A hang-up for some congressional Republicans in passing another coronavirus relief package is a request for tens of billions of dollars to go directly to state and local governments. Government leaders say they need the money to compensate for the drop-off in tax revenue since the COVID-19 pandemic hit, but some in the GOP see the aid as a “bailout” for states run by Democrats. A recent Moody’s Analytics report found that states and cities face a collective shortfall of $450 billion over the next two years without additional federal relief. That includes many Republican-led states, from Alaska to Texas.
Budget toll from virus hits both Democratic, GOP-led states
