Senate Co-Sponsorship Memoranda

In the near future, I will introduce a six-point plan to fill the gaps in the federal stimulus funding:

1. Unemployment Compensation (UC) Booster:  The UC booster would augment and supplement evolving federal efforts to help the unemployed;

2. Bridge Grants: Create short-term bridge grants to get business up and running as soon as possible and cover near-term expenses.  Provide additional assistance to qualifying small business can be in the form of zero-interest or very low-interest loans;

3. Expand Bonding Capacity: Expand or repurpose Pennsylvania’s bonding capacity with new financing through either the Commonwealth Financing Authority or other bonding authority with funds immediately available for grants.  Sweep unencumbered General Fund and special fund accounts to finance recovery efforts;

4. Special Tax Provisions — Expand net loss carryforward program to cover taxes and help reduce future pandemic-related tax liabilities;

5. Accelerate Infrastructure Improvement Projects: Push state funds out now and open financial levers to fund water, sewer, transportation and community improvement projects; and

6. Pandemic Recovery Czar: Coordinate the response and the distribution of funding specifically related to the pandemic through a single contact point in state government — a “recovery czar.”

Please join me in co-sponsoring this important legislation.