Four former California governors join council to revive economy

(KION and CBSSF) Governor Newsom announced at a news conference Friday that all four living former California governors-- Pete Wilson, Gray Davis, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jerry Brown-- are joining an advisory group of lawmakers to create a recovery plan for the state's recovery.

California's unemployment numbers have dramatically increased since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, and Newsom said the state is experiencing a severe economic downturn that will require bipartisan action to turn it around.

Newsom said the state is in a pandemic-induced recession, and an 80-member council of business leaders and lawmakers is forming to work toward economic recovery.

The governor said the state will need to spend as much as $7 billion this year to battle the pandemic and resulting economic disruption. State budget experts warned lawmakers to prepare for a revenue loss similar to the Great Recession.

Watch the news conference here.