New Virus Relief Proposal Includes Less Aid for States and Localities


Brian Skinner COVID-19, Local Government, State Fiscal & Economic Policy

  Route Fifty — By Bill Lucia — September 29, 2020  State and local governments would see a combined $417 billion in direct federal aid under an updated coronavirus relief proposal that House Democrats revealed on Monday, a sum that is well short of the amount included in an earlier version of the plan, but that also …Read More

Should West Virginia Employ an Antigen Testing Strategy that Prioritizes Infectiousness Over Infections?


Brian Skinner COVID-19, Economy

  By Brian Skinner, Esq. Earlier this week, global airlines called for pre-departure Covid-19 testing for all international passengers to replace the quarantines that they blame for exacerbating the decline in air travel. International Air Transport Association (IATA) Director General Alexandre de Juniac said during an online media briefing, rapid and affordable antigen tests that …Read More

State Watchdogs Plan to Monitor COVID-19 Data Accuracy


Brian Skinner COVID-19, Government & Policy

  By Brian Skinner, Esq. In light of today’s press briefing in which Gov. Justice and his team tried to explain how data is compiled to color in the state’s county alert system map, I thought this story by Jenni Bergal in Stateline might be an interesting read.  She writes that because of concerns about the accuracy and uniformity …Read More

NC legislature approves $1 billion COVID-19 relief bill


Brian Skinner COVID-19, Government & Policy

  By Brian Skinner, Esq. Yesterday, the North Carolina state legislature passed a nearly $1 billion spending bill that uses the remainder of the state’s share of federal CARES Act relief money. House Bill 1105, named the The Coronavirus Relief Act 3.0, grants all North Carolina households with children up to age 17, a $335 stimulus check called “extra credit grants”, to help offset …Read More

When Will Unemployed West Virginians See Promised Lost Wage Assistance?


Brian Skinner COVID-19, Governor, Unemployment Benefits

  By Brian Skinner, Esq. Update — During his August 28 briefing, Governor Justice announced that FEMA has approved the State’s application for more than $68.2 million in grant funding, which will allow WorkForce West Virginia to continue providing extra unemployment benefits to residents across the state. The governor did not indicate when unemployed West Virginians can expect to …Read More

Ohio Legislature Considers Bill to Provide Health Care Providers, Businesses and Schools with Liability Protections


Brian Skinner COVID-19, Legislation, Ohio, Workforce

By Brian Skinner, Esq. On June 30, 2020, the Ohio Senate passed a substitute bill for H.B. 606 passed by the House on May 28, 2020. The Senate amendments substantially rewrite the House bill by including many of the provisions of S.B. 308 passed by the Senate on June 3, 2020. The bill grants temporary …Read More

Companies Postpone Returning Employees to the Office


Brian Skinner Business, COVID-19

  By Brian Skinner, Esq. An August survey by the Pacific Business Group on Health, found that 57% of major U.S. employers said they will postpone return-to-work plans because of recent increases in coronavirus infections. About 43% say they are planning to bring employees back to the worksite, but with multiple, enhanced safety measures in place. Part …Read More