Governor Discusses Proposition 187, Healthy Kids Funding

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) expressed regret about his vote in favor of a ballot measure that would have barred undocumented immigrants from receiving publicly funded health care, education and other services, according to an interview published Tuesday in the Spanish-language La Opinion, the Sacramento Bee reports.

California voters in 1994 approved Proposition 187, but courts overturned the measure. In his 2003 recall campaign, Schwarzenegger said he had voted in favor of Proposition 187. However, in his interview with La Opinion, Schwarzenegger said, "I think, looking back, it was the wrong decision."

In the interview, Schwarzenegger also discussed his proposal in the state budget to provide $23 million for county Health Kids programs, which provide health care services to children regardless of citizenship status. The measure was removed from the budget as part of a compromise with Republican legislators (Yamamura, Sacramento Bee, 7/26).