Politics and Government Professor Riverstone-Newell’s recently published research on preemption has attracted national media attention.
Her latest media interview was in an El Paso Times story that appeared on the USA Today website. The story examines the controversial ways in which Republicans are trying to exert control over local policies with which they disagree. Preemption thus refers to how Republican controlled governments are seeking to reign in cities on hot button issues such as marijuana law enforcement and sanctuary city status.
Riverstone-Newell is quoted as saying that “(Republicans in state government) have taken this opportunity to lash back at what have been, in their opinion, years of progressive policies that are ideologically different than what their constituents believe in.”
“Republicans have long argued that the lowest level of government that can deliver a service should be the one to do so. So their preemption of local laws and regulations for the sake of state uniformity is hypocritical.”—Lori Riverstone-Newell
The issue has risen to the forefront since Republicans have gained control of both the White House, the Congress, and 32 state legislatures, yet do not control many of the nation’s cities. Riverstone-Newell adds that “Republicans have long argued that the lowest level of government that can deliver a service should be the one to do so. So their preemption of local laws and regulations for the sake of state uniformity is hypocritical.”
