The president's plan would send tens of billions in unrestricted aid to states, including those holding up well. Aid from Washington should target preserving basic services and fighting the pandemic.
The pandemic assistance plan includes more than $2.1 billion in grants and fee waivers for small businesses as well as $600 stimulus payments for residents with an annual salary of $30,000 or less.
A new state transportation proposal would fund road improvements and offset revenue losses caused by the pandemic, but it would require increased fees on gas, bikes, public transit, ferries and ride-hailing trips.
Maryland made history last week, becoming the first state in the country to codify a tax on digital ads. The move would have a significant financial impact on big tech, but the bill will probably face multiple legal challenges.
The City Council has authorized $977,000 to help local organizations combat the financial damages of the pandemic. Since April, the city has already approved $3.25 million for COVID response.
Congressional Democrats are pushing the $1.9 trillion package, including stimulus checks, extended unemployment benefits and monthly payments to parents, ahead before pandemic protections expire. Republicans say it’s too expensive.
The Florida city will begin considering using and accepting bitcoin for some of its financial transactions. Mayor Suarez is a strong proponent of the cryptocurrency for the city, but others are worried about its stability.
A one-size-fits-all approach defies local cost-of-living realities. County-based indexing could help avoid losses of jobs and tax revenues, and it could appeal to policymakers on both sides of the rural-urban divide.
As a way to keep money in the state’s economy, lawmakers have introduced several proposals that would allow those who mistakenly received unemployment benefit payments to keep the money, instead of returning it.
Over the past several decades, spending on jails has grown significantly. As the coronavirus pandemic reduces revenue and forces budget cuts, cutting jail expenditures could save cities and counties billions of dollars.
The state is paying San Diego prison guards to wear body cameras in an attempt to increase transparency about the treatment of disabled inmates. The facility will also install a surveillance system.
