Volume 28 | August 3, 2020

Dr. Anthony Fauci Joins CONEG Chair Governor Ned Lamont Today on COVID Update
Governor Lamont has invited Dr. Anthony Fauci to a news briefing to provide updates on the State of Connecticut’s coronavirus response efforts. The briefing takes place at 4:00 pm this afternoon and you can watch it live here: https://ct - n.com/CTNplayer.asp?
States Face Fiscal Crisis
As the pandemic’s economic crisis takes a toll across the country and while additional federal support remains unknown at this time, states are contending with major tax and revenue implications affecting their budgets. State officials are all pushing for Congress and the Administration to approve additional aid for state and local governments.
Governor Cuomo and Governor Hogan Call on Congress to Pass $500 Billion State Stabilization Fund in Next COVID-19 Relief Package.

Without federal aid, revenue projections for the states are bleak.
COVID Relief Package from Congress

The differences between the House passed HEROES Act, and the proposals floating out from Senate leadership, are stark. Chiefly, and most impactful, there is no dedicated funding for state and local governments in the Senate proposal. According to the Council of State Governments , states face upwards of $253 billion budget shortfall due to COVID-19. Unlike the federal government, states, in accordance with their constitutions and laws, have to enact balanced budgets. The lack of clarity about federal funding has forced states to pass short term budget extensions, while they also consider devastating cuts to essential services.

House Democrats met with administration officials over the weekend with talk of progress, but no consensus on any deal. Speaker Pelosi said “what we are doing is not only trying to arrest the virus but to invest in the economy as we help America’s working families.” White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows said he’s not “optimistic there will be a solution in the very near term.” Talks are scheduled to resume Monday afternoon.

What follows are some brief updates on the Transportation Funding.

HOUSE
The House passed the HEROEs ACT more than a month ago. HEROEs is a $3 trillion package and includes funding for Highways & Transit, State and local governments, funding for hospitals and front line workers and additional funding for individuals that can amount to as much as $6,000 per family.
Also provided is a comprehensive review of the INVEST Act , and below please find a State-by-State analysis of funding, policies, and other items specifically tailored for the CONEG states (click on each state to view the analysis).


Click read more below for additional highlights from the transportation section.
Fighting an Epidemic Within a Pandemic: the Opioid Response in COVID Times
On July 23, Maine Governor Janet Mills hosted her second Opioid Response Summit . The summit’s theme, “Compassion, Community, Connection,” reflects the personal and societal challenges of substance use disorder and the conditions needed to advance and support recovery.This year's summit comes after a recent report from the Maine Attorney General's Office that showed a higher number of opioid-related overdoses this year. Recovery experts suggest the pandemic might be contributing to the spike in overdoses. Governor Mills noted her plans to launch a statewide “rapid response team” in her speech. “We will continue to get at the root causes of the problem and focus a great deal more on prevention, preventing young people from starting down the road that leads so frequently to substance use disorders,” said Governor Mills. Read more below for other opioid news in the Northeast states.
Northeast weather outlook from NOAA
Federal agencies have released a drought early warning update . Some key points from this latest update include:
  • Beneficial rains eased crop stress in some areas but there is still concern regarding soil moisture throughout the Northeast.
  • Streamflows showed improvement in south central NY, central NH, and western ME.
  • Streams in eastern ME, upstate NY, western MA and northwestern CT continue to run low.
  • Severe drought (D2) continues in portions of northern ME and northern NY along the Canadian border.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) forecasts temperatures for most of the US in August, September and October to be above normal. NOAA has also predicted an above-normal 2020 Atlantic hurricane season . NOAA is forecasting a likely range of 13 to 19 named storms (winds of 39 mph or higher), of which 6 to 10 could become hurricanes (winds of 74 mph or higher), including 3 to 6 major hurricanes (category 3, 4 or 5; with winds of 111 mph or higher). NOAA provides these ranges with a 70% confidence.
News from the States
 Connecticut
Governor Lamont Signs Executive Order Strengthening Workers’ Compensation Claims for Essential Workers Impacted by COVID-19
 
Governor Lamont Signs Executive Order Strengthening Self-Quarantine Requirement s When Entering Connecticut From High-Risk States

 Maine

To Protect Health of Students & Staff, Mills Administration Provides Public Health Guidance & Financial Support to School Systems Across Maine
 
Massachusetts
Baker-Polito Administration Allocates $50 Million from the Governor’s Emergency Education Relief (GEER) Fun d to Schools and Colleges Across the Commonwealth

Massachusetts House Ways and Means Committee c lears a suite of climate-related bills for final action this week before the session wraps up. (State House News Service)

New Hampshire
Governor Sununu signs $4.1 billion ten-year transportation plan into law (Manchester Ink Link)
 
Masks encouraged, but not required for students seated in classrooms under NH guidelines (WMUR)
 New York
Governor Cuomo Calls on Republican Members of New York's Congressional Delegation to Fight for State, Local Aid in Federal Stimulus Package
 

Rhode Island
Raimondo Announces $45 Million “Back to Work RI” Initiative Using Federal CARES Act Funding (GoLocalProv)
 
Raimondo unveils expanded housing and infrastructure bonding (AP News)

Vermont
Governor Phil Scott, Health and Education Experts Address School Reopening and Announce Universal School Opening Date
 
Governor Phil Scott Announces $2 Million Assistance Program to Help More Vermonters Access Broadband (Vermont Biz)
Regional and Federal Updates
Governors Urge President to Extend Title 32 Today (National Governors Association)

Why peak electricity usage matters - Long road ahead to decarbonize electric power grid (CommonWealth Magazine)
 

In Shadow of Pandemic, U.S. Drug Overdose Deaths Resurge to Record (New York Times)
 
Fading Winters, Hotter Summers Make the Northeast America’s Fastest Warming Region (Inside Climate News)
Did you know?

In 2018, $248 million in RGGI proceeds were invested in programs including energy efficiency, clean and renewable energy, greenhouse gas abatement, and direct bill assistance. Over their lifetime, these 2018 investments are projected to provide participating households and businesses with $2 billion in energy bill savings and avoid the emission of 4.6 million short tons of CO 2 .