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NEW CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR FAVORS PRENATAL CARE FOR ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT MOTHERS
In November, we reported on how immigrants made the difference in electing Gray Davis as the first Democrat governor of California in 16 years. Now the differences between his positions and those of former Governor Pete Wilson on immigration issues are becoming apparent. The latest example involves health care for immigrants. Governor Wilson tried to cut the  million provision in the state budget that goes to provide prenatal care to pregnant illegal immigrants, Governor Davis supports the provision.
Wilson had been fighting a court battle to remove the provision from the state budget, with the trial court ordering that the payments be made. The state had appealed, but sources say that with Davis in office, the appeal is likely to be dropped.
Denise Ducheny, a member of the California state legislature, estimates that for every dollar the state spends on prenatal care for illegal immigrants it saves three dollars in medical treatment it would have to otherwise provide to the U.S. citizen children. Rod Pacheco, the first Hispanic leader of the Republican caucus in the state legislature, has broken with conservatives in his party and announced his support for the provision, saying, "the overarching facet for me is the humanitarian side of it."
Also in California, immigrant advocacy groups are challenging former Governor Wilson's cutoff of federal housing aid programs for illegal immigrants. The programs include projects to remove lead paint, to provide assistance with utility bills, to provide weatherization to make homes safer and more energy efficient, and various community service programs.