Newsom Pushes for California Taxpayers to Give $16.7 Million in ‘Cash Assistance’ to Afghan Refugees in the State Tuesday, September 7, 2021 By Stillness in the Storm Leave a Comment (Cassandra Fairbanks) California Governor Gavin Newsom is pushing for taxpayers in the state to cough up $16.7 million in “cash assistance” to Afghan refugees settling in the state.