Associated Press
LANSING, Mich. (AP) The Republican-controlled Michigan House approved a nearly $3.6 billion coronavirus relief package Thursday but voted to withhold $2.1 billion for schools unless Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer cedes the state’s authority to prohibit in-person instruction or sports to local health officials.
The bills would distribute more than $2.6 billion, or roughly half, of the federal COVID-19 aid that was enacted by then-President Donald Trump and Congress in late December for vaccine distribution and other priorities such as a 15% boost in food assistance benefits. Additional state funds would be used to help businesses hit the hardest by the pandemic, by providing grants for property and unemployment taxes along with government fees.