SACRAMENTO -- San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom is criticizing deep cuts to California's Medi-Cal program and says he is considering a lawsuit to reinstate some of the funding.

In an address to the Sacramento Press Club, the mayor said the cuts will devastate the poor and hurt cities.

They will reduce by 10 percent the reimbursements to doctors who participate in the state program. California already has among the lowest reimbursement rates in the nation.

The cuts were approved in February by the Legislature and signed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Newsom was in Sacramento on Tuesday to meet with health care groups, unions and state legislative leaders. He also addressed the capital press corps, where he criticized fellow Democrats for agreeing to the cuts.

San Francisco has launched its own program to provide health care for its poorest residents.