On Friday’s broadcast of “CNN News Central,” Sen. Alex Padilla (D-CA) said that if states choose to use state taxpayer money to provide health care for illegal immigrants, “I happen to think it’s smart,” but it’s a “stretch” to say they’re able to do so because they receive federal money and money is fungible.

Co-host Boris Sanchez asked, “I do want to ask you about another argument…that the White House is making. They argue that states like California do provide benefits, like Medi-Cal, regardless of immigration status, using state dollars that are only available because California uses billions in federal dollars through provider taxes to offset certain costs. So, in a way, they’re arguing that federal benefits are going to undocumented migrants, even though Medi-Cal uses state dollars.

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