Author: TheConversation

By Edie Goldenberg, Professor of Public Policy; Professor of Political Science, University of Michigan As millions of Americans prepare to vote in November – and in many cases, primaries and state and local elections through the summer as well – lots of people are talking about voting by mail. It is a way to protect the integrity of the country’s voting system and to limit potential exposure to the coronavirus, which continues to spread widely in the United States. I am a political scientist and part of a National Academy of Public Administration working group offering recommendations to ensure...

By J. Alexander Navarro, Assistant Director, Center for the History of Medicine, University of Michigan We have all seen the alarming headlines: Coronavirus cases are surging in 40 states, with new cases and hospitalization rates climbing at an alarming rate. Health officials have warned that the U.S. must act quickly to halt the spread – or we risk losing control over the pandemic. There is a clear consensus that Americans should wear masks in public and continue to practice proper social distancing. While a majority of Americans support wearing masks, widespread and consistent compliance has proven difficult to maintain...

By Carla Flink, Assistant Professor of Public Administration and Policy, American University State and local government leaders nationwide are warning of major budget cuts as a result of the pandemic. Some states even referred to the magnitude of cuts as having “no precedent in modern times.” Declining revenue combined with unexpected expenditures and requirements to balance budgets means state and local governments need to cut spending and possibly raise taxes or dip into reserve funds to cover the hundreds of billions of dollars lost by state and local government over the next two to three years because of the...