https://www.mercurynews.com/2021/05/13/like-hating-on-the-yankees-gavin-newsom-blasts-californias-critics/ > Gov. Gavin Newsom punched back at critics of California’s economic climate — and by extension his leadership of it — in a fiery speech to a top state business group Thursday morning while unveiling a plan to direct more pandemic relief to small-business owners. > It was the latest stop in Newsom’s rollout of a May budget revision that has been boosted by a record $75.7 billion surplus. That revision is typically a pivotal moment for state budget watchers in Sacramento. But as he fights off a recall effort, Newsom has turned it into something far bigger this year: a week-long barnstorming tour across the state to announce promises of more funding for everything from education to homeless services.