Depending where you live, you are anywhere from days to weeks into the COVID 19 shutdown.  While we have previously looked at the impact of COVID 19 on presidential politics, this post will focus on some other impacts.

Let’s start with our state legislatures.  While the size varies from state-to-state, most of our legislative bodies are larger than should be gathered in one place at one time.  Thus, it makes sense for legislative bodies to minimize days when they are actually in session and to reduce the number of hearings that they are holding (which many have done).  On the other hand, many states have specific dates for their regular sessions.  So, at some point soon, these state legislatures will reach the point where they have to meet so that they can pass appropriations bills to continue operations into the next fiscal year.  How these state legislatures will handle these necessary votes — perhaps arranging for staggered voting so that one group of ten enters through separate doors, votes and then departs for the next group to enter — and what non-appropriations bills will also be deemed necessary remains to be seen.  (I know that, in my state, the Republican majority is very unhappy with redistricting reform that passed in 2018 and want to put another proposal — with just enough sweeteners on legislative ethics to appeal to voters who do not understand the new proposal — to undo most of the reform on the ballot,  Before COVID 19, it was likely that something would get on the ballot.  Now, it’s unclear if the desire to get this issue on the ballot is high enough to get very limited hearing time and floor time.)

On similar grounds, many states have an initiative and referendum process. This process requires a certain number of signatures (sometimes with geographic distribution requirements) by a certain date.  Particularly in a state in which — whether through intentional gerrymandering or population distribution — one party has control over the government, this process can often be the only way to get things like increases to the minimum wage or protection of worker’s rights passed into law.  With COVID 19 (even though the petition gathering may technically be exempt from the stay-at-home order in some localities), it is going to be very difficult to get enough signature for ballot initiatives this year. Continue Reading...