DeSantis joins GOP governors, says $16 billion in federal relief to Florida is unfair
The $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package deal pending earlier than the U.S. Senate would give Florida state and native governments $16 billion in one-time help, greater than sufficient to wipe out the state’s $2 billion shortfall, however Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday mentioned the funding components is unfair to Florida as a result of it is tied to unemployment.
“You shouldn’t be penalizing states for doing a good job, which is exactly what this bill does,” DeSantis instructed reporters Monday, including his voice to a refrain of GOP officers opposed to President Joe Biden’s first legislative initiative. “Instead of using the share of the population, they are using the number of unemployed in the state, which means states like Florida that have lower unemployment are getting penalized.”
DeSantis joined with 22 governors to signal a letter criticizing the invoice simply hours after it handed the U.S. House on Saturday. The measure is now awaiting approval in the Senate, where Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and his 50-member caucus are opposing it as too costly. Majority Leader Chuck Schumer mentioned Monday the Senate will start contemplating the invoice this week after Biden urged a invoice to cross earlier than further unemployment advantages expire on March 14.
Under the measure, the federal authorities would direct $350 billion to state and native governments. Of that, $25.5 billion can be divided equally to each state, with every receiving no less than $500 million. Another $169 billion can be divided based mostly on the state’s share of unemployed workers nationally, giving Florida a complete of about $10.3 billion.
Another a part of the package deal would divide $130 billion among cities and counties based on population, giving Florida cities and counties one other $6 billion in direct help ($531 million for Miami-Dade County, $382 million for Broward, $293 million for Palm Beach, $15 million for Monroe, and $129 million for the town of Miami).
As Florida lawmakers meet in common session Tuesday, they have to discover a means to shut an estimated $2 billion finances deficit. DeSantis mentioned he is assured the state can be in a position to deal with its finances shortfall with out the federal cash, however, he warned, the components will give the state $1.2 billion lower than if the cash have been based mostly on its share of the inhabitants.
“If they keep this formula, it will probably be even worse for Florida because we firmly expect that our 6.1% unemployment rate in December is going to be revised further down. And so that will hurt us in terms of getting relief from this bill,’’ DeSantis said.
Although the formula does not recognize mortality rates from COVID-19 deaths, the governor said that another unfair feature of the bill is that Florida’s mortality rate is less than other states that have higher unemployment rates and “we’re putting people to work.”
Florida Rep. Joe Geller, an Aventura Democrat, dismissed the issues over the proposed components.
“We will certainly be helped more than other states are helped,’’ he said. “I don’t think it’s a disadvantage to us if we’re not the highest recipient. The bottom line is, if money comes here that’s a good thing. Period. If it helps to overcome our projected deficit, that’s an even better thing. And just because some other state might get more, it doesn’t make that a disadvantage for us.”
South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster, a Republican, authored the letter signed by DeSantis and different governors. He famous that “unlike all previous federal funding packages” that distributed help based mostly on inhabitants, the Biden plan “punishes states that took a measured approach to the pandemic and entered the crisis with healthy state budgets and strong economies.’’
The letter, signed by only one Democrat, Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly, estimates that 33 states will lose money under the proposed formula.
“A state’s ability to keep businesses open and people employed should not be a penalizing factor when distributing funds,’’ McMaster said. “If Congress is going to provide aid to states, it should be on an equitable population basis.”
Mary Ellen Klas may be reached at [email protected] and @MaryEllenKlas
