CA Gov. @GavinNewsom says his state’s budget deficit is directly related to the coronavirus pandemic and federal funding should not be looked at as charity, “when it’s fundamental purpose of government is to protect people’s safety and to protect their well-being.” #CNNSOTU pic.twitter.com/9XpDngudxV
— State of the Union (@CNNSotu) May 17, 2020
Sunday on CNN’s “State of the Union,” Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) said federal lawmakers have a “moral” and “ethical” obligation to provide emergency relief to states amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Partial transcript as follows:
TAPPER: So, the position of the White House seems to be that any money for states would be premature. What’s your response, sir?
Trump says after 2020 loss, he thought ‘I’ll run again and shove it up their a**’
DOJ launches investigation into blue state city over alleged race-based hiring
‘Dead of night’: Dems accuse GOP of cowardice over late-night votes on Trump’s ‘big, beautiful’ budget bill
DOJ charges House Democrat LaMonica McIver over ICE facility assault
Louisiana State Police captures 4th escaped inmate in NOLA prison break, 6 still at large
Trump Likely Took Same Medical Exam as Biden, Calls Out Fishy Reveal of Joe’s Cancer
DOJ leading race discrimination investigation into Chicago city hiring practices
Kennedy Center expands Broadway and family-friendly shows in Trump era
Watch: Trump Reveals What Putin Thinks of Melania and Crowd Immediately Applauds
Brooklyn Bridge sustains no structural damage after fatal Mexican navy ship crash
Trump Lets First Lady Melania Sign a Bill She Helped Champion Through Congress
Trump calls Biden’s cancer diagnosis ‘very sad’ while questioning timeline: ‘Wasn’t informed’
DOJ settles suits with gun parts maker in win for firearms advocates
Biden White House visitor logs reveal which Dems participated in cognitive decline ‘cover-up’
Trump Administration Reaches Major Settlement with Ashli Babbitt’s Family: Report
NEWSOM: Well, it’s not charity. I mean, a year ago, Jake, we were running a $21.5 billion surplus. And here we are at $54.3 billion budget deficit that is directly COVID- induced. We have been managing our budget effectively, efficiently, paying down our long-term pension obligations. We had a bond rating that went up twice last year, the highest in decades. So, we’re not looking for charity. We’re not looking for handouts. It’s social responsibility, at a time when states not just California, large and small, all across this country, cities, and counties, large and small, all across this country are facing unprecedented budgetary stress. It is incumbent upon the federal government to help support these states through this difficult time.
TAPPER: Well, the House passed a bill on Friday night with money for states, but Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has suggested it’s dead on arrival. Can you explain what you think will happen to California if the federal government doesn’t give you money to help you out?
NEWSOM: Well, these same folks that say it’s dead on arrival, I hope they will consider this. The next time they want to salute and celebrate our heroes, our first responders, our police officers, and firefighters, consider the fact that they are the first ones that will be laid off by cities and counties. The folks that are out there, the true heroes of this pandemic are health care workers and nurses. Those county health systems have been ravaged. Their budgets have been devastated and depleted. Their budget counts depleted since this pandemic. They’re the first ones to be laid off. So, we have got to square our rhetoric with the reality. Twenty percent of Americans are unemployed. In a few weeks, over 100,000 Americans willhave lost their lives. These are Depression-era unemployment numbers, and we have to own up to that. So, I’m not looking to score cheap political points, but I do want to make this point, Jake. We have an obligation, a moral, an ethical obligation to American citizens all across this country to help support cities, states and counties.
Story cited here.
