Govs Call for Additional $500B in Aid

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) -- Govs. Larry Hogan of Maryland and Andrew Cuomo of New York issued a bipartisan call Saturday for an additional $500 billion in federal aid for U.S. states and territories dealing with the coronavirus.

Hogan, a Republican, is chairman of the National Governors Association and Cuomo, a Democrat, is the vice chair. The two said in a statement Saturday morning that implementing stay-at-home orders and other public health measures have "resulted in catastrophic damage to state economies."

"In the absence of unrestricted fiscal support of at least $500 billion from the federal government, states will have to confront the prospect of significant reductions to critically important services all across this country, hampering public health, the economic recovery, and—in turn—our collective effort to get people back to work," the statement said.

The governors also said the recently passed federal CARES Act should be amended to allow existing federal funding to be used not only for COVID-19-related expenses but also to offset lost revenue.

The statement comes as the Trump administration and congressional leaders appear poised to launch new bipartisan talks on a fresh coronavirus aid package with hopes for action as soon as next week.

(KR)