CONCORD, N.H. – Gov. Chris Sununu says the latest COVID-19 relief bill is “unfair,” to New Hampshire, but New Hampshire politicians are divided in opinions on the bill: Sununu believes New Hampshire is being shorted because this bill’s funding is based off each states’ unemployment rates from last year rather than their population. New Hampshire Democrats argue that Granite Staters are in need of this additional relief to help support small businesses, combat food insecurity issues and continue strengthening vaccine distribution in the state.
As currently written, the American Rescue Plan Act, offers as much as $1,400 in direct payments as well as a $400 bonus to unemployment. Also included in the bill is $20 billion to speed up vaccinations, $350 billion for state and local aid, and $170 billion to help reopen schools. It passed in the House last week and the Senate has voted to debate the bill before sending it on to President Joe Biden.
Sununu is one of 22 republican governors to formally speak out against the bill and said in a statement to the Laconia Daily Sun that this bill is a “bail-out for blue states” that haven’t been “fiscally responsible.”
In a recent interview with NH PBS’ The State We’re In, Sununu said previous COVID-19 relief bills like the CARES Act, tied direct aid to population numbers. The Rescue Plan Act, however, predicates aid on a state’s unemployment numbers. Sununu argues that they changed the rules “to give a disproportionate amount of relief to states who have managed themselves the worst.”
“I don’t care what party you’re from, that’s just not fair to our citizens,” Sununu said.
In the interview, he said he wants to stick up for New Hampshire and thinks other New Hampshire representatives should do the same. He has called on fellow politicians Senator Maggie Hassan and Congressman Chris Pappas to oppose it, but they see things differently.
The bill says it will grant an additional amount of money to each state based on their unemployment figures over the course of the pandemic. States with the highest rates of unemployment will receive more funding.
Both Pappas and Hassan’s offices have said New Hampshire would receive more funding from the new COVID-19 relief package than it did from the CARES Act, which was a bill Sununu supported. A study from Reuters shows that New Hampshire ranks 12th highest among states in dollars per capita received from the new bill – from $915 to $1,115. Only six states are receiving less money per capita than they did from the CARES Act.
Pappas said, “since the start of the pandemic I have fought to ensure New Hampshire gets all the help we need, which is why I was pleased to see that – in both federal dollars and per capita funding – our state will receive more than we did from the CARES Act,” Pappas said.
In an email Pappas explained the thinking behind voting in favor of the bill: “It is clear from my conversations each and every day with Granite Staters – frontline workers, to small business owners, to police and fire, and local leaders – that a robust and comprehensive relief package is needed to help us beat this virus and get our economy back on track,” Pappas said, “there is broad, bipartisan support for the help that the American Rescue Plan will deliver, and economic experts agree that a response of this size is what is needed to fully recover and move our country forward.”
Hassan shared similar sentiments in a March 3rd press release: – “Granite Staters discuss need for additional direct relief to individuals and families in upcoming COVID package.” She also secured a place in the relief package for her own bill, the Recovery Startup Assistance Act, to support New Hampshire’s new businesses and entrepreneurship. “I am thrilled that my bipartisan bill to support new businesses is in the new package, and I will continue pushing to get it across the finish line,” she said.
The American Rescue Plan Act is now up for discussion in the Senate as Vice President Kamala Harris broke the tie on Thursday. If the package is approved by the Senate, it will be up to the House to sign off on it before it reaches President Biden’s desk.
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