Relief bill draws critics, including states

The debate is churning in Washington following the Senate GOP’s proposed $1 trillion pandemic relief bill announced on Monday.

The plan offers a second round of $1,200 direct stimulus payments to taxpayers, as well as funding for school reopenings, the Paycheck Protection Program, national vaccine efforts and COVID-19 testing. 

But Senate Democrats heavily criticized the bill, saying the funding was insufficient and should be far greater, noting the $3 trillion stimulus package the House passed in May. Another hotly debated topic this week is enhanced federal unemployment insurance, which the new Senate bill drops from $600 to $200 per week. In October, 70-percent wage replacement would go in its stead.

U.S. Sen. Patrick Leahy, of Vermont, said the Senate bill offers a “paltry sum” compared to the vast health and economic needs caused by the pandemic nationwide. He also criticized the absence of funding for state and local governments.

“Their budgets are stretched to the breaking point as revenues plummet and they struggle to support their people and the public servants on the front lines of this crisis,” Leahy said in a statement. “Without federal support, state and local governments have been forced to lay off 1.5 million of the very public servants countless Americans are relying on right now.” 

Those sentiments have echoed throughout New York, New Jersey and numerous other states trying to keep funding flowing to households, businesses and key community services. In many cases, prior federal relief funding has acted as the last line of defense against closures and bankruptcies. Now, with all states face daunting budget shortfalls, many continue to demand urgent assistance. Vermont’s budget gap is over $300 million; New York’s is more than $13 billion.

Leadership in the Senate and House hope to reach an agreement on the size of this relief package later this week, according to Vermont Public Radio. Many hopes ride on those negotiations, and the urgency is palpable. In this moment, in this pandemic, constructive progress has never been more important, and there remains time for bi-partisan work to take place. It's our hope that this can be accomplished, so that states, businesses and individuals get the help they greatly need, in a way that benefits our local, regional and national communities.

— Gareth Henderson