The meeting was held online using Zoom video conference software. The Valley Indy recorded the audio. Press play to listen.
The federal aid included boosting individual unemployment payments by $600; giving $1,200 to qualifying citizens; the creation of the “Paycheck Protection Program;” and providing $130 billion to health care, and; giving $1.5 billion to the State of Connecticut (money that is supposed to eventually make its way to the state’s 169 municipalities).
The Senator also highlighted problems with the various stimulus programs, such as big business gobbling up federal aid and pushing small business to the side.
U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, in a screen grab from a Zoom meeting with the Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments.
Press play to listen to Blumenthal’s detailed overview of what Congress is doing. It takes up roughly the first 16 minutes of the meeting.
Blumenthal also said more help is on the way.
In the second half of the meeting, local leaders had the opportunity to ask Blumenthal questions.
Oxford First Selectman George Temple wanted to know how the federal government will spend and how the government will pay for it.
Blumenthal said the relief bills passed have been supported by both parties. The money is being borrowed.
“It will be paid back in the future,” Blumenthal said. “The way to view, I think, is an investment. We’re investing here in keeping people at work, keeping people fed, literally.”
Blumenthal also stressed the importance of investing in health care “to find a vaccine, to do testing, to create a sense of security so that we can re-open the economy and return to normal.”
“The investment is unprecedented. The amount of money is staggering,” Blumenthal said. But so are the implications of this disease. We have no cure. We have no prevention. We have no vaccine. So this is pretty scary stuff.”
Sean Kimball, the town manager of Cheshire, said there will be a need for mental health services as the COVID-19 virus continues.
“We’re seeing in Cheshire an enormous amount of folks reaching out for help,” Kimball said.
Bristol Mayor Ellen Zoppo-Sassu said her municipality hopes to get more information about federal dollars flowing down to the state and then to local government.
Local governments across the state are trying to put spending plans together for a fiscal year that starts July 1, but don’t have solid numbers regarding federal aid.
Waterbury has two hospitals within its borders. Mayor Neil O’Leary said administrators at the hospitals are worried because the institutions are taking a beating financially. COVID-19 restrictions canceled elective surgeries, a major source of hospital revenue. Meanwhile, hospitals have been spending money hand over foot to deal with the pandemic.
Blumenthal said more federal dollars are on the way for health care.
Press play to listen to the complete conversation.
