With far less discussion than provoked by its bar-hookah-gym closure, the Rapid City Common Council last night repealed its idiosyncratic 2004 moratorium on telephonic and electronic meetings. Rejoining every other political subdivision in South Dakota in the ability to hold meetings online makes sense, as we need to keep doing democracy without requiring that council members and community members crowd into a room to cough on each other.
That brings me to the question of how the Legislature will convene for Veto Day. A week from today, legislators are supposed to gather in Pierre for the last day of the 2020 Session. Usually after their two-week break, legislators spend the final day dealing strictly with gubernatorial vetoes (of which there are just two so far). However, given the profound social, economic, educational, and public health impact of the coronavirus on South Dakota, there’s a strong argument that the Legislature may need to take advantage of one last work day to pass a variety of emergency bills to protect our schools, our elections, and other vital social institutions from further pandemic disruption.
But do we really want 105 elected officials and a few dozen lobbyists from all corners of the state crowding into the Capitol? Do we really want to point all those disease vectors at Governor Noem and everyone else who is hanging out in Pierre?
Let’s have a big Veto Day, but let’s do it by phone. SDCL 1-25-1.5 says “Any official meeting may be conducted by teleconference.” Legislative committees sometimes meet by phone; let’s show our technological chops by having the committee of the whole meet online!
One Nebraska legislator is pushing for her unicameral colleagues to meet electronically:
State Sen. Patty Pansing Brooks sent an email to her colleagues Saturday, along with a memo outlining the legal basis for having a virtual session. She also sent a copy of a Nebraska Supreme Court ruling that she said supports her arguments.
…Pansing Brooks said she understands the need to act quickly on Gov. Pete Ricketts’ request for $58.6 million in emergency funds. But she said there is no need to meet in the same physical space to accomplish that task.
“Can any one of us be reasonably assured that we will not infect a colleague, and thereby their family, or be infected by a colleague and thereby infect our family, with this rash assembly, which could be quickly replaced by remote technology?” she asked.
She cited concerns about the health and safety of lawmakers, many of whom are over age 60 or have underlying health problems, such as heart disease, lung disease or diabetes. She also said some may have been exposed to the virus without knowing it [Martha Stoddard, “Nebraska Legislature to Reconvene Monday; One Senator Calls Virtual Meeting,” Scottsbluff Star-Herald, 2020.03.22].
South Dakota has plenty of legislators in the coronavirus high-vulnerability group. Don’t make them risk their lives for a couple measly vetoes or even for the emergency measures that a smart Legislature ought to consider to prepare South Dakota for the long haul against covid-19.
The Nebraska Legislature may not be able to reconfigure its meeting into cyberspace before gaveling in today. But the South Dakota Legislature has a week to prepare for what would be its first virtual assembly. Let’s set an example, Legislature, of how to minimize health risks while keeping normal business flowing online. Call Zoom, buy a Pro or Business plan with the Large Meeting add-on, send out the log-in instructions to the legislators, and let’s end the Session online next Monday.
Exactly. I just downloaded Zoom, as have friends, so we can have virtual get togethers. It’s a great platform.