Free college, guaranteed income: State, local officials steer coronavirus aid money toward liberal priorities

State and local governments are racing to spend millions in CARES Act funding before it reverts back to the federal government — and they're finding unexpected ways to use it, from "trunk-or-treating" in northeast Ohio to an experimental basic income program in St. Paul, Minn.

The CARES Act provides $139 billion in payments to states and local governments. Those payments have funded things like increased police budgets to offset coronavirus costs and rent and utility assistance for struggling residents.

However, blue states and Democratic mayors are also using the money for their pet causes.

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is spending millions on free college for more than 600,000 essential workers.

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell agreed to spend $629,000 to hire 15 community relations specialists.

Democratic St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter recently announced a guaranteed income program for low-income families using $300,000 in CARES Act money but has received pushback from a fellow Democrat. Earlier in September, Rep. Betty McCollum, D-Minn., wrote a letter to Carter expressing concern that the spending fell outside of federal guidelines and could be subject to recoupment by the U.S. Treasury.