$250 payment proposed for Louisiana’s front-line workers

A streetcar conductor wears a mask as she runs her route on St. Charles Ave. in New Orleans, Thursday, March 19, 2020. Much of the city is shut down and many are taking precautions due to the coronavirus pandemic. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

by: Associated Press

Posted: Jun 17, 2020 / 11:43 AM EDT

Updated: Jun 17, 2020 / 11:43 AM EDT

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BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — State lawmakers are considering a proposal to give grocery store employees, nurses, bus drivers and other front-line workers who stayed on their jobs in the early days of Louisiana’s coronavirus outbreak a one-time $250 payment.

A bill providing that hazard pay from $50 million in federal virus aid started advancing Wednesday in the House.

Democratic lawmakers are pushing the proposal in an ongoing special session that has focused on business recovery from the pandemic. They’re trying to broker a deal with Republicans who need some Democratic support to pass certain business tax breaks and other pro-business measures.

But disagreement remains over how to fund the payments.