Senate Approves $524M In Coronavirus Relief Spending

By Allison Donahue, Michigan Advance

The Michigan Senate unanimously approved a $524 million spending bill Wednesday that would dedicate federal funding for COVID-19 relief toward child care costs, K-12 education, pay increases for some frontline workers and additional testing supplies.

Senate Bill 690 would allocate $125 million to lower child care costs for parents who are essential workers, $100 million in bonus pay for first responders — up to $1,000 per employee, $178 million to temporary pay increases — $3 per hour — for direct care workers, $2.5 million in assistance to hospitality workers who may not be eligible for full unemployment benefits and $45 million for at-home learning, summer education and assessment support for schools.

The funding comes from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act approved by Congress in March.

“Democrats have been pushing for permanent solutions to support families through paid sick leave, help with childcare costs and better wages,” Senate Minority Leader Jim Ananich (D-Flint) said in a statement Wednesday. “We’re happy to support the short-term solutions we voted on today because they will help families and workers on the front lines right now. Let’s also work to make these changes permanent for all Michiganders.”

The supplemental bill would also provide $50 million for additional testing supplies and personal protective equipment for workers at nursing, home health and daycare facilities, $12 million in grants for testing, equipment and supplies at food processors and $11 million for the Unemployment Insurance Agency to immediately hire more staff.

The spending bill was approved just two days before the Consensus Revenue Estimating Conference where economists are expected to reveal a potential two-year budget hole of up to $7 billion.

“The coronavirus has tremendously impacted our state and our people while also putting a huge strain on our economy and critical workers,” Senate Appropriations Chair Jim Stamas (R-Midland) said in a statement. “Although the state budget will face severe impacts caused by declining revenue and the governor’s response, we can put available federal relief dollars to work to better support our front-line workers, first responders, teachers and families — while also conserving our limited state resources.”

The bill is headed to the House for approval, but will have to wait until lawmakers are back in session on Tuesday.

Both the House and Senate were expected to hold session Thursday, but late Wednesday afternoon both adjourned until next week.