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alan-greenblatt

Alan Greenblatt

Alan Greenblatt is a former editor of Governing. He is the co-author of a standard textbook on state and local governments. He previously worked as a reporter for NPR and CQ and has written about politics and culture for many other outlets, print and online. He can be reached at Alan.greenblatt@outlook.com and on X at @AlanGreenblatt.

During the pandemic, most governors have signed executive orders waiving requirements regarding medical licensing and health facilities. Republicans want to shield businesses broadly from civil liability for the spread of COVID-19.
Despite some hurdles, government through remote work is performing better than expected. It will likely lead to permanent changes in everything from labor management and technology to physical footprints.
The nation has enjoyed public health triumphs, with life expectancy far higher than it was a century ago. But responsibility for health has always been scattered, with disease tracking less a priority than treating individuals.
Given the budget crunch, cities are cutting or canceling summer jobs programs. Some are trying to find ways of keeping kids engaged online.
Liberals are calling for an expansion of government, while conservatives say budget shortfalls must lead to cuts. One scholar argues that after the current crisis passes, states will end up looking much like they do now.
During the pandemic, Democratic governors have alternately knocked the president and sought his help. For the opposition party, power in states now provides a base that Congress does not.
Already, thousands of state and local government workers have been furloughed or laid off. Falling revenues and soaring demand could lead to budget shortfalls of up to 40 percent, making help from Congress crucial.
Thousands of inmates are infected with the coronavirus and dozens have already died. Some governors have released prisoners for public health reasons, but there's always a risk they'll reoffend.
Colleges and universities face a worse situation than the Great Recession. States are bound to cut their budgets, while every other revenue source — tuition, dorm fees, donations, endowments — are under pressure.
Unemployment threatens to rise to levels not seen since the Great Depression. A Pulitzer Prize-winning historian of that era thinks most of the economy will recover much more quickly than it did back then.