In the absence of a federal COVID-19 relief bill, Governor Gretchen Whitmer has asked the Legislature to approve a $400 million COVID package before the end of the year.
The governor just asked the Legislature for 300 (m) million dollars on top of an earlier 100 (m) million dollar request.
Kurt Weiss is with the state budget office. He says the state needs to set up a vaccine distribution system, and more contact tracing, and to help hospitals, businesses and families with the immediate crisis.
“What’s at stake from a people standpoint is just making sure we can get through these next couple of months, which we know are going to be difficult, and this funding will help us do that,” said Weiss.
A spokesperson for Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey says he’s reviewing the request.
GOP leaders and the governor have been battling over her administration’s COVID restrictions. The future of those orders could become a bargaining point.