California Senate GOP leader blasts Newsom on money to illegal immigrants, religious liberty

California Senate Minority Leader Shannon Grove is blasting Gov. Gavin Newsom, saying his plan to pay taxpayer money to illegal immigrants is unconstitutional and his treatment of churches during the pandemic has been too restrictive.

California has begun re-opening its economy, moving to phase 2 this week with some business services opening. But Grove told Just the News that churches are still banned from public gatherings and are being treated like entertainment venues that can't resume operations until a later phase 3.

"Government shouldn't be able to restrict houses of worship," Grove said during an interview with the John Solomon Reports podcast in which she also noted that churches can engage in precautionary measures to protect people's health just like stores and other essential services.

Grove also condemned Newsom's plan to provide millions of taxpayer funds to the state estimated 150,000 illegal aliens, noting California Republicans are suing to stop the effort and believe the money is better spent on the state's 3 million unemployed citizens.

"It's unconstitutional. You can't use taxpayer dollars to fund illegal immigrants," she said. "...That money could be use elsewhere to help California citizens."

She said that the pandemic has highlighted the dangers of America's supply dependence on China when it comes to important issues like the "production of things that we desperately need every day."

"And I think and I hope that Americans realize and Californians realize that China's impact on this nation has got to be addressed and got to be stopped," she said.

You can listen to the full podcast here.