WISCONSIN (NBC 26) — More than $2 billion are coming in to Wisconsin as part of the federal government's CARES Act.
There are some expected requirements as to where the money can go, but part of the distribution will likely be up to Governor Tony Evers. We reached out to a dozen lawmakers on Friday to ask where they'd like to see those funds directed.
"It's really more about getting money directly into the hands of people who need it right now because they can't work because of this," State Rep. Amanda Stuck, (D) Appleton, said.
"Small businesses that are struggling to stay afloat while they're closed down by the government," State Rep. Jim Steineke, (R) Kaukauna, said.
Other ideas from lawmakers included ventilators, personal protective equipment, helping local sheriff's departments and nursing homes, or promoting telehealth. Evers said it's too soon to say where the funds will go.
"We're a long way from making those decisions," Evers said on Friday. "We're beginning the conversations not only with our staff and others across the state but with the legislature."
Lawmakers could also act and meet to discuss a possible package of bills. There's a desire from Republicans and Democrats to waive the state's one week waiting period for unemployment insurance.
"We have to make sure that we remove that waiting period because we need to make sure our constituents, the people of Wisconsin, are able to get the resources they need," State Rep. Staush Gruzynski, (D) Green Bay, said.
Some legislators said it's important to maximize every dollar to help the state's finances. A budget surplus of hundreds of millions of dollars is likely gone.
"Hopefully the consequences will be limited to this fiscal year, but going forward we just have no idea until we see how long this virus lasts," Steineke said.
