing new giveaways to illegal immigrants?" 

Gov. Newsom's office told Fox News Digital that the measure will be evaluated on its merits and that the deadline to sign or veto legislation on the Governor's desk is September 30. 

This is the second bill the senate has introduced that would provide benefits for illegal immigrants.

Last month, the California legislature advanced AB 1840, known as the "California Dream for All" loan program, which would have given illegal immigrants up to $150,000 in first-time homeownership loans — a bill that if signed into law would have given first-time homebuyers up to 20% of a home's value or up to $150,000 as down payment assistance.

"This bill seeks to prohibit the disqualification of applicants from one of California Housing Finance Agency's (CalHFA) home purchase assistance programs based solely on their immigration status. Given the finite funding available for CalHFA programs, expanding program eligibility must be carefully considered within the broader context of the annual state budget to ensure we manage our resources effectively," Newsom said in the veto letter. 

"For this reason, I am unable to sign this bill."

Fox News Digital's Jamie Joseph contributed to this report. 

Giants make bad NFL history in disastrous loss to Commanders

The New York Giants watched as Washington Commanders Austin Seifert hit his seventh field goal of the game to end the game, 21-18, to move Big Blue to 0-2. 

Things are not going well in East Rutherford, New Jersey, but Seifert’s field goal brought the Giants’ woes to historic proportions on Sunday. 

If you’re doing the math, all of the Commanders’ points were scored by way of field goal in the win, but the Giants were able to score three touchdowns against their NFC East foe. 

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So, the Giants are on the wrong side of history, as they became the only team to ever score three touchdowns, allow not one to their opponent, and still lose in regulation. 

That’s just the way the cookie is crumbling for these Giants. 

The main reason why New York is on the wrong end of history here is due to the very first play of the game, the opening kickoff, which ended up being a killer for the Giants in this game. 

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Veteran placekicker Graham Gano was seen falling to the turf as he chased down returner Austin Ekeler, who walked into the end zone for what appeared to be an opening kickoff touchdown, but a holding penalty brought things back. 

Gano, then, slammed his helmet on the team’s sideline as he was clearly injured. So, the Giants were without a kicker for the remainder of the game. 

While kickers have certainly gotten hurt in games in the past, ruining that team’s chances to convert on field goals and extra points, Giants head coach Brian Daboll went into this contest knowing Gano was dealing with a groin ailment. 

So, punter Jamie Gillan attempted the 33-yard extra point after the Giants’ opening-drive touchdown by Devin Singletary, and it was hooked wide right by the lefty. Gillan did hit his first and only field goal attempt last season at 40 yards, but this one wasn’t even close. 

Understanding extra points may be hard to come by, Daboll decided to go for two-point conversions on the next two touchdowns, but to no avail. 

In the end, the Giants fell to Washington by allowing seven scoring drives, and things wouldn't have been worse if the Commanders could cash in on their red-zone trips. Instead, they were stymied by false starts and poor execution. 

The Giants did see some good in this contest compared to last week, a 28-6 beatdown in their home opener against the Minnesota Vikings. Rookie receiver Malik was all over the field with 10 catches and 127 yards with his first career touchdown. 

However, he did drop the easiest catch of his day from Daniel Jones on a crucial fourth-and-short scenario near the end of the fourth quarter that allowed Jayden Daniels to charge Washington downfield for the Seifert walk-off field goal.

Either way, the Giants find themselves 0-2 with a doozy of a schedule upcoming, including the Cleveland Browns on the road next followed by a short week against the Dallas Cowboys on "Thursday Night Football."

The Giants are hoping they can keep their season afloat before things get out of hand fast like it did in 2023. To do so, they can’t be on the receiving end of any more bad NFL history.  

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