California Gov. Gavin Newsom Economic Recovery Press Conference Transcript May 10

Chris Iglesias: (01:15) [foreign language 00:01:15] everyone, my name is Chris Iglesias, I'm the chief executive officer of the Unity Council. Thank you for those opening remarks. It was important that [foreign language 00:01:25] started. Just so you know, 70% of our staff here at the Unity Council are women. And as they always remind me, "Have faith, the future is Latina." So you just got to look at the future right there, and we're in good hands. I want to welcome everybody here today, and I'm really excited that Governor Newsom and his team have made their way to the Fruitvale. I've been inviting him here for the past eight years, I just haven't been able to get him here. Chris Iglesias: (01:51) But the fact that he came today, it sends a loud message to the community. It sends a loud message to the communities around the state that are similar to Fruitvale, that are similar to East Oakland, that have taken the brunt of this pandemic. So the fact that he's here and his team is here, that shows that they recognize, they know that this is the land of essential workers. This is the land, this is a place where we never left our post. We worked the entire time. We put ourselves out there so everybody else could stay home on Zoom and get their food delivered to them and their wine and whatever else. Chris Iglesias: (02:27) And I think this message that basically shows that they're here, that they have ideas, they have funding, and we're not going to leave anybody behind during this pandemic. Because we're still in it. I know it may not look like it, it may not feel like it, but many of us, many of the organizations in the Fruitvale are still dealing in the basics. We're still feeding people. We're still providing rent relief. I mean, it's still happening right now. So yes, we need that recovery, and I know we're going to hear some exciting things about that today. But I think the fact that the governor and his team came to the Fruitvale to acknowledge what has happened, how difficult this year is, speaks volume, and we're honored to host him today. Chris Iglesias: (03:06) So with that, I'd like to introduce the mayor of Oakland or as we call her the baller of Oakland, the fighter of justice for immigrants, Mayor Libby Schaaf. Libby Schaaf: (03:17) Oh, I love that introduction, Chris, thank you so much. [foreign language 00:03:30] Unity Council. [foreign language 00:03:39] Oakland, California. I'm the mayor of Oakland, such a beautiful city, and very proud to be hosting our governor today. We join this governor in lifting up a just recovery. Oakland is a city that has been hit hard by this pandemic. And you are going to hear today about an unprecedented moment, where government is coming to the aid of those who need it most. And let us start by thinking of our families, our families who have suffered so much economically, emotionally, over this past year. I commend Governor Gavin Newsom for taking an unprecedented state surplus and aid from the federal government, and investing it directly in the people of California. Direct aid to people is what is going to get our economy roaring back, and Oakland is going to benefit from this tremendously. I love saying that Oakland, California- Is someone standing in the doorway? Okay all right, I'll just keep going. Libby Schaaf: (05:17) I love saying Oakland, California is the most unapologetic sanctuary city in America. And I also commend Governor Gavin Newsom for recognizing that our immigrant workers who do not qualify for much federal aid will be taken care of by the State of California. Now, for much of the aid that is available in this unprecedented state budget, you must file your taxes. Libby Schaaf: (05:53) [foreign language 00:05:53]. Please take advantage of free assistance to file your taxes. Taxes are due one week from today. And if you need help, free help to file your taxes, so you can enjoy some of the Golden State stimulus, please call 211. [foreign language 00:06:47]. Libby Schaaf: (06:55) With that, it is my pleasure to introduce the chair of the assembly's budget committee, someone who is going to be a partner in creating one of the greatest California budgets we have ever seen, and that is Assembly Member Phil Ting. Phil Ting: (07:14) Thank you, Mayor Schaaf. It's so great to be in Oakland. It's wonderful to be back at the Unity Council. I think the first time I set foot in here was when I was taking a city planning class at UC Berkeley. And one of our projects was trying to envision and really take feedback as to what the community would want. And seeing so many of the projects that they were talking about over 30 years ago, that transit village, the access to the BART station, see those become a reality because of this amazing organization, I just want to commend Chris and your whole team for all the amazing work that you've done. Phil Ting: (07:50) I think Mayor Schaaf said it extraordinarily well. We know that COVID has been a very challenging year for every Californian, every American. It has touched every single person's life and frankly changed all our lives. And at the same time, for many people before COVID, they were struggling. They were living paycheck to paycheck. They were one paycheck away from being homeless. Many of them were homeless. Many people were trying to figure out how they could survive. And frankly, COVID has made their life worse. And we acknowledge that, and this is the budget where we are looking to try to figure out how we can uplift their