Governor Gavin Newsom is publicly expressing his anger over a Trump administration decision he believes threatens California with a potential loss of federal health care funds over the state's requirement that insurance plans cover abortions.
The announcement from the U.S. Health and Human Services Department came a short time before President Trump was to address the annual anti-abortion March for Life in Washington, D.C. on Friday. The President told thousands of anti-abortion activists that "unborn children have never had a strong defender in the White House." Trump also called it a "profound honor" to be the first president to speak at the annual event.
In a tweet Newsom chided the president, "...you call yourself “pro-life” @realDonaldTrump?? You sicken me."
California Senate President pro Tem Toni Atkins also took verbal aim at the President via twitter, as she offered to reimburse him for any abortions he's paid for in California.
HHS has put California on notice that the state has 30 days to comply with what is known as the Weldon amendment, a law which prohibits federal health care funding for states or entities that practice "discrimination" against health care organizations that do not "provide, pay for, provide coverage of, or refer for abortions.”
The Democratic governor and California's attorney general were both adamant that the state has done nothing wrong.