BUFFALO, N.Y. (WBEN) – There is a renewed push for federal lawmakers to pass another coronavirus stimulus bill which would provide relief to state and local governments that are hurting financially due to the economy.
New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand visited Buffalo on Friday and called on Senate republicans to move forward in the plan to provide stimulus funding to offset the financial damage caused by the pandemic.
“Senator McConnell will not even bring this bill to the floor,” Gillibrand said. “I’ve repeatedly called on him to bring a relief bill onto the floor quickly to ensure we get the state and local relief aid that our state so desperately needs.”
Local leaders have pleaded for relief funds from the federal government for months. Erie County is projected to lose more than $137 million while Buffalo has already passed its budget that expects more than $68 million in federal funding that it has not received.
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“Because of COVID-19, we ended the 2019-2020 fiscal year with over $18.5 million in deficit,” Mayor Brown said. “In the next fiscal year, we need a minimum of $65 million to close the city’s budget gap or there will be massive layoffs, there will be program and service cuts, which would be devastating to the City of Buffalo and our region.”
The Senate is currently on a two-week recess for Fourth of July. McConnell said the Senate will move forward with the next coronavirus package when they return from recess.