Government Law Center Releases New Explainer on joint investigating committees, their role in a post-Cuomo NY

The Government Law Center (GLC) at Albany Law School has just released its latest explainer to help attorneys, politicians, and the public understand how joint investigating committees could help New York re-evaluate how it investigates, disciplines, and removes officials from state-wide office in the wake of the resignation of former Governor Andrew Cuomo.

Ithaca College Graduates Encouraged to Find A Gift in the Losses

Emmy-nominated television creator and producer Liz Tigelaar told some 1,300 Ithaca College graduates that the beauty in life comes in the questions and the unknowns, and to relish being in a moment where there is so much to discover. A 1998 IC graduate herself, Tigelaar was the main speaker at the college’s 126th Commencement ceremonies held on Sunday, May 23.

New reports address COVID-19’s fiscal effects, policy possibilities

From revenue shortfalls to meeting increased demand for public services, the challenges facing government entities require atypical policies to deal with these issues in the COVID-19 era and beyond, according to new reports from the Government Finance Research Center at the University of Illinois Chicago.

Weighing Trade-Offs Between Public Health and Economic Benefit, New Research Shows Which Businesses Make Most Sense to Reopen

In preparing for the next stage of reopening, leaders must decide what kinds of businesses represent the best and worst trade-offs in terms of economic benefits and health risks. To tackle that question, a new study fuses a variety of data on consumer and business activity, measuring 26 types of businesses by both their usefulness and risk.

Study Identifies Strategies States Use to Limit Local Government Control

Local governments are often innovators of public health policymaking—the first smoke-free air acts, menu labeling laws, and soda taxes were all implemented locally. However, states are increasingly limiting local control over public health issues by passing laws that overrule local regulations, a practice known as preemption.

A new study by researchers at NYU School of Global Public Health, published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, takes a closer look at the strategies state legislatures use—often behind closed doors—to pass preemptive laws that limit local government control.

State, municipal leaders can issue “right” COVID-19 policies even when national leaders put forth “wrong” policies

Democratic institutions, in particular federalism, can impact the speed and degree of policy responses protecting citizens during the COVID-19 pandemic, even when national leaders share public rhetoric that is non-conducive to speedy policy response, says an international group of researchers…