lives. How we can take folks who are working Californians, people who, as Chris talked about, never stopped working, kept working in the restaurants, kept working at the pharmacies. They kept working at the grocery stores, had high infection rates of COVID. Phil Ting: (08:48) We know so many of those communities really need our help. And at a time when people need government the most, often we're in a situation where we can't help them, and the governor's going to talk about this. But because of our progressive tax policy, we rely on those Californians who have the most, and that very small segment of California has done incredibly well, has done incredibly well this last year. And because of that, we have an unprecedented budget surplus, and that budget surplus is going right back to the most vulnerable Californians. The ones who need the help the most, the ones who need help with housing, whether it's making your rent payments, the ones who need help with food, the ones who want to make sure that our schools are open up in the fall. The ones who are worried about healthcare and making sure that they can cover those costs. Phil Ting: (09:47) That is what this budget is about. This is an opportunity to build the California, not of next year, but really of the next hundred years. And so much of the foundation, as someone who was born and raised in this incredible state, and as a child of immigrants really benefited from all the infrastructure that was built before my family even got here, that's what we're trying to lay down in this budget. We know we have a historic opportunity. You're going to hear about the money that is going to go back into people's pockets today. Phil Ting: (10:19) But over the next few weeks, you're going to be hearing about the foundation that we're going to lay for this great state in terms of our education system, in terms of our healthcare system, in terms of much of our social safety net that was decimated in the last recession. And that is what I'm so excited about and really being able to deliver on that California promise for so many. Because I know there are folks who are working class folks who wondered if that promise is still alive. And I'm here to tell you, I know we are all here to tell you, that promise is well alive and we're going to be doubling down on that promise in this budget. So thank you. Phil Ting: (10:59) I'm so proud to introduce my colleague, whose- Phil Ting: (11:03) Now to introduce my colleague, who's district we're in, State Senator Nancy Skinner. She is the Budget Chair for the State Senate and has been a great partner in working to develop this year's budget. Nancy Skinner. Libby Schaaf: (11:16) Gracias, Assembly Member Ting. Gracias, Jefe Iglesias. Gracias, Mayor. Soy Nancy Skinner. [Foreign language 00:11:34], Oakland, Berkeley, Richmond, [foreign language 00:11:36]. I'm really glad to be here, and to be able to thank the Unity Council for the incredible work that it does in providing support to our Fruitvale community and to other residents of Oakland and the East Bay. Support in filing taxes and then being able to access the incredible resources that both the federal government and the State of California have made available, which if folks don't file their taxes, they aren't able to access, and so the Unity Center is here to provide that. As the Mayor said, [foreign language 00:12:26], filing of the taxes, and especially come here to the Unity Council and you will get that help. Libby Schaaf: (12:37) Now we're going to hear from Governor Newsom in just a moment, who's going to talk about some great things, that as my colleague mentioned, the Chair of the Assembly Budget Committee, that because of California's very progressive tax structure, and because most of our revenue comes from the wealthiest, we're talking top 1% wealth in this state, is what provides much of the revenue, plus capital gains from the high, high stock market. So we have money. Now, unlike other states, we are using that money to support the many Californians who have been hurt during this pandemic, and we have already given out our first Golden State Stimulus, and so our I- 10 filers, our low-income essential workers, so many more, already got $600 checks from California. That's on top of whatever they may have gotten from the federal government. And unfortunately, many of those folks, especially our I-10 filers, did not get anything from the federal government, but we are in the position now to be able to provide more. Libby Schaaf: (13:55) And I'm not going to steal the Governor's thunder. He will give you the details, but I'm just very proud that we are a state that reflects the type of values that recognizes that so many people were disproportionately hurt by this pandemic. They were disproportionately hurt economically. They were disproportionately hurt by the disease. They had families. They had family members who died at much higher rates than those folks like myself, who got to stay home, and work from home, and work by Zoom. I didn't get to stay home the whole time. But anyway, who did not have to do the essential work of delivering all the goods that those of us at home so we could avoid going to the store, or the essential work of cleaning the facility so none of us would have the exposure to COVID. All of that was done by essential workers who continued to receive less wages than ... And it's the usual disproportionate fact of our economy. But we are doing our best to fix that. Libby Schaaf: (15:06) And then let me just say a couple more things before I introduce