Stimulus relief totaling $1.9T now law; Millions to flow to West Virginia communities

WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Joe Biden signed the $1.9 trillion stimulus bill into law Thursday afternoon with the first individual stimulus payments expected to be deposited beginning this weekend.

President Joe Biden

U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito, who voted against the bill, repeated her message Thursday that the package would be better if it were more targeted for actual stimulus relief. During a Zoom call with reporters, Capito said the bill was “hijacked by special interests to the tune of about a trillion dollars.”

West Virginia’s counties, cities and towns stand to a get a lot of money from the new law. The state will receive $1.25 billion, the state’s 55 counties will share $348 million, the state’s larger cities will have $176 million to divide while the smaller municipalities will share $153 million.

Capito said she doesn’t blame local leaders for wanting the money but she said she’s concerned how some of the smaller communities will handle it.

“I think the accountability issue is very difficult and it’s hard for our small municipalities–they don’t have a bunch of CPAs and lawyers running around being able to make sure they are crossing every ‘t’ and dotting every ‘i,’ we’re going to end up with a lot of waste here,” Capito said.

Sean Sikora

Monongalia County Commission President Sean Sikora said Monongalia County anticipates receiving about $20.5 million.

“This is an incredible opportunity in front of us,” Sikora said during an appearance on WAJR Radio’s ‘Talk of the Town’ Thursday. “We’ll have to spend those dollars where we’re going to get the long-term impact as possible. We’ll really have to take a close look and see what we want to approach with these dollars going forward.”

Sikora said the county would do its due diligence and handle the money wisely.

“It may be used to cover expenses related to the COVID-19 pandemic, lost revenue related to the COVID-19 pandemic and necessary investments in water, sewer and broadband infrastructure,” Sikora said.

He said Monongalia County plans to hire a consultant to help it craft a plan for broadband expansion.

“It appears there will be plenty of dollars once we get to that point,” Sikora said. “We’ll be very far ahead in the process given that we have our plan to decide how to spend those dollars.”

U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va. (File)

Capito said she hopes the money isn’t treated in some communities as “fun money.”

“Where you can finally do whatever you might as a mayor or city council. It’s supposed to e COVID-related,” Capito said.

U.S. Senator Joe Manchin said during a Wednesday conference call communities would be audited on how the money is spent. Manchin has a briefing with county and local leaders scheduled for Friday in Charleston to discuss the funding.

Capito said she’s hopeful local leaders don’t overextend themselves.

“Let’s say they start a new program–then what happens next year when that money runs out? Then you have a program that can’t be funded that has run its course and really can’t achieve much,” she said.

Belinda Biafore

Meanwhile, West Virginia Democratic Party Chairwoman Belinda Biafore criticized Capito and the other Republicans who are part of the state’s congressional delegation for voting against the package.

“It is shameful that our Republican representatives in Congress turned their backs on West Virginians when they needed them the most,” Biafore said. “West Virginia is hurting and this money will have significant impacts on our state, our counties, our communities and our families. This is huge and not a single Republican feels that West Virginians are deserving of this relief.”

Capito said she supports a lot of the bill including the $1,400 individual stimulus payments, the extension of unemployment benefits including the additional $300 a week, money for rural hospitals, funding to battle the opioid epidemic and other items. But she also said there’s many things she doesn’t support like the $50 billion the package provides for the National Endowment of the Arts.

Capito said she’s not overly concerned about any backlash she may receive for not supporting the bill.

“People disappointed we didn’t’ work this out together. They (Democrats) weren’t willing to do a compromise,” Capito said. “I think there are areas (of funding) where West Virginians will understand that doesn’t make any sense and it doesn’t make sense in the COVID relief bill.”

WAJR Radio Reporter Mike Nolting contributed to this story. 

Lead photo credit: The White House





More News

News
UMWA to fight planned Pennsylvania coal mine closure, 700 mining jobs at risk
Cumberland Mine less than 40 miles from Morgantown.
March 28, 2024 - 2:23 pm
News
Bridge collapse having an impact on West Virginia coal shipments
About third of the coal mined in northern West Virginia is shipped out of the presently idled Port of Baltimore
March 28, 2024 - 1:18 pm
News
Charleston animal shelter seeks more donations, fosters following U-Haul crash
The corner roof of the Kanawha-Charleston Humane Association building was stabilized Thursday morning.
March 28, 2024 - 12:41 pm
News
Controversial unemployment bill becomes law without governor's signature
The bill freezes employer contributions and freezes benefits for people who lose their jobs.
March 28, 2024 - 12:20 pm