Michigan legislature follows Washington D.C., passes state funded relief
LANSING, Mich. — On Sunday night, both the House of Representatives and Senate agreed on a $900 billion COVID-19 relief bill coupled with a bill to keep the government funded.
Legislatures are expected to vote the bill into law today before passing it to the desk of President Trump. Rather than waiting for national legislators, Michigan lawmakers were able to pass their own state-funded relief this weekend. Michigan’s House voted to approve the bill on Dec. 21, and it will be processed and sent to Governor Whitmer’s desk in the following days.
The federal bill will give $600 as a one-time payment in the form of a stimulus check. Federal unemployment benefits will consist of $300 a week for 11 weeks.
In the state, Michigan has allocated $465 million in their relief fund. $45 million are going to be for state workers who have been furloughed or laid off due to the pandemic. $55 million will be in a small business relief fund, where businesses with less than 100 employees can apply for grants up to $20,000. The government also allocated $51 million for vaccine distribution and will be extending the state’s unemployment period to 26 weeks from 20.