the Governor. With our Governor's leadership, we are now amongst the top two states with the lowest rate of COVID. We are also in the top states in terms of vaccination rate. We are safer than ever, and we are roaring back, and we are trying and doing our best to roar back in an equitable way, so that this disproportionate economic inequity that exists in this state, and this disproportionate impact of COVID on our residents, that we can do our best to counter it. Libby Schaaf: (15:48) And with that, let me introduce the great Governor of the State of California, Gavin Newsom. Gavin Newsom: (15:56) Thank you, Senator, and thank you all very much for the privilege and opportunity to be here. [inaudible 00:16:01], thank you very much for opening up your home of sorts, and Chris, honored to finally be here with you, and to the mayor, I'll brag on Mayor Schaaf in a moment. It's a pleasure to be back with you here, and of course, with our two chairs. I respect the Budget Committees in the Senate and the Assembly. I want to just acknowledge and thank Assembly Member Ting and Senator Skinner for their incredible leadership, stewardship, support over the course of the last number of years, but more importantly, over the course of the last number of months, as this state has been very deliberate and very intentional in moving a very focused way to address some of the most systemic and challenging issues in this state. Not waiting for traditional calendars to provide that direct relief and support across the spectrum of issues. That sense of urgency has been demonstrable. This partnership with the Assembly and the Senate has been second to none, and I'm incredibly grateful to both of you for your incredible leadership. Gavin Newsom: (17:02) I'm about to make an announcement no other governor in California history has ever made, and I would argue no governor in American history has ever made. Today, we're announcing a $75.7 billion budget surplus. I'll repeat that. There's only three people apparently heard it. This time last year we announced a $54.3 billion shortfall. Today, we are announcing a projected $75.7 billion budget surplus. It's a remarkable turnaround. We talk about California coming back, I made the point at the State of the State a number of months ago, California is not coming back. California is going to come roaring back. $75.7 billion operating budget surplus. An additional $26 billion will be coming from the federal government. Gavin Newsom: (17:59) We are now in a position to roll out a $100 plus billion dollar comeback plan in the State of California. And the first announcement in that plan, we're announcing today, and that's immediate relief to millions and millions of taxpayers, millions and millions of Californians. Today we're announcing $12 billion tax rebate to the people of the State of California earning up to $75,000. Let me put that in perspective. That tax rebate will impact just shy of 80% of all tax filers, will get a direct stimulus check, will get a direct relief payment because of this announcement. Two-thirds of all Californians will benefit from this stimulus. That's roughly $12 billion. Let me be specific. $11.9 billion, when you add, as Senator Skinner said, to the round one stimulus that we put out a number of months ago. I want to make this clear, and I make this with respect that is due. This is a proposal from the administration and requires concurrence and support of the legislature. And that's why it's humbling and very meaningful to have the two Budget Chairs here today. I'm by no means naive about the deliberative process as we roll out not only today's announcement, but we roll out this May revise on Friday of the importance of that give and take with the legislature. But I'm mindful that our values are aligned, and that's been demonstrable over the course of the last number of months with the early action that we've taken. So $12 billion in direct tax rebate. That's the largest year over year tax rebate that's ever been provided in any state in American history. Gavin Newsom: (19:50) Number two, we're very mindful that that stimulus alone of $600, $500 for families with children, and those I-10 filers, is not enough to address the stress, the anxiety over the course of the last year plus in this pandemic-induced recession. And that's why today we'll be announcing our desire, our plan to double the rental assistance in the State of California, with the goal of getting 100% of all the back rent paid, and provide 100% support over the next few months to renters that have been directly impacted by this pandemic. $5.2 billion we're putting up to take care of rent payments. Gavin Newsom: (20:38) In addition to the $5.2 billion, this builds on the $2.6 we announced a number of months ago, additional $2.6, $5.2 billion, in addition to paying off 100% of that rent going back to last April, and moving forward over the course of the next number of months. We're also mindful rent is just one part of the burden of households. Issues of gas, electricity, and water are real. So today we're announcing $2 billion of direct relief to pay down utility expenses to pay off water, gas, and electricity needs. $1 billion, $1 billion of that $2 billion, specifically we're proposing to be set aside to address the issue of water in this state. Gavin Newsom: (21:32) So this is not an insignificant announcement. It's unprecedented, as I say, in California history, but that's rhetoric, and that often gets lost. But direct stimulus checks going into people's pockets, that direct relief, that's