Checks California is giving residents a little extra money to deal with soaring prices at the gas pump and grocery store. The state will send out $1,050 'inflation relief' checks to roughly 23 million residents, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced this week. California has seen the highest gas prices in the country, with an average of $6.32 per gallon. The first round of payments are due to go out in late October. Do you think we'll see more states do something like this? Should the federal government send out another round of checks?