Urgent Updates
Has the state issued guidance on how businesses may conduct
“retail to go”?
Yes. GA-16 is the governor’s order that will authorize retail
sales by non-essential businesses for pickup and delivery beginning on Friday,
April 24. The service must be provided in strict compliance with the terms
required by the Texas Department of State Health, which issued guidance yesterday (April 22).
Is there any word on additional federal stimulus funding for all
cities?
Yes, and it doesn’t sound good. According to media reports,
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell today (April 22) insisted that local
governments should be able to "use the bankruptcy route" rather than
receive aid from the federal government. McConnell also expressed
concern about adding billions more to the national debt in addition to the
nearly $3 trillion Congress has already sent out the door to combat the
economic and public health challenges of the pandemic.
"My guess is their [local government’s] first choice would
be for the federal government to borrow money from future generations to send
it down to them now so they don't have to do that," McConnell added.
"That's not something I'm going to be in favor of."
In a press release today, titled “On Stopping Blue State Bailouts,” he stated that:
“I said yesterday we’re going to push the pause button here,
because I think this whole business of additional assistance for state and
local governments needs to be thoroughly evaluated. You raised yourself the
important issue of what states have done, many of them have done to themselves
with their pension programs. There’s not going to be any desire on the
Republican side to bail out state pensions by borrowing money from future
generations.”
TML will continue to work closely with the National League of
Cities to support additional federal funding for all cities. City
officials who believe additional federal funding makes sense should make that
known to Senators Cornyn and Cruz, as well as their U.S. representative(s).
Further Updates
Where can I find archived issues of the TML Coronavirus Updates?
TML Coronavirus Updates are archived by date here and by subject here.