Source: Pool

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker called on Washington to pass a second relief package, specifically to help state government revenue shortfalls.

“This is a public health crisis, but it is accompanied by massive economic disruption that's unprecedented in modern history,” Pritzker said at a briefing on Wednesday

He said state budget experts estimate that there will be a $2.7. billion shortfall of revenues for this fiscal year, and a $4.6 billion shortfall for next fiscal year.

“I want to express my gratitude to our Illinois congressional delegation, our senators and congressmen of both parties for their support for the first CARES Act ... But I want to be clear, these dollars can be used to cover only new expenditures related to coronavirus," he said.

The bill provides funds to cover state government expenditures in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

"Currently this funding cannot be used to make up for state government revenue shortfalls that have been a result of coronavirus. That leaves states to face this unprecedented financial hole on their own, if the Congress doesn't pass a ‘CARES Act 2,’ to support state governments," Pritzker said.