The Minnesota Legislature is set to begin another special session next week, with a $216 million bill aimed at rescuing restaurants and other businesses hurt by the pandemic drawing support from both parties. But there's less agreement on whether individuals left jobless will get any more help.
Minnesota Public Radio reports on the prospects for the bill, which would allow the Department of Revenue to make $100 million in direct payments to eligible businesses. The legislation is targeted at businesses that had to shut down after the state ordered dining rooms, bars, gyms and similar venues closed in response to a fall surge of Covid-19 cases.
Another $102 million would go to counties for business grants.
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State Republican and DFL leaders support the business assistance, but remain far apart on additional unemployment insurance for workers who have lost their jobs in the pandemic. The Star Tribune has additional details on that.
That component is taking on new urgency, as federal assistance to individual workers is set to run out Dec. 26, and efforts to provide more aid have foundered in three-way negotiations between Congress and the Trump administration.
