First District Rep. Joel Kitchens was thinking about the future when he voted in favor of a package of legislation last week directing COVID-19 relief bill funding. Both the Assembly and the Senate passed the bills directing $3.2 billion in relief funds towards a number of different provisions including tourism efforts, rural economic development, and long-term care facilities. Other aspects of the bill may still need to be approved by the federal government. Kitchens says the $500 million slated for broadband and $61 million for lead pipe replacement are two examples of the projects the funds could pay for that have a lasting impact.

Kitchens believes it is likely that Governor Tony Evers will veto the legislation passed by the Assembly and Senate and then repackage as his own. Kitchens says at the very least it will apply pressure on the administration to address some of the needs in the state. Evers announced late last month the allocation of $2.5 billion of COVID-19 relief funding.