Michigan’s $348.7 Million Pandemic Relief Bill, with Funds for Child Care, Hospitals, Signed into Law

Jim Stamas

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has signed Senate Bill 27 to appropriate $384.7 million in supplemental pandemic relief funding.

Signed by the governor on Monday afternoon, the bill also provides $10 million of financial support for Southeast Michigan families and businesses that endured massive flooding in June.

SB 27 was introduced by Sen. Jim Stamas, R-Midland, in January. The bill combines $367.7 million of federal COVID relief funding authorized through the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act and $17 million from the state’s general fund.

Read the full story

Feds Sending $108 Million to Ohio Airports as Part of CARES Act

The federal government is sending more than $108.8 million to 97 airports in Ohio as part of a program to help them during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The money is part of the $2 trillion Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act Airport Grant Program. In total, the feds are doling out $10 billion to airports nationwide.

“This $10 billion in emergency resources will help fund the continued operations of our nation’s airports during this crisis and save workers’ jobs,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao said in a news release.

Read the full story

Commentary: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly in the Coronavirus Stimulus

The House of Representatives on Friday passed the Senate’s $2 trillion coronavirus relief package and sent it to the president. What initially began as a bill designed to help the workers and families hurt by job loss or disruption caused by government measures to fight coronavirus morphed into an 880-page behemoth.

Here are the highlights: the good, the bad, and the ugly.

Read the full story

Half-a-Million Low-Income Ohioans With Suspended Licences Could Be Eligible for Relief With New Program

For many low-income Ohioans who have lost their drivers licenses for minor or unintentional offenses, there is no greater frustration than paying your debt to society, only to be denied your ability to drive legally because you can’t afford a government fee. Thankfully, relief is in sight for thousands of these individuals. House Bill 336 (HB 336), passed late last year, officially went into effect January 31. The bill established the Reinstatement Fee Amnesty Initiative, a six-month program intended to reduce or waive reinstatement fees in certain conditions. This program could remove a tremendous burden for more than 400,000 Ohioans. To even be considered for the program, the charge that led to the loss of your license cannot involve “alcohol, a drug of abuse, combination thereof, or a deadly weapon.” In addition, the individual must have completed any and all court requirements related to the offense beyond the fee. This could be anything required by the court from a mandatory driver’s improvement program to community service. Lastly, it must be at least 18 months since the end of any court-ordered suspension. This program, however, will only wave all fees in specifics instances. If an individual completed all of the above requirements and can prove that they are “indigent,” in a state of…

Read the full story

President Trump Lifts Puerto Rico Shipping Restrictions

President Donald Trump lifted US shipping restrictions on storm-battered Puerto Rico for 10 days Thursday, temporarily removing a legal obstacle blamed for slowing the disaster relief response to Hurricane Maria, the White House said. A 1920 law that restricts shipments between American ports to US-owned and operated cargo ships has been preventing foreign-flagged ships from delivering…

Read the full story

President Trump to Personally Donate $1 Million to Hurricane Harvey Relief

  In a surprise announcement during an otherwise routine press briefing Thursday, White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders announced President Donald Trump will personally donate $1,000,000 to Hurricane Harvey relief. The news came after Ms. Sanders took the podium at the conclusion of White House Homeland Security Advisor Tom Bossert’s question-and-answer period updating reporters on the federal government’s response to the devastating storm. A media correspondent noted the outpouring of support by Americans in response to the destruction of so many homes and businesses in and around the Houston area from Hurricane Harvey, and asked, “Can you speak to what the President and his family have done regarding donations for Harvey relief?” and then hastily added, “Personally?” Sanders answered, “I can.” “I spoke with [President Trump] directly earlier and he would like to join in the efforts that a lot of people across the country do, pledging a million dollars of personal money.” She added, “He has actually asked that I check with the folks in this room, since you are very good at research and have been doing a lot of reporting into groups and organizations that are most effective in helping and providing aid. He would love suggestions and I…

Read the full story