To prevent political stalemates from causing prolonged government shutdowns, a mechanism could automatically reopen government after a set period. This 'dead hand switch' would trigger pre-agreed, across-the-board budget cuts