California's contemplative governor-elect still mulling over how to lower prices, provide healthcare

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Set us as preferred SACRAMENTO — In his first news conference since being elected governor, Xavier Becerra remained noncommittal on taxes, energy and healthcare policy — even refusing to commit to reversing cuts to Medi-Cal coverage for undocumented immigrants, a campaign pledge.But he asserted that he was already working with legislative counterparts on how to provide critical services and lower the cost of living.“I can’t make a commitment without knowing what exactly I’m facing,” Becerra said of reversing cuts to Medi-Cal.“I don’t think any voter, any taxpayer, any Californian wants to have a governor who’s still acting like a politician” on the campaign trail.The governor-elect, speaking to reporters Thursday afternoon inside the state Capitol, had just concluded a meeting with Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas and Senate President Pro-Tempore Monique Limón.

The three Democrats appeared side by side in a display of unity between two branches of government with a sometimes-prickly relationship.“You guys should get used to this,” Becerra said, pointing thumbs at the lawmakers on either side of him.“We’ve got lots to do, and the public made it very clear we should be focused on jobs one, two and three, and that is: cost of living, cost of living, cost of living.

Letting California families know we want them to stay, we want them to thrive.We want them to retire in California.”Becerra has provided few specifics about his plans to ease inflationary pressures.

Asked whether he would consider cutting income tax rates for low- and middle-income Californians, he responded that “everything should be on the table.”“You’re probably going to be hearing me say that a lot, whether it’s on energy, whether it’s on revenue tax policy, whether it’s on healthcare,” he said.“Why should we take ...