News, Culture and NPR for Central & Northern Michigan
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
91.7FM Alpena and WCML-TV Channel 6 Alpena are off the air. Click here to learn more.

MI Dems continue to push GOP lawmakers to release federal COVID relief funds

Michigan Democrats continue to push Republicans in the state legislature to release, and start spending federal COVID relief money. The cash was approved in a bi-partisan vote and signed by former President Donald Trump.

The money is for small businesses, vaccination efforts and other items, such as rental assistance.

Michigan House Minority Leader Donna Lasinski says the clock is ticking.

“Republicans need to stop holding these federal stimulus dollars hostage. We need to take a simple up or down vote. This is not a partisan issue. These dollars should be at work here in Michigan right now.”

Governor Gretchen Whitmer has released a plan to spend 5-point-6 billion dollars in state and federal money, but G.O.P. plans would leave several billion dollars unused.

A vote is expected this week.