Metro East Sun

State Sen. Jason Plummer (R-Edwardsville) is slamming the Pritzker administration for pushing heavy subsidies for the state’s undocumented population.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced he was taking steps to prevent the state's taxpayer-subsidized noncitizen migrant health care program from exceeding its $550 million budget.

“The governor is trying to put out a fire of his making and he’s not going to be able to put it out,” Plummer said, according to The Center Square. “It’s just driving up costs for everyone and maybe the governor thinks he’s saving the state money but he’s really just offsetting those expenses. Because of [Pritzker’s] public policies, they’re going to be accrued by somebody.”

Plummer expressed concern that such subsidy programs could encourage more noncitizen migrants to come to Illinois at the expense of taxpayers. The program, which initially cost around $2 million in 2020, was expanded to cover noncitizen adults over 42 years of age and was projected to reach over $1 billion in costs for the upcoming fiscal year. To manage the rising expenses, the administration announced the suspension of the program for noncitizen adults between the ages of 42 and 65 starting next month. However, the Health Benefits for Immigrant Seniors program will remain open unless the number of participants exceeds 16,500. The administration also plans to implement cost control measures such as copays for hospitalizations and emergency room visits, as well as coinsurance for outpatient services.

The free healthcare program for undocumented immigrants is costing the state nearly $1 billion annually, prompting Republican lawmakers to call for a pause and audit of the program. State Rep. Ryan Spain (R-Peoria) and other Republican leaders expressed concerns about the program's expansion without adequate funding, Peoria Standard reported. Spain introduced House Resolution 220, which urges a moratorium on enrolling new beneficiaries and expanding Medicaid services for undocumented immigrants, along with a performance audit by the Auditor General to assess the program's administration. The program, implemented in 2020, has seen substantial cost increases and is projected to reach $990 million in the upcoming fiscal year. 

While Democrats defended their budgeting decisions, pointing to their track record of balancing the budget and improving state finances, Republicans emphasized the need for fiscal responsibility and sustainable budgeting. Former State Representative Delia Ramirez, now a congresswoman, advocated for the initial program, initially estimating its cost at $2 million per year but failed to foresee the significant cost increases. The program's expansion has sparked debate, with Democrats seeking to extend coverage to individuals ages 19 and above. The state has only allocated $300 million for the anticipated $990 million cost, further raising concerns about the program's financial sustainability.

Wirepoints noted the $50.6 billion 2024 budget used a gimmick to keep a funding gap for Medicaid benefits for illegal immigrants, and the impending more expensive AFSCME contract. The healthcare benefits for illegal immigrants, estimated to cost $1.1 billion, were reduced to $550 million in the budget, with Pritzker granted emergency powers to further reduce costs, a questionable approach given potential legal challenges, Ted Dabrowski and John Klingner wrote in Prairie State Wire.