COVID-19 stimulus package will be aim of Colorado legislative special session
From The Denver Post
Gov. Jared Polis and legislative leaders Tuesday announced a special session of the Colorado General Assembly, likely to be held at some point after Thanksgiving, with the intent of passing a state stimulus package.
“Extraordinary times call for extraordinary actions,” said Polis, during a press conference at the governor’s mansion in Denver. “I’ll be asking the General Assembly to take up critical legislation that will help Colorado families and Colorado businesses survive these challenging winter months ahead to bridge us to the vaccine.”
Lawmakers expect to have roughly $220 million to allocate as part of the special session’s stimulus package, with areas of focus including housing, child care, small business relief, education and broadband access.
That isn’t a large sum in the grand scheme; it’s a fraction of the roughly $2 billion in federal stimulus money the state received through the CARES Act in the spring. The state previously announced a new program to provide $375 one-time checks to about 435,000 Coloradans, a modest stimulus effort that will cost $168 million.
The governor was joined by state House Speaker-designate Alec Garnett, D-Denver, who said the state’s approach will be more targeted: “We know it’s not the same amount (of money), but I do think it will make a big difference.”
Colorado leaders have been waiting on a new federal stimulus to help individuals and businesses, but it hasn’t come and there’s no indication of a new round in the offing.
“Congressional inaction and partisan bickering has left millions stranded and completely abandoned at a time when there is the greatest need,” said state Senate President Leroy Garcia, D-Pueblo, who also attended the news conference.
Though the legislature’s regular annual session is just eight weeks away, Capitol leaders feel they must act now to get money out the door — especially given that new COVID regulations are likely to stiffen soon in many counties, if not the entire state.
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