LANSING, MI (WKZO AM/FM) – The Michigan House of Representatives is expected to vote Monday on a $465 million pandemic spending plan, which includes relief payments to businesses and workers struggling to stay afloat because of the coronavirus and government restrictions to curb its spread.
The legislation received overwhelming Senate support late Friday and is expected to win House passage on Monday before legislators adjourn for the year. Nearly half of the funding would be used to continue, through March, a maximum 26 weeks of unemployment benefits in a year instead of 20 weeks.
The bill would provide $45 million in assistance to employees who have been laid off or seen their hours cut due to restrictions under a state health department order that has prohibited indoor restaurant dining and closed entertainment venues. A worker could get up to $1,650.
Small businesses affected by the recent orders, those with no more than 100 employees, would receive $55 million in grants. They will receive up to $20,000 if they had to close, $15,000 if they partially closed. Certain concert and other live-entertainment sites could qualify for $40,000 as part of a separate $3.5 million grant program.
The deal also has $51 million for vaccine distribution, a continuation of a $2 hourly raise for direct care workers, and aid to hospitals and nursing homes.
The measure would spend up to $3.4 million for rapid testing of teachers and other school employees, and $2.5 million so additional teachers receive $500 that many got earlier in the year in recognition of their work during the outbreak.
The Senate’s 35-2 vote came just over two weeks after Whitmer requested $400 million in supplemental spending, including $100 million in direct relief to people and businesses hit hardest by the pandemic.
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