Members of the Western Massachusetts-North Quabbin legislative delegation say the $2 trillion federal stimulus package passed by Congress late last week is going to help Franklin County, its residents and its businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Rep. Paul Mark, D-Peru, said Massachusetts is expected to receive about $2.67 billion to not only help keep the state running but to aid communities from east to west that need help in dire times.
“The state is already in a good position with $3 billion in its ‘rainy day’ fund,” Mark said. “This money will go into its general fund and be used for everything from schools to roads to supplementing money we will get from FEMA.”
Mark said the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) reimburses cities and towns 75 percent of what they spend on a disaster, and he believes the state will be ready with the other 25 percent when the time comes.
He said the $1,200 most taxpayers will receive will not only be good for them, but the local economy.
“We have to keep the economy going,” he said. “This was an artificial event that came out of nowhere. People didn’t expect to be out of work. Businesses didn’t plan to have to close or lay off their employees.”
Of course, Mark said, the money comes from taxpayers in the end — for instance, the stimulus check is the people’s money. He said we all pay in some way, such as by supporting a business that in turn donates money or equipment to hospitals.
Rep. Susannah Whipps, I-Athol, said she is thrilled individuals will be receiving $1,200. She said everything the stimulus package offers people, as well as cities and towns, is “much needed.”
“There are so many people nervous about how they are going to pay rent or groceries,” she said. “This will help a little.”
Whipps said she is also happy that the federal government is expanding unemployment compensation. State representatives and city and town leaders aren’t sure how it will be implemented yet, she said, so they are waiting for guidance from the federal government, which is expected soon.
“All of this will help individuals, but there will also be an infusion, from the help they get, back into their communities, so that’s a good thing,” Whipps explained.
Sen. Jo Comerford, D-Northampton, said expanding unemployment benefits — adding an extra $600 and more weeks — was deeply necessary.
“This will certainly help with people’s well-being,” she said. “It’s all incredibly important for Western Massachusetts’ economy.”
Sen. Adam Hinds, D-Pittsfield and chair of the Senate’s Revenue Committee, said he is pleased with what is coming, and said more will most likely come down the road.
COVID-19 “has had an unprecedented impact on the state,” he said. “The revenue fallout is tremendous. The state has lost sales tax, meals tax. In 2009, we saw a decrease in revenue of about $3 billion. We expect it to be greater this time.”
The state will have a better understanding of March numbers sometime in April, Hinds said, as well as the level of support it will need to give cities and towns.
Comerford said she is happy that self-employed residents in Franklin County and beyond will also get some help — they aren’t usually eligible for unemployment benefits, but they will be this time.
“We’re working hard to make sure all of our residents get through this,” she said.
Comerford said state legislators will be carefully studying federal guidelines, including how to process claims.
“The federal government has extended unemployment, and the state will do its best to extend it further,” she said.
Comerford said she is pleased that hospitals and health care centers will also get some relief, since the pandemic has been such an “extensive strain” on them. Western Massachusetts hospitals will be able to stockpile needed equipment.
Schools will also receive emergency funding, she said, and the Community Development Block Grants program will make money available to cities and towns.
Mark said he wants to see people be able to stay in their homes, feed their families without worry and keep agriculture thriving as well. He said businesses are going to need tremendous support.
“When this is over, we want businesses to be able to spring right back up,” he said. “We want them to weather this storm.”
He is happy about how Congress and the president came together to act quickly.
“That’s extremely important for every person,” he said. “We don’t want this economic downturn to be permanent.”
Because state budgets have to be balanced, Mark said federal help is more than appreciated.
“We need the money to just move along efficiently every day,” he said.
Hinds agreed the federal money is needed because while state expenses have increased, revenue has decreased during the pandemic.
“The money will help us cover just basic services, like trash pickup, roads, etc.,” he said. “Money to individuals will offer people a boost. We have to put money back in people’s pockets. Everyone is struggling, especially those who were laid off.”
Federal student loan suspensions for six months are also going to help people keep money in their pockets, Hinds said, and public service loan forgiveness will be helpful.
Hinds added that the loan that will be offered to business owners to keep their staff is a good one because it will be forgiven at the end if employees stay on staff throughout the health crisis.
Rep. Natalie Blais, D-Sunderland, said she has heard from a number of small business owners who are concerned about their ability to survive the crisis.
“I am extremely happy that the federal package included such a strong emphasis on supporting them, including extending unemployment benefits to self-employed and gig economy workers,” Blais said.
Legislators all agreed that the stimulus package had to happen and that it will keep Franklin County’s economy going, at least for the foreseeable future.
Legislators said they are in constant contact with each other through email, text or video chat. They are working from their home or district offices, rarely traveling to Boston.
“The State House is closed, and everyone is practicing social distancing, but I’m working mostly remotely,” Mark said. “I have to take a lot of rides to get cellphone service here in Peru.”
Hinds said he starts each day by putting his phone headset on, and he takes it off some time after dinner.
“I’m doing a lot of conference calls,” he said. “There’s definitely been a lot of interaction with colleagues, constituents and others. I’m working remotely, but not alone, per se.”
Whipps said she and her legislative aid are working from their homes, and what she misses most is direct contact with constituents, but they’re doing what they can by phone and email. Blais is also working from home.
“We are all looking out for each other here in the North Quabbin area,” Whipps said. “The entire state is looking out for each other. That’s who we are.”
Whipps said she doesn’t travel to Boston often, so it is business as usual. She said she’s getting anywhere from five to 20 times the number of calls she typically gets in a day from people with questions about COVID-19 and the resources available, or people sometimes just wanting reassurance.
“We just want to reach everyone who needs us,” she said. “We want people to know they’re not forgotten in this terrible time.”
Comerford said she’s impressed that the delegation of five has remained a “tightly knit team.”
“There’s nothing easy about this moment,” she said. “But, we’ll get through. Need is great and stakes are high.”
Reach Anita Fritz at 413-772-0261, ext. 269 or afritz@recorder.com.