While Rhode Island state leaders are focused on hoarding an estimated $1.1 billion in new federal pandemic aid, a different political dynamic is playing out in Massachusetts.
Republican Gov. Charlie Baker has been pressing the Bay State’s Democratic-led Legislature to spend some of that state’s $4.9 billion in anticipated aid on immediate needs.
According to The Boston Globe, Baker on July 20 told state lawmakers, “We can’t let this opportunity pass by to make these investments now,” citing substance abuse treatment, housing and workforce development among his priorities.
Massachusetts has set aside $200 million for Baker to spend now, though states have until 2024 to determine how they’ll spend American Rescue Plan funding.
So far, Rhode Island leaders have presented a mostly unified front in looking to save the state’s share for longer-term projects.
But as laudable as focusing on big-picture investments and intractable issues such as affordable housing is, state leaders should not be looking past the ongoing economic fallout from the pandemic. There’s enough money to do both.
Rhode Island must set aside a share of its federal pandemic windfall to ensure the state doesn’t repeat its history of being first in and last out of every recession. Workforce investments are needed now.
Efforts such as Gov. Daniel J. McKee’s newly announced $150,000 hotel rewards card program help but don’t go nearly far enough.
The state’s struggling hospitality industry needs more help than that and state leaders have the money available to provide it.