States Need Coronavirus Relief for Pensions and Health Care
The pandemic will cause a huge rise in health-care and pension costs.
States need even more help.
Photographer: BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFPThis article is for subscribers only.
States and localities have been leading the nation’s response to the coronavirus — and unless Congress further intervenes, they’re going to pay for it.
While the Senate’s $2 trillion stimulus bill includes relief for individuals, families and businesses limping through the current slowdown, it’s barely going to dent the impending budget increase for state and local governments. Medicaid and retiree pension costs — already the two most problematic spending areas for governments — will balloon as result of the Covid-19 crisis. Congress can help with both.