by Karl Kurtz
Writing in Stateline.org, John Gramlich has a nice wrap-up of this year's special legislative sessions, which nicely complements my previous posting in The Thicket on the subject. It begins:
In what has been a busy year for special legislative sessions, Connecticut and Missouri highlight the promise — and the political peril — that can accompany such meetings. Connecticut’s legislature met for seven hours in late October and passed a $626 million economic development bill. Missouri’s met for seven weeks and accomplished little more than political finger-pointing.
And goes on to quote my colleague, Brenda Erickson, on details about this year's special sessions:
This year, special sessions have been more common than is usual. Brenda Erickson, a longtime analyst with the National Conference of State Legislatures, notes that state special sessions generally happen more frequently during redistricting years and tough economic times. 2011 meets both criteria. At least 25 special sessions have been called so far, with several more expected over the next few weeks, according to NCSL. Subjects that still could be addressed range from how to pay for a new Vikings football stadium in Minnesota to whether to remove the controversial “Fighting Sioux” nickname at the University of North Dakota.
At least 11 special sessions have dealt with redistricting, the once-a-decade redrawing of legislative and congressional lines. Erickson says it is common for states to plan on special sessions specifically for redistricting, given the detailed and often openly partisan nature of the work. That description has held true this year, with politically hostile redistricting sessions in Arizona, Louisiana and Maryland, among other states.
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