Democratic Governors Respond to President Trump Ending Stimulus Negotiations Over State Aid

Today, President Trump announced he would instruct his aides to stop negotiations with Congressional Democrats over the next stimulus package because “Nancy Pelosi is asking for $2.4 Trillion Dollars to bailout poorly run, high crime, Democrat States, money that is in no way related to COVID-19.”

Maine Gov. Janet Mills, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, Oregon Gov. Kate Brown, Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf, Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam, and Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers released the following statement:

“The President’s decision to end stimulus negotiations is an affront to the millions of Americans who are struggling to make ends meet during this crisis. We represent constituents across the political spectrum, and the pandemic is nonpartisan in who it hurts. 

“In order for our nation to recover from this pandemic, every single state needs assistance from the federal government. Since the beginning, at the direction of the White House, the states have been leading the COVID-19 response. Yet, in our moment of economic need, and more importantly, as the people in our states try to find their economic footing, the President has pulled the rug out from under us and the people we represent.

“This is not an attempt to ‘bail out’ any state. The pandemic has done untold damage to budgets in both red and blue states. This is money needed to boost the economy, maintain critical services, and beat back the virus. Without the direct cash assistance we need, we will be forced to make cuts to vital programs keeping Americans safe. The President’s delay is not only dangerous from a public health perspective, but it will also wreak havoc on our economies and further set back successful reopenings.

“Without federal aid, every American – regardless of where they live – will continue to suffer, and it will be Donald Trump’s fault.”