Mark A. Peterson, professor of public policy at UCLA Luskin, commented in a LAist story on a proposed budget resolution in the U.S. Congress designed to reduce billions in federal spending on programs including Medicaid which could affect Medi-Cal, California’s insurance program for low-income people. The story focused on California Democrats and advocates opposed to the budget resolution passed in February along party lines. Opponents say that the stakes are high for the state where Medicaid provides healthcare for millions of Californians and more than 40 percent of children statewide. Democratic leaders, union representatives and healthcare advocates have been rallying to stress how budget cuts could affect Californians, especially children. “ Health care involving children is one of those things where most people don’t want to see those cuts,” said Peterson, an expert on healthcare policy who also holds appointments in political science, health policy, management and law at UCLA.