State Covid Test Plan Gains Allies as Trump Resists Federal Role

A bipartisan group of lawmakers wants to create a $25 billion fund to help states collectively buy Covid-19 tests, a move Democratic supporters say is the best option in light of a weak federal response.

Sens. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) and Tina Smith (D-Minn.) are leading the push in the Senate for the next virus-relief legislation to encourage states to create interstate compacts for buying testing supplies. The fund they propose could be used by state leaders to obtain tests or set up regional virus tracking systems, according to a summary provided to Bloomberg Government.

The plan, Democratic supporters say, is ...