Spotlight PA from the Philadelphia Inquirer
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Update, May 28: Lawmakers on Thursday approved the use of $2.6 billion in discretionary federal stimulus dollars for a variety of purposes including providing relief to counties and hard-hit long-term care facilities.
HARRISBURG — After enduring more than two months of the coronavirus pandemic, and with state revenues continuing to tank, Pennsylvania has yet to spend a dime of $3.9 billion in discretionary federal stimulus dollars intended to aid in the relief effort.
The pot of money is by far the largest available to the state, and the most valuable. And while it currently cannot be used to make up for lost revenues — projected to be as much as $5 billion by next June — there is hope in some corners the rules could change.