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Wednesday 18 november 2020

States plead for more federal help as virus outbreak worsens

Continued from Front gistical and financial chal-
lenges.
The cost of distributing tens The Center on Budget and
of millions of doses of a vac- Policy Priorities estimates
cine in 2021 is also emerg- that state, local, territo-
ing as a major concern rial and tribal government
for governors. State health budgets will be short col-
authorities have called on lectively by $275 billion to
Congress to provide $8.4 $415 billion through June
billion. 2022 if they use all their re-
A new infusion of federal serve money to help deal
money does not appear with the virus. Moody's An-
to be on the way anytime alytics said that for states
soon. A lame-duck session alone, the shortfall could
of Congress and a presi- range from $196 billion to
dential administration on $396 billion, depending on
its way out have chilled the how bad the virus outbreak
prospects for a deal. gets. Kansas Gov. Laura
Congressional Democrats Kelly, a Democrat, said she
and Republicans gener- is pushing the state's GOP-
ally say a new stimulus bill is In this Nov. 13, 2020, file photo, a "Face masks required" sign is displayed at a shopping center in dominated congressional
needed, but they disagree Schaumburg, Ill. delegation for more feder-
on the scope of it. Some Associated Press al help. She said that Kan-
Republicans are opposed tucky Republican said. ing broadband access for nesses that violate restric- sas is on course to award
to another round of checks The virus is blamed for al- students attending school tions on social gatherings. federally funded grants to-
directly to most taxpay- most a quarter-million remotely. But they have not Biden this week called for taling $57.5 million to about
ers, and some don't want deaths and over 11 mil- generally been allowed to Congress to immediately 3,000 businesses, but that
Washington to "bail out" lion confirmed infections in use it for one of their major adopt a version of a $2.4 twice as many have ap-
state and local govern- the U.S. Last spring, Con- needs: replacing declining trillion stimulus bill passed by plied for help.
ments that had financial gress and President Donald tax revenue to keep regu- the House, but not the Sen- Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker
struggles before the pan- Trump agreed to a series lar government services ate, in May: "This is about signed a budget over the
demic. of measures worth nearly running. keeping Americans afloat." summer with a $5 billion
On Tuesday, Senate Ma- $3 trillion to deal with the The needs have become A vaccine appears to be deficit, which he and law-
jority Leader Mitch McCo- outbreak. The aid included more urgent as the virus on the horizon after two makers assumed would
nnell said the Democrats' a big boost, since expired, rampages across virtually companies announced be covered by a second
approach includes "huge to weekly unemployment every state. California and that early trials show their federal coronavirus relief
sums of money for state benefits, along with grants Texas each have exceed- versions are at least 90% package.
and city governments with and loans for businesses ed 1 million cases. effective. But the pow- "Every state ... every city
no linkage to demonstrat- and assistance to state As intensive care units fill erful freezers needed to is suffering from failure of
ed COVID needs." and local governments. up, some Republican gov- store the doses, protective revenues because of COV-
"Democrats still want coro- States have used the mon- ernors once reluctant to im- equipment for the workers ID-19," said Pritzker, a Dem-
navirus relief for the entire ey for testing and contact pose mask mandates have and the task of getting the ocrat. "The federal gov-
country held hostage over tracing, assisting businesses, reversed course, and some vaccine into every com- ernment is really the only
a massive slush fund for helping residents with utility cities and states are threat- munity and administering resource that we all have
their own use," the Ken- bills and rent and expand- ening fines against busi- the shots are becoming lo- to turn to."q

Trump ally McCarthy is reelected leader of House Republicans

McCarthy faced no oppo- GOP lawmaker in the place retiring Speaker Paul
sition to return as minority House lost reelection. The Ryan. And before that,
leader during the closed- No. 2 Republican, Rep. McCarthy was forced to
door gathering under Steve Scalise of Louisiana, abruptly withdraw when it
COVID-19 protocols. After once seen as a potential was clear he did not have
a quick vote, he won a rival to McCarthy, won an- enough support to replace
standing ovation, accord- other term as GOP whip. then-Speaker John Boeh-
ing to an aide who spoke Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., ner. Republicans surprised
on condition of anonymity was reelected as chair even themselves by de-
to discuss the private ses- of the conference, and fending their House seats
sion. Rep. Tom Emmer, R-Minn., and ousting more than a
For the California Repub- will again lead the cam- handful of Democrats to
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., talks about lican, it cements his role paign arm, the National shrink Speaker Nancy Pe-
House Republicans and the election, during a news conference as a political survivor who Republican Congressional losi's majority. They elected
on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Nov. 12, 2020.
Associated Press brushed back naysayers Committee. The internal more women and minor-
and parlayed an alliance party elections, held at a ity lawmakers than ever
By LISA MASCARO a stunning turnaround as with President Donald packed hotel ballroom to the Republican side of
AP Congressional Corre- the entire GOP leadership Trump to revive his path to across from the Capitol, the aisle, as they work to
spondent team was rewarded by one day possibly becom- were far from the drama- broaden the party's ap-
WASHINGTON (AP) — Rep. their colleagues for reduc- ing House speaker. filled episodes of days peal. They won in part
Kevin McCarthy easily won ing the Democrats' House Republicans saw little rea- past. Just two years ago, with stark rhetoric labeling
reelection as House Re- advantage in the Novem- son to shake up their lead- McCarthy faced a con- Democrats, often inaccu-
publican leader Tuesday, ber election. ership after not a single servative challenge to re- rately, as "socialists." q