meaningful. Direct renter relief at $100, not the 80%, is our proposal, and we would allow for that 100% to be retroactive, to cover those that have already received the 80% assistance, and providing $2 billion for gas- Gavin Newsom: (22:03) ... the 80% assistance, and providing $2 billion for gas and electricity and for water, we think, is a significant direct not only stimulus, but direct relief to millions and millions of Californians in need. And this is just the first of many announcements this week across the spectrum that amplify the narrative of this state, truly roaring back. I want to just close, make a few subsequent points to what the senator was referring to a moment ago as well. This is all on the basis of the recovery that California's already experiencing. It's on the basis of the revenue that's coming in in historic terms in the state of California, and that's because we are defeating and we are successfully applying strategies to address this pandemic. And as Senator Skinner rightfully said, our case rate and our positivity rate are among the lowest in the United States of America. In fact, today, the seven-day rate came in at just 1.0%. Gavin Newsom: (23:12) That's the lowest seven-day case rate, or rather positivity rate, since the beginning of this pandemic. And put that in perspective. Some have suggested, "Well, we're not testing like we did." That's not necessarily the case. 223,000 tests came in yesterday. 1,337 individuals tested positive for COVID. Accordingly, the senator was right, California continues to make progress on vaccinations. Just shy of 32.5 million doses have been administered to Californians. Just shy of 62% of all Californians have received at least one dose, eligible Californians 16 and over. This week, we will request from the federal government 100% of the available supply that's been set aside for the state of California, 2,076,000 doses to be exact. And while there has been a decline in people that have looked to access the vaccine, it's not as precipitous as many other states. But we are mindful it's a decline, nonetheless. Gavin Newsom: (24:20) And I reinforce this in closing before we open it up to questions to make this point. One has to do with the other, that California's economic success, our economic recovery, is predicated on ending this pandemic, and we need to be mindful that this disease didn't take Mother's Day off and it's not taking the summer off. It's as deadly as it's ever been, and we are mindful that the mutations are as challenging as they've ever been. We are monitoring just shy of a dozen mutations in this state, and that's why it's important to remind each and every one of you the power and potency. If we want to get our kids safely back into in-person instruction, to get our small businesses back up and operational, if we want this economic recovery to continue as robustly as it's began, we need to continue our vaccine program. Gavin Newsom: (25:21) We need to continue to be vigilant and mindful of mask wearing and social distancing until this disease is behind us once and for all. 275, 000 jobs have been created in the last two months in the state of California. 41% of America's jobs came out of the state of California in February. California is not just back, California is roaring back, and I want to thank every member of this remarkable place we call home, every member of our extraordinary community, 40 million Californians strong, for everything you've endured, for your resilience, for your grit, for your determination, and for your commitment not only to yourselves and your loved ones, but the broader community, because everything we just announced is because of the people in the state of California, their hard work, and it's demonstrably in the announcement that we're making here today. So with that, we're here of course to take any questions. Jeremy: (26:27) Hey, Governor. Jeremy with Politico, thanks for taking our questions. I'm going to do every other reporter's favorite thing and ask you a two-part question. So, first piece is there's no shortage of proposals for Democrats in the legislature for ways to spend this windfall, everything from more coverage for undocumented immigrants to more wildfire preparedness. So why open with this proposal of direct payments? And then as you well know, some statutory language having to do with distance learning is up for either renewal or expiration soon. Do you support continuing the allowance for distance learning next year, or do you think it's time to move on? Gavin Newsom: (27:03) On June 30th at midnight, I anticipate that that will lapse, and everybody should be back in the fall in in-person instruction safely. In fact, our budget will reflect even more support than the previous support that has been provided for health and safety, and I look forward to working closely and collaboratively with the legislature to advance those budget proposals as well. As I noted just a moment ago, this is one of a series of announcements we'll be making this week. We're honored and pleased to be here in the backyard of the two budget chairs to make this important announcement of direct relief and this large tax rebate, the largest in US history year-over-year, because we believe people are better suited than we are to make determinations for themselves of how best to use these dollars. Gavin Newsom: (27:50) And that's why we want to get money into people's pockets as quickly as possible, and we want folks to know that these resources are coming. Accordingly, we recognize the acuity of stress