Cuomo challenges Trump on suggestion that feds shouldn't give 'bailouts' to Democrat-led states

<p>New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo pushed back at the suggestion by President Trump and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), who bothsay they are opposed sending federal emergency aid to states.</p><p>“It’s not red or blue, it’s red, white and blue. This coronavirus doesn’t pick Democrats or Republicans. It doesn’t kill Democrats or Republicans, it kills Americans,” Cuomo said at his daily press briefing on Tuesday. “If we don’t get the money from Washington, we can’t fund schools at the rate we want to fund them. We are in dire financial need.”</p><p>President Donald Trump, in an interview with the New York Post, said it would be unfair to Republicans if Congress passes coronavirus "bailouts" for states because he said the states that would benefit from that funding are run by Democrats. “It’s not fair to the Republicans because all the states that need help — they’re run by Democrats in every case. Florida is doing phenomenal, Texas is doing phenomenal, the Midwest is, you know, fantastic — very little debt,” Trump said.</p><p>On April 22, McConnell dismissed calls for more federal aid to state and local governments, calling them as “blue state bailouts” and saying that those facing budget shortfalls should instead declare bankruptcy.</p><p>Cuomo said Washington shouldn't starve local and state governments of federal funding, especially when they're trying to reopen the economy. States are facing massive budget shortfalls—now forecast to be $650 billion over the next three years.</p><p>“If you starve the states how do you expect the states to be able to fund this entire reopening plan which the governors are in charge of,” Cuomo said during his daily coronavirus briefing.</p>