Justice calls for more COVID stimulus as Jan. tax revenues roar
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CHARLESTON -- Gov. Jim Justice, parting ways from West Virginia's Republican U.S. senator, called for a big federal COVID relief bill even as state tax revenues return to surpluses in January.
Speaking Monday during his coronavirus briefing at the State Capitol Building, Justice said President Joe Biden's $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package made more sense than a $618 billion proposal from 10 Republican U.S. senators, including West Virginia's Shelley Moore Capito.
"I've got to tell you there is a tremendous difference between $1.9 trillion and $600 billion," Justice said. "I don't think that America can go wrong being too high. I really don't. I think today, America has got to go to the higher number."
Biden's plan includes $400 billion for COVID-19 vaccine supply, distribution, and school safety; $1,400 in direct payments to families; $400 per week for unemployment programs; $350 billion to help state and local governments; additional loan and grant programs for small businesses; expansion of paid leave; and a $15 minimum wage.
The plan promoted by Capito includes $160 billion for vaccination programs, testing, personal protective equipment, and rural hospitals; $300 per week for unemployment through the end of June; block grants for childcare and development; $1,000 direct payments to individuals and families with caps; and increased funding for the Paycheck Protection Program, nutrition programs, and behavior health services.
Supporters of the plan include Capito; Susan Collins, R-Maine; Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska; Bill Cassidy, R-La.; Mitt Romney, R-Utah; Rob Portman, R-Ohio; Todd Young, R-Ind.; Jerry Moran, R-Kan.; Mike Rounds, R-S.D.; and Thom Tillis, R-N.C.
The 10 Republican senators were invited to meet with Biden on Monday afternoon after writing a letter to the president seeking a compromise. Republicans are trying to head off the bill before congressional Democrats use the reconciliation process that would allow the package to pass the Senate with a simple majority vote instead of the 60 votes required through the normal legislative process.
"We appreciate the president's quick response to our letter, and we are pleased to accept his invitation to the White House tomorrow afternoon to discuss the path forward for the sixth bipartisan COVID-19 relief package," Capito said in a statement Monday.
Speaking on CNN Monday morning, Justice was even more blunt about the need for the Biden $1.9 trillion package.
"We need to understand that trying to be per se fiscally responsible at this point in time with what we've got going on in this country, if we throw away some money right now, so what? We've simply got to move to get people taken care of," Justice said.
Justice's comments also put him crossways of U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., who is also working on a bipartisan compromise for a COVID stimulus package along with Sen. Collins. Manchin, Collins, and a group of senators held a 75-minute phone call with Biden last week according to Politico.
Requests for comment to both Manchin and Capito's offices regarding Justice's comments were not returned by press time.
Justice has been accused by opponents -- including Manchin -- of not spending the $1.25 billion given to the state through the federal C.A.R.E.S. Act last spring quickly enough. West Virginia's coffers have also escaped the worst of the economic effects of COVID-19.
According to a report by the West Virginia Senate Finance Committee, state tax collections for January came in at $444.7 million, giving West Virginia a $46.6 million surplus for the month. Year-to-date collections of $2.8 billion put the state ahead by $173.8 million. Tax collections from personal income, consumer sales and use, corporate net income, and even severance came in ahead of estimates. Every month but December has seen budget surpluses.
"I hope to goodness that we will absolutely continue to drive ahead in every way," Justice said. "We have a cash surplus in this state that is extremely healthy and extremely large. We're going to hope and pray that we continue to grow."
(Adams can be contacted at sadams@newsandsentinel.com)