associated with back rent, and we recognize the acuity of stress as it relates to gas, water, and electric bills, and we think it's really important to send a powerful message today about the importance of being able to find relief and access these critical funds so we can keep people housed, we can keep people warm, safe, and make sure that they're getting the kind of resources that they deserve during this very challenging period of time. You'll be hearing other announcements today, later this afternoon, tomorrow, Wednesday, Thursday, and the May Revise will be formally presented for consideration to the legislature on Friday. Ben: (28:47) Hey, Governor, it's Ben Christopher from CalMatters. Thanks for taking the time. Thanks to everyone for taking the time to do this. I'm going to copy Jeremy and do a two-parter. First, just curious- Gavin Newsom: (28:56) This is what is known in legal terms collusion. Ben: (29:02) No comment on that. So the first round of stimulus checks, we saw a large population of people who are eligible, but maybe didn't receive that benefit. So I'm wondering what you learned from that process the first time around that you're going to incorporate into this one to make sure that as many people as possible who are eligible are getting that relief. And then the second question just about the Gann Limit. Is that what is guiding this allocation? Is this all coming out of the Gann Limit requirement? And if so, are you allowed to sort of target the allocation, or does it have to be per capita equally? Gavin Newsom: (29:36) Yeah, we talked about the Gann Limit in January and the budget presentation. It's likely we'll hit the Gann Limit for only the second time since 1979, and that will be determined over the course of the next year, year plus what exact amount of dollars will be needed to set aside. 99.9% of you have no idea what the Gann Limit is. Suffice it to say, it triggers when there's a windfall of revenue, a requirement that roughly half the money that is stipulated in that requirement go to K-12 education [inaudible 00:30:10] Prop 98 formula, and another half go back in some form of direct support to the taxpayers. This is above and beyond the statutory requirement. This is not the reason we're moving forward with this announcement. We're building on the announcement of a number of months ago. And the segue to your question, first part of your question, is what did we learn? Gavin Newsom: (30:31) We learned that those just filing EITC, those earning up to $30,000, while that was important, it's also important to recognize that we needed to provide direct relief for people in the middle class, people earning up to $75,000, and that's why we're announcing and enhancing the available funds for those individuals. And again, that represents 78, almost 80% of all tax filers in the state of California. The middle class had been hurt hard by this pandemic. They've been squeezed across the spectrum. Working moms in particular, women notably, have been disproportionally impacted in this pandemic, and that's why we are building on what we did in January, providing additional $500 to support families with children. So the eligibility is now north of 1100, or roughly $1,100, not just the $600 check. That's an additional $500. Gavin Newsom: (31:24) And we recognize the importance of continuing to make sure we're there for all Californians, because at the end of the day, one thing we know, and it was referenced by the comments were made earlier, is there was one group of residents in this state that did not dial home sick and weren't able to do as much distance work as others, and those were our essential workers, our frontline employees, many of them in mixed status family, many of them without documentation, and they were left out of the federal supports. They will not be left out of the support coming from the state. Alexei: (32:03) Hi, Governor, Alexei Koseff from the San Francisco Chronicle. I'm going to make this a trend and also ask a two-part question. The first would be... There's a lot of different pots of money. Could you clarify a little bit about what is going to be paying for these different proposals that you have announced today? And then the second would be that this is a kickoff for, it sounds like, a week of events that you're going to be doing to promote this budget that you don't plan to fully announce until Friday. I mean, is this a campaign strategy as you're facing this recall election to get as much bang for your buck as possible, good publicity about these overflowing budget numbers? Gavin Newsom: (32:47) I'm really proud of California's resilience. I'm incredibly proud of California's remarkable capacity not only to come back, but to come roaring back. I was also proud to now have had the opportunity, this is my third budget, to do what I did last year and do what I did the year before, and that's preview- Gavin Newsom: (33:03) ... budget to do what I did last year and do what I did the year before and that's preview and highlight critical investments in the budget. This is something that I've looked forward to do, something we did in January, something we did last year in January, and then the May revise in the year prior. So, that is an important part of a budget process. It's one of the reasons, and I was very proud and very grateful to review in detail, the work that the Senate did and the assembly did with their blueprint, and they previewed their priorities as well, and so many of them align remarkably well. So, that's why we're here. On the issue of the resources, it is true. $75.7 billion is general fund surplus. You have a portion of that will go to K through 14 education under Prop 98. A portion of that will be set aside under Prop 2, to pay down long-term obligations, unfunded health care, as well as pension obligations. Gavin Newsom: (34:03) We'll increase our rainy day reserve. That's about $11.2 billion, 26.6 under the prop 98. 