COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina governor Henry McMaster, along with 22 other governors across the country, have released a joint statement opposing how federal funds will be allocated under President Joe Biden’s stimulus bill.
In a statement, the governors argued this stimulus proposal allocates aid based on a state’s unemployed population rather that its general population.
[ RELATED: Stimulus update: House passes bill with $1,400 checks (live updates) ]
They said this will punish the states that took a measured approach to the pandemic and started the crisis with “healthy state budgets and strong economies.”
”A state’s ability to keep businesses open and people employed should not be a penalizing factor when distributing funds. If Congress is going to provide aid to states, it should be on an equitable population basis.”
The governors who signed the statement include: Kay Ivey (R-AL), Mike Dunleavy (R-AK), Doug Ducey (R-AZ), Ron DeSantis (R-FL), Brian Kemp (R-GA), Brad Little (R-ID), Eric Holcomb (R-IN), Kim Reynolds (R-IA), Laura Kelly (D-KS), Tate Reeves (R-MS), Mike Parson (R-MO), Greg Gianforte (R-MT), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Chris Sununu (R-NH), Doug Burgum (R-ND), Mike DeWine (R-OH), Kevin Stitt (R-OK), Henry McMaster (R-SC), Kristi Noem (R-SD), Bill Lee (R-TN), Spencer Cox (R-UT) and Mark Gordon (R-WY).
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According to the governors’ statement, 33 states are expected to lose funding under the proposal.
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arkansas
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Idaho
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Maine
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- New Hampshire
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
The U.S. House of Representatives early Saturday passed the $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill.
The legislation, which passed 219-212 with one Republican not voting, contains billions of dollars for state and local governments and money to pay for COVID-19 vaccines, supplies to reopen schools, and help for the restaurant and airline industries.
Two Democrats joined the House Republicans in voting against the bill.
Republicans voted against the bill, saying the nearly $2 trillion price tag is too high and the bill contained too many special projects. Prior to the vote, no Republican House member had publicly supported the legislation.