States Plead for More Federal Help As Virus Outbreak Worsens

Big Live Nature Quiz Wednesday November 18, 2020 T: 582-7800 www.arubatoday.com facebook.com/arubatoday instagram.com/arubatoday Page 10 Aruba’s ONLY English newspaper States plead for more federal help as virus outbreak worsens By GEOFF MULVIHILL and RACHEL LA CORTE Associated Press With more shutdowns loom- ing and a vaccine months away from wide distribu- tion, governors across the U.S. are pleading for more help from Washington ahead of what is shaping up to be a bleak winter. Renewed restrictions on indoor businesses, over- loaded hospitals and the coming end of unemployment benefits for millions of Americans have led governors to paint a dire pic- ture of the months ahead unless the federal government steps in with more money and leadership to help them shore up their damaged budgets and beat back the resurgence of the coronavirus. Between now and June 2022, state and local governments could be facing a shortfall of $400 billion or more by some estimates. In this Friday, Nov. 6, 2020, file photo, a man wearing a face mask rides a bicycle past a closed store in Wilmette, Ill. Associated Press On a conference call Tues- day of Democratic gov- adopted by Congress in March. port system to help our states and situation there is too dire for the state ernors from the Midwest, "There are workers and families and economies recover beyond the fed- to wait until President-elect Joe Biden Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers farmers and small businesses that are eral CARES funds that expire at the is sworn in Jan. 20. "We need help by called for a sequel to the going to need our help, and frankly, end of the year." the end of this year," Katims said. Coronavirus Aid, Relief and we can't do it alone," he said. "We're Casey Katims, federal liaison for Economic Security Act going to need a robust federal sup- Washington Gov. Jay Inslee, said the Contionued on Page 2 A2 WEDNESDAY 18 NOVEMBER 2020 UP FRONT 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 A3 U.S. NEWS WEDNESDAY 18 NOVEMBER 2020 Pentagon to cut troop levels to 2,500 in Iraq, Afghanistan By ROBERT BURNS and policy is not new," O'Brien LOLITA C. BALDOR said. "This has been the Associated Press president's policy since he WASHINGTON (AP) — Act- took office." ing Defense Secretary Trump has said, however, Christopher Miller said that his decisions about U.S. Tuesday the U.S. will re- troop levels in Afghanistan duce troop levels in Iraq would be based on condi- and Afghanistan by mid- tions on the ground, not on January, asserting that the the calendar. decision fulfills President He has accused his prede- Donald Trump's pledge to cessor, Barack Obama, of bring forces home from setting a timetable for troop America's long wars even withdrawals in Iraq and as Republicans and U.S. al- Afghanistan that worked lies warn of the dangers of against the achievement withdrawing before condi- of military goals. Now, tions are right. however, Trump is openly The plan will accelerate declaring a timetable for troop withdrawals from Iraq troop reductions in both and Afghanistan in Trump's countries, even as violence final days in office, despite remains high in Afghani- arguments from senior mili- stan.

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