Rob Portman: “Second, we are just finding out there is another $10 billion added through this amendment to State and local…”

“Second, we are just finding out there is another $10 billion added through this amendment to State and local governments. I don't know if everybody was listening when Senator Romney gave his explanation during his amendment of what is happening with regard to our States, but a lot of our States don't need the money. Some do and some don't. And there is no requirements here that if you have got a surplus or if you otherwise don't have COVID-19 expenses that you don't get the money, and yet we are adding another $10 billion to that pot through this one amendment. So, of course, we object to this amendment, and there may be other stuff in there too. I hope everybody gets a chance to look at it because we have not had a chance to do so yet. But I hope we do not create the wrong incentives. I hope we do not create this situation where we are substantially increasing costs to the taxpayer through changes in workers' comp and adding another $10 billion to a category where it has been shown, in many cases, not to be needed. The PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Senator's time has expired. The Senator from Vermont.”