Biden administration threatens to rescind stimulus funds from Arizona over anti-mask school policy

[Zorro]

Source: Washington Post

The Treasury Department took issue with the state’s plans to use roughly $170 million awarded under the American Rescue Plan to promote a ban on school mask mandates

The Biden administration on Friday threatened to claw back more than $170 million in federal stimulus aid allotted to Arizona, after the state announced it would use the cash in a way that discouraged schools from requiring students to wear masks.

The rare demand arrived in a letter issued by the Treasury Department, which told aides to Arizona’s Republican leader, Gov. Doug Ducey, that they have 60 days to reprogram the funding in a way that befits its original intent as an investment to combat the spread of the coronavirus.

A spokesperson for the governor did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The dispute centers on Arizona’s portion of a $350 billion program authorized under the American Rescue Plan last year. The initiative awarded cities, counties and states a sizable chunk of cash to spend mostly as they saw fit.

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/us-policy/2022/01/14/biden-arizona-coronavirus-stimulus-masks/

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There really is no end to Republican evil fuckery.

[JohnSJ]

1. Forget the threat, just do it

[pwb]

2. Take that with you.

A gift from the 48.

[Autumn]

3. This is the way to do it.

[4Q2u2]

4. Do it

Because of Sinema starve her out.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

5. Good

Let's go after Florida and Texas while we're at it.

[NCjack]

6. Trump would exam every federal dollar AZ gets and immediately pull it back.

Not suggesting -- just saying that President Biden has some leverage.

[Grins]

7. Why you should NEVER give the states a penny without strings of steel.

"The initiative awarded cities, counties and states a sizable chunk of cash to spend mostly as they saw fit."

"Mostly" being the key word here.

I used to do federal sales. One day they added state and local government to my workload. Six months later I couldn't wait to get back to doing only federal. The money that the states would siphon off for unrelated programs and often stole, was too much for me. Block grants for Medicare/Medicaid? A snip off the top! Money for their schools they should be funding themselves but don't want to? Bought cars for the Sheriff.

And this is just Arizona.

Take the money back! They obviously don't need it.

[BlueIdaho]

8. Just Do It already.

It’s time to pull these wack job states back into line. That’s 170 million misused federal tax dollars. That’s my money and yours. Send the money to states that are using the money to fulfill the job it was designed for.

[Scalded Nun]

9. No threats. Enough of this bullshit,

and if they refuse to return the money, deduct it from whatever they are supposed to get in future $$.

and enough of this 'Spend it as they see fit' bullshit. Target/fence the money and enforce accountability. I am guessing that much of that 'as they see fit' money goes right into their pockets, friend's pockets, etc. You cannot assume they will do what is good for their citizens as they flat do not do that anymore.

[keithbvadu2]

10. Sounds like a jobs/grab the money program for favored contractors.

"use the cash in a way that discouraged schools from requiring students to wear masks. "

$170 million?

[JohnnyRingo]

11. "Can he do that?"

That's not me speaking, but the fly on the wall at the Arizona Statehouse.

It's like the classic idiot who makes a move in checkers and rubs it in what a genius move it was. We all know what happens next.

[Akoto]

12. For the people saying no threats, remember you're dealing with crazy people.

They will have the money taken as you ask, and if by some miracle they reinstate the mask program, they would probably refuse to take the stimulus funds back just as some way of "spiting" the tyrannical government, etc.

That said, I seriously doubt they would reinstate the mask programs if the funds were taken. They would make it their rallying cry for the "patriots" and blah, blah.

I think it's good to apprise them they're about to lose money/supporters/voters first and give them a chance to change things, ONLY if you do so while showing them you have the document drafted to remove that stimulus with only your signature missing. Then, see what they do and follow through if nothing.

Ultimately, the people hurt are the ones without the masks because of this. Many people can't afford decent ones. Will the politicians care if the fund to help that goes away? Of course not, doesn't hurt their paycheck and they get points with the anti-government crowd.

[Rebl2]

13. State of MO

never had a mask mandate, but individual businesses could mandate them. Schools cannot mandate them, but they are doing it anyway. Our stupid AG has threatened/filed lawsuits against cities and school districts that have mask mandates. He is so evil.

[former9thward]

14. This is bad politically.

Senator Mark Kelly is in a tight race this year. Republicans will force him to say whether he agrees to a take back of funds. The resultant commercials will write themselves.