by Bruce Walker
As the 10th most populated state in the country, Michigan may be a major beneficiary of the federal stimulus package currently winding through the U.S. Capitol.
Some official estimates say Michigan may receive up to $3.87 billion.
The U.S. House of Representatives is expected to pass the $2.2 trillion Coronavirus Relief Fund stimulus package on Friday, and, if so, President Donald Trump has said he’ll sign it.
The U.S. Senate passed their version of the $2.2 trillion bill late Wednesday night.
The bill includes $150 billion for states, territories, local and tribal governments. All monies are mandated to address revenue declines caused by the novel coronavirus public health emergency, and will be distributed according to state population.
“Distribution is based on population. No state shall receive a payment for fiscal year 2020 that is less than $1.25 billion,” according to the National Conference of State Legislators (NCSL) website.
NCSL also states 45 percent of the total appropriated to each state is reserved for local governments overseeing populations exceeding 500,000. At present, only Detroit, with an estimated population of 673,104, meets that criteria. NCSL stated it “believes the funds remaining from the 45 percent set aside for localities revert back to the state.”
Michigan has been one of the states hardest hit by the coronavirus pandemic. As of Wednesday, 2,295 cases had been confirmed with 43 deaths attributed to the virus. Nationwide, more than 75,000 cases have been confirmed, and more than 1,000 deaths have been reported.
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Bruce Walker is a regional editor at The Center Square. He previously worked as editor at the Mackinac Center for Public Policy’s MichiganScience magazine and The Heartland Institute’s InfoTech & Telecom News.
