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Collins Pushes State And Municipal Aid

Win McNamee
/
AP Images
Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, wears a mask during a virtual Senate Committee for Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions hearing, Tuesday, May 12, 2020 on Capitol Hill in Washington

U.S. Republican Sen. Susan Collins was joined by colleagues from both parties in introducing legislation that would provide $500 billion in aid to states and municipalities.

In addition to the new infusion of cash, the bipartisan bill would also give states more flexibility in spending the money they were allocated under the CARES Act last month. Collins urged that the Senate pass the bill this week.

“Congress has the tremendous responsibility to help mitigate the impact of this crisis on our states and our local communities,” Collins said.

Maine would receive at least $2 billion under the proposal, including $300 million for counties and $330 million for municipalities.

“The $1.25 billion that we already appropriated for assistance to state governments under the CARES act would be made much more flexible so it could be used to offset these dramatic revenue shortfalls.”

The state has already received some federal aid but cannot use that money to offset the loss of state revenues.

Journalist Mal Leary spearheads Maine Public's news coverage of politics and government and is based at the State House.