Helping the states
As state budgets face enormous shortfalls, one of the greatest needs in the country is federal aid for states.
That’s one of the main sticking points of the new coronavirus relief package as Congress resumes work this week after a summer recess, according to National Public Radio. In Vermont, the projected shortfall for fiscal year 2021 is over $400 million — that’s what the Legislature must contend with when it reconvenes in August.
In Congress on Monday, the clash of opposing sides was almost immediate, when it came to the new pandemic relief bill. A point of contention is whether to allow states to use relief funds for plugging revenue gaps, which are certainly on the increase. One of the biggest concerns is sustaining annual funding for important state-funded services, many of which impact the most vulnerable among us. In related news: Discussions are underway about how to sustain the $600-per-week federal direct payments to individuals on unemployment benefits, NPR reported. Those payments are set to expire on July 31. The U.S. House has passed a bill extending the benefits.
That work comes amid a backdrop of national challenges, making it more important than ever to maintain a united, collaborative approach to major issues here in Vermont. And we have a good basis for doing so. For the most part, Vermonters appear to be open to the safety precautions given by the state amid the pandemic. Part of the reason for that is the measured approach in delivering those guidelines to the public, with regular updates on the state’s progress. As of Monday, Vermont’s COVID-19 data continued to show good trends; the state had no coronavirus-related deaths in the last 30 days.
Despite the often troubling national rhetoric, we can have confidence in the progress Vermont has already made, and join together in taking more forward steps as a statewide community. These start with simple steps, even beyond safety measures. They include making sure we stay connected with our neighbors, make sure they have what they need, and, sometimes, talk through some challenges. What’s been true, remains true: We’re in this together.
— Gareth Henderson
