Approximately three weeks ago, I started working as a Hunger Advocacy Fellow and within minutes of starting, I kept hearing of this thing called “Lame Duck.” Now, coming from a very rural area in Northwest Ohio, all I knew at the time about a Lame Duck was that it was a duck that had gotten hurt. Looking back, I was completely wrong.
So, What is a Lame Duck Session?
A Lame Duck session of Congress in the United States occurs whenever one Congress meets after its successor is elected, but before the successor’s term begins. Currently, any meeting of Congress after election day, but before the next Congress convenes the following January, is a Lame Duck session. In Ohio, state legislative sessions last two years. This means that every even-year election, Ohio is subjected to a Lame Duck session. This then becomes a lightning round with the purpose of closing out that specific general assembly session. Lame Duck is the last opportunity for lawmakers to pass legislation before their terms officially end. Any bill that has not yet passed must be signed into law by the end of the year, otherwise the bill dies and must be reintroduced next term. This then creates an incredibly busy time for Ohio.
My Reflection:
Once I was able to fully understand and grasp the idea around Lame Duck and its meaning for me and others around me, I was able to really see the impact that it creates. I was involved in two in-person events surrounding the issues being discussed for Lame Duck. The first was an Advocacy in Advent event and the second was a Rally for Democracy held at the State House. Both were very different from each other, but also represented the same kind of energy. During the Advocacy event, we met with legislators and worked on personally communicating our needs and wants on a one-on-one basis. We wanted to cause a disruption, but with an interpersonal approach. During the Rally, over a hundred people went to the State House to voice our opposition to HJR6, a proposal that would strip Ohioans of their voice by making it much more difficult to pass citizen initiated referendums. There was a mass crowd that swept through the halls of the State House and eventually entered into the general assembly. The goal here was to also cause a disruption, but in a public and powerful sense. We wanted to make our voices heard and our actions seen.
Then, there are the actual committee hearings that occur during Lame Duck to track and amend legislative proposals. The full House and Senate sessions then meet with many pauses and delays as final negotiations occur. The most recent (and hopefully final) session was completed over the course of 16 hours. While many of us were sleeping, legislators were hard at work. It is said that this was one of the longest held sessions in recent years and really goes to show how important this time can be. Here, they voted on things ranging anywhere from changes in Ohio Criminal Law to changing voting restrictions and requirements. In my opinion, Lame Duck really isn’t that lame.
My experience with Lame Duck may have been short, but I also learned so much. As with almost anything, Lame Duck resulted in some good, but also some bad. There are plenty of flaws surrounding this, but at the same time, there is also plenty of good that has arisen. As people of faith, we are called to see the bad, but also to see the good. We take the bad and work to make it better. We take the good and continue to make it better also. During the Lame Duck session, a little can go a long way. One 30 second conversation with a legislator can change someone’s mind. One Letter to the Editor can change a whole city's opinion on issues. One conversation with a church member or leader can make you an advocate. If I could take one thing away from my Lame Duck Session experience is that if we all work together, we really can create change and make impacts. Join me in making a difference through advocacy.
For more information and updates on Lame Duck, follow this link.
Jillian Russell, Hunger Advocacy Fellow