Cruz targets California governor over housing ‘prescriptions’

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) targeted California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) over his idea that doctors should supply housing “prescriptions” like they prescribe medication.

The Texas senator accused the governor of thinking with “the Leftist mind.” 

“This is the Leftist mind: write a slip of paper & a house will magically appear,” he tweeted. “Never mind that the person doesn’t have a job, the contractor can’t get a CA permit to build the house, rent control has caused a housing shortage & homeless people are crapping on the doorstep.”

This is the Leftist mind: write a slip of paper & a house will magically appear. Never mind that the person doesn’t have a job, the contractor can’t get a CA permit to build the house, rent control has caused a housing shortage & homeless people are crapping on the doorstep. https://t.co/giz3z7vHFB

— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) February 24, 2020

Cruz was responding to Newsom’s posts on housing issues in which the California governor suggested, “Doctors should be able to write prescriptions for housing the same way they do for insulin or antibiotics.”

The Texas Republican also criticized another tweet from Newsom that said a quarter of Californians suffer from a behavioral health condition and that the U.S. health care system was designed to treat physical health but not behavioral health. 

“Maybe stop giving them needles that they leave en masse in public parks?” Cruz tweeted. “And refusing to prosecute them when they engage in theft or vandalism? How ‘bout drug treatment programs instead?” 

Maybe stop giving them needles that they leave en masse in public parks? And refusing to prosecute them when they engage in theft or vandalism? How ‘bout drug treatment programs instead? https://t.co/r7MXQ5rJYl

— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) February 24, 2020

California has faced criticism in recent months, including from President Trump and other Republicans, for how it has addressed its high homeless population in the midst of a housing crisis. The governor announced a $1 billion budget proposal to decrease homelessness in the state last month.

The governor’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.