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Business News Roundup, May 25, 2021

A call to divert COVID-19 aid from state and local governments, a business coalition to oppose tax hikes, additional funding for disaster response, businesses develop hybrid work policies, and dwindling COVID-19 numbers in Connecticut are among the top business news stories this morning.

National

With states facing an unexpected rebound in tax revenues due to economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, Republican lawmakers are urging the Biden administration to divert federal aid approved to support state and local governments. They suggest the funds could go toward the White House’s infrastructure objectives, with some economists saying it could also help forestall inflation that could accelerate if states enact major spending plans using federal aid.

As lawmakers deliberate whether to increase the corporate tax rate to help pay for infrastructure upgrades, a coalition of 28 industry groups has been formed to oppose any such hikes. “America’s Job Creators for a Strong Recovery” argues that tax increases will harm businesses and slow recovery from COVID-19.

The White House has doubled the funding available for Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities grants in a bid to have more aid available to cities and states impacted by severe climate events. The funding for the program, which is administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, has been increased from $500 million to $1 billion.

Business trends

The Wall Street Journal examines the policies of several companies as they shift to a hybrid model blending office work and remote work. Strategies have included making Mondays and Fridays mandatory in-office days, tracking data to ensure equal advancement opportunities for remote workers, and redesigning offices to cope with increased demand for conference rooms and other resources on certain days.

Connecticut

Connecticut’s daily test positivity rate for COVID-19 has remained under 1 percent for three consecutive days and 1.78 million people are fully vaccinated. Governor Ned Lamont said the state will continue tracking COVID-19 data but that he may end his regular news conferences on the state’s response to the virus if the numbers continue to be low.

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