Three governors testified to Congress in a virtual hearing on Tuesday, giving updates on victims of the corona virus, plans for reopening, and the impact of a projected billions of dollars in a pandemic on state finances.
“COVID-19 has wreaked havoc on our budget,” Michigan Michigan Governor, Gretchen Whitmer, told the Parliamentary Committee for Trade and Energy. The country faces a projected decline of $ 6.2 billion in revenues over the next two years, and by some projections, over the next three years the state budget shortfall across the country is expected to reach $ 765 billion.
Democratic Governor Jared Polis said that Colorado would “appreciate” the $ 500 billion that would be provided by the Heroes Act, which was passed by Parliament on May 15. Under the bill, which is currently awaiting the Senate vote, Colorado will receive $ 8.5 billion in federal funding over two years.
“Unlike the federal government, we have balanced budget requirements,” said Polis. “The state cannot borrow.”
Without the Hero Act – which according to some is impossible get approval – Colorado will suffer “major cuts,” said the Policy, starting with the social service program, the Safety Net program, and Medicaid.
Whitmer explained that the lion’s share of the state budget involved public health, safety, and education. “That is the front-line hero we want to support, not damage,” he said. “The point is that we need additional flexibility and additional resources.”
Tim Walberg’s representative (R-Mich.) Presses Whitmer about whether every dollar of the CARES Act has been issued. “I want to know why Michigan is one of the states that withhold funds from our local community,” he said. “Our federal government is indeed moving forward. … other countries do it more effectively. “
The Arkansas Governor of the Asa Republic of Hutchinson did not ask for an increase in federal funds and instead asked for greater flexibility to spend part of the country’s $ 1.2 billion CARE provisions in the fall.
Whitmer also chided the federal government for being “unhelpful” because of “failure” to provide adequate supplies and pushed the state into a bidding war for supplies sold by private companies. He said supply shipments, although useful, had come in waves that were uneven and “did not reflect what we planned.”
“Each of these different COVID tests requires different types of swabs,” he said. “When we expect 180,000 different swabs, and we get 180,000 foam swabs, we thank you for the foam swabs but that means we can’t do tests that require other types of swabs.”
Whitmer suggested that the Defense Production Law be used to accelerate production. He also said that instead of being swept away, several other governors had received q-tips.
The policy agrees. “We will like the way in which it is clear what they will and will not get,” he said.
Hutchinson acknowledged that federal aid was “rather slow from the start,” but praised Washington’s overall response. “Geez,” he said. “In 90 days we increased the supply chain in one of the biggest investments in health care supplies we have seen in history.” Rep. Susan Brooks (R-Ind.) Asks the governor about the potential of the second wave of coronavirus and how it fits into each state’s plan to reopen public schools.
Hutchinson said that Arkansas was “very committed” to having a school in the fall and was making plans for a “mixed learning environment.”
“If we have to close for two days to clean up the school or for other reasons, we can switch very quickly to online instruction for a few days and then return to class instruction,” Hutchinson said.
The University of Arkansas will gradually begin returning to campus on June 15 to prepare for the expected return of students in August, according to the school. website.
Police said the closure of temporary schools in Colorado might take two weeks, to accommodate the virus incubation period and testing time. Whitmer avoided specifics but mentioned that Michigan public schools might have to reduce class sizes in the fall.
