Bonuses for essential workers varied widely by state

The big picture: How states chose to use their federal COVID-19 aid was highly individualized.

• In Pennsylvania, Gov. Tom Wolf (D), used $50 million of the federal funding to help 600 businesses give $3 hourly raises to workers earning less than $20 per hour, per AP.
• Missouri allocated funds to give an extra $500 per month to workers in high-contact workplaces, such as "prisons, mental health facilities and veterans nursing homes."
• In South Dakota, hazard pay was limited to state workers and only doled out for the time they were potentially exposed to COVID-19. "One therapy assistant got an extra 40 cents, a pharmacist received $1.80 and a maintenance supervisor got $4," reports AP.

What's more: President Biden's American Rescue Plan broadens the ability of states to use federal funding to provide backpay to essential workers, but few states are taking advantage, according to AP.

• Teachers and first responders in Florida will be receiving $1,000 bonuses, and Minnesota also hopes to distribute bonuses to essential workers by the end of the year.
• However, Hawaii Gov. David Ige (D) recently vetoed a budget proposal to give teachers $2,200 bonuses and an effort in Oregon to distribute up to $2,000 in bonuses for essential workers also failed, per AP.