Pelosi: USD 1T needed to avert state, city layoffs from virus

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Thursday up to USD 1 trillion is needed to shore up state and local governments for coronavirus costs, a stunning benchmark for the next aid package that's certain to run into opposition from Senate Republicans.

Pelosi said the heroes fund would help prevent layoffs as governors and mayors stare down red ink in their budgets. Many jurisdictions are facing rising costs from the health pandemic and plummeting revenues in the economic shut down.

The best way Americans can support local nurses, bus drivers and other front-line community workers, Pelosi said, is to make sure they don't lose their jobs to budget cuts.

This is something of the highest priority, it honors our heroes, Pelosi said. Nurses, transit bus drivers and other workers "are risking their lives to save lives and now their going to lose their jobs, she said.

The USD 1 trillion marker comes after Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell shifted his tone suggesting he is open to considering ...