Newsom calls for additional $1T in federal aid on behalf of Western Pack
California Governor Gavin Newsom along with four other Western states are jointly requesting $1 trillion in relief funds from the federal government.
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.
“These budget shortfalls are so much bigger than any state,” said the governor.
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.
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.).
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.