Newsom calls for additional $1T in federal aid on behalf of Western Pack

<p>California Governor Gavin Newsom along with four other Western states are jointly requesting $1 trillion in relief funds from the federal government.</p><p>Newsom said he and the leaders of Oregon, Washington, Colorado and Nevada--members of the so-called Western Pact --said the funds will help preserve core government services like public health, public safety and public education, and help people get back to work.</p><p>“These budget shortfalls are so much bigger than any state,” said the governor.</p><p>The members of the Western States Pact have signed a joint letter asking for "direct and flexible relief to states and local governments" Newsom said at his Monday press briefing.</p><p> The letter is written to Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.).</p><p>California has gone from having a $6 billion budget surplus 90 days ago to a deficit of tens of billions of dollars. In the last two months, 4.5 million Californians filed for unemployment.</p>