38.1, and if you're following me, I'm impressed, but 38.1 will be set aside for programs like those I just announced. There's an additional $26.6 billion. That's why it's over $100 billion Come Back Plan, that comes from the federal government. Those have stipulated requirements and those requirements include the inability to do what perhaps we, well, not perhaps, likely the inability to do what we just announced and that's a direct tax rebate. This direct tax rebate does not come out, to your question, of the $26.6 billion federal stimulus. This direct tax rebate, the largest in US history, not just California history, year over year, will come out of the operating reserve or rather, excuse me, the operating surplus, if approved by the legislature. Melissa Colorado: (35:07) Hi, good morning, Governor. Melissa Colorado with NBC Bay Area News. Do you have a rough estimate as to how much money California tenants owed to their landlords during the pandemic? My other question is, will cities and counties be allowed to set their own eviction moratoriums? Will it change from county to county, city to city? Gavin Newsom: (35:26) Yeah, so we have a statewide overlay and we have language as it relates to the authority for local government. That's due to expire in a number of months. We'll work with the legislature through a very deliberative process, similar to the two processes that we advanced prior to make any subsequent terminations on the basis of your question. As it relates to these broader issues and forgive me, the first part of your question was specific to the rent. That issue, interestingly, there are a number of different studies that have come out with estimates, some on the low end, well below the 2.6 billion. Some on the high end north of the 5.2 that we just put out. So, the answer to the question is, there is no readily reliable information that we can determine with some confidence what that universe looks like. That's why we are increasing the total numbers available on the higher end, just to make sure we're covering the worst-case scenario. Gavin Newsom: (36:32) We believe roughly, within a margin that 5.2 should do it. That said, the take-up on the first 2.6 billion has been a little slower than some had anticipated, which may preview that the universe may not indeed be as large as that high end number. So, we just are an abundance of caution, making sure we cover a worst-case scenario, but we'll be mindful in the deliberative process, working with the legislature to assess and make a determination over the course of the next number of weeks before this budget lands. Speaker 3: (37:07) Next question. Speaker 2: (37:08) Good morning, Governor. Matt Boone with KCBS News Radio. Thanks for taking my question. Trying to get people back to work would also be aided by reducing the restrictions that have been imposed because of the pandemic. You set the target for June 15th for the dissolution of the tier system. Are we still on track for that? If so, would it happen any earlier if things are looking pretty good? Gavin Newsom: (37:31) Well, as long as we continue to keep this vaccination rate going ... 330,000 people received a dose in the last reporting period, over the last 24 hours. A little over 2 million in the last seven day period. As I noted, that's down from where we were a number of weeks ago. So, we're mindful that as long as the vaccination rate continues around pace we've seen, at least the minimum pace we've seen over the last a week or so, then we're confident that June 15th number. We're also very pleased that we've seen case rates and positivity rates as low as they've been for a number of weeks, not just days, not just episodic, but a number of weeks. That stabilization is very encouraging. As you know well, San Francisco is the first variant city that moved into yellow-tiered status, the least restricted tier. Gavin Newsom: (38:21) The vast majority of counties are now out of the purple and red status and the orange and yellow status, which means in the least restrictive tiers. We're looking forward in the next number of weeks to go beyond the blueprint, and we are confident we'll get it done at least by June 15th. Speaker 2: (38:45) Next question. Gavin Newsom: (38:51) That's it? Well, that was it. That's what happens when you have two-part questions? Let me, just thank again, always a mayor, once a mayor, always a mayor, so thank the mayor, Mayor Schaaf for all her incredible leadership and support and guidance, as it relates to budget allocations. Trust me, she hasn't been shy about what she hopes to see in terms of investments here in Oakland, throughout the county. Again, it's humbling to be here with the two budget chairs have been just incredible leaders. We look forward to the give and take of the budget process this week. We're rolling out our plan, building on the plans they put out, and we look forward to sitting down, rolling up our sleeves and working through the details with both of them and their staffs and moreover with the entire legislature over the next few weeks. But grateful opportunity to be here, Chris, great to be back with you and notably, great to be here at Unit Council. Thank you.