Gavin Newsom blocked a bill designed to give illegal immigrants a leg up in the home buying process, loaning them up to $150,000 interest free on the taxpayer’s dime after it passed both chambers of the California Legislature.
The Daily Caller reports:
Newsom vetoed AB 1840, legislation that sought to make illegal migrants eligible for a state program that provides first-time homebuyers with taxpayer-funded home loans, the governor’s office announced. The initiative, known as the California Dream For All Shared Appreciation Loan program, currently provides up to 20% of a house’s purchase price for down payment or closing cost to approved applicants.
Governor Newsom shared the rationale for his veto in a memto to California lawmakers.
“Given the finite funding available for [California Housing Finance Agency] programs, expanding program eligibility must be carefully considered within the broader context of the annual state budget to ensure we manage our resources effectively. For this reason, I am unable to sign this bill.”
This isn’t the first time the state of California has offered this type of home loan, but they were previously relegated to citizens and legal residents.
The Daily Caller continues:
When applications for the $300 million program first opened up in May 2023 — offering interest-free loans to around 2,300 middle and lower-income homebuyers — funds ran dry in less than two weeks, according to the Los Angeles Times. California officials have since tightened eligibility for the program, mandating that at least one of the applicants be a first-generation home buyer and replacing the first-come-first-serve model with a lottery.
Despite the program’s lack of critical funds, California Democrats overwhelmingly supported the idea of opening it up to illegal migrants when Assembly member Joaguin Arambula introduced AB 1840 in January, with lawmakers sailing the bill through the state House and state Senate — and attracting the ire of California Republicans, who are a minority in the state capitol.
California Democrats defended the bill, however, with State Sen. Scott Wiener arguing that illegal immigrants who would qualify for the bill are “exactly the kind of people that you want in your community” and Arambula claiming that the “social and economic benefits of homeownership should be available to everyone.”
Many speculate that Governor Newsom has national aspirations, and intends to run for president at some point. Political commentators think it explains many of his actions throughout the last year in both legislative decisions, like a pro-transgender bill he recently struck down, and public relations decisions, like the celebrity photographer he’s paying almost as much as himself. He made a sarcastic remark about the selection process for Biden’s replacement that many perceived as a dig at Kamala Harris and the Democratic Party.
In an interview with Pod Save America, he was asked, “how are you feeling about the switch,” referring to Kamala Harris taking Joe Biden’s place on the ticket.
Newsom laughed.
“We went through a very open process, a very inclusive process…that’s what I’ve been told to say.”
