Gov. Gavin Newsom’s May revised budget projection for the coming fiscal year shows that the $21 billion surplus we had has become a $54 billion deficit in our state budget.The economic activity that generates tax revenues supporting state programs has collapsed because of COVID-19. We are now in a serious recession, with unemployment levels greater than those of the Great Depression. It is imperative that we safely open up our economy to reduce the hit on our economic outlook and help Californians recover.I’ve joined a group of western state leaders asking the federal government to provide funding to help make up this shortfall and support public safety, local governments, schools, hospitals and Medi-Cal. Unlike the federal government, California cannot print its own money. St
