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California’s governor is weighing in on the obligation of the federal government to the states during times of crisis - such as the pandemic we are in now.
Gov. Gavin Newsom knows that between the disease itself and the economic fallout, the COVID-19 pandemic has hit Californians and people across the country hard.
"At a time when states, not just California, large and small, all cross this country, cities and counties, large and small, all cross this country are facing unprecedented budgetary stress, it is incumbent upon the federal government to help support these states through this difficult time," the governor said.
On Friday, the U.S. House of Representative passed a $3 trillion coronavirus stimulus package that includes billions of dollars in federal funding for state and local governments. However, U.S. Senate Republicans have panned the bill as a whole, with some calling it a liberal wishlist.
"The purpose of the federal government is to provide that back up, that added strength to all them to function when things are going sour," former political consultant Leo McElroy told KCBS Radio. "The states are not intended as totally self-ruling, self-financing institutions."