Wolf: Federal covid relief package needed 'right now'

As coronavirus relief negotiations languish in Congress, Gov. Tom Wolf and New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy said Monday there is a dire need to pass a package sooner rather than later to ensure an economic recovery from the pandemic.

“It’s disgraceful, disgraceful that right now in the midst of the worst surge of covid-19 that our country has seen to date, when record numbers of Americans are dying, are being hospitalized, are catching this disease, our federal leaders seem to be incapable of providing Americans with the desperately needed support,” Wolf said during a call with reporters organized by Protect Our Care Coronavirus War Room.

The group, initially formed to stop GOP attacks on the Affordable Care Act, is now lobbying for federal relief during the pandemic.

It’s a “once in a century catastrophe,” War Room Director Zac Petkanas said.

“Action is not optional,” he said.

The latest $900 billion package that is being negotiated isn’t enough, but would help, the governors said.

A $3 trillion to $4 trillion package is what’s needed, and there should be “multiples” of the proposed $160 billion for state and local governments, Murphy said.

“Enough, already,” he said.

The longer it takes for Congress to act, the more money it will take to provide enough cash to help governments and people, he said.

“There’s a need for a bridge to get us to that better day,” Murphy said.

Wolf lamented the effects targeted covid mitigation efforts have had on the restaurant and bar industry.

New restrictions he put into place have “battered” those workers and business owners “through no fault of their own,” Wolf said.

Wolf was “forced to put more mitigation measures into place to protect lives,” he said.

The pandemic has been a “slow-moving disaster” and federal leadership to address it has been lacking, Wolf said.

“Federal leadership left states to deal with the consequences on our own,” he said. “We need a comprehensive relief package right now.”

If federal aid doesn’t come, Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto has said the city will be forced to make more than $20 million in cuts amounting to 600 city jobs.

States, cities and people “should not have to bear the brunt of a global pandemic on their own,” Wolf said.

“Our federal government needs to make it easier, not harder to follow safety precautions,” he said. “The end may be in sight, but we are not there yet.”

Although more is needed, the package being negotiated in Congress is a “vital first step,” Wolf said.

“Give Americans the help they need,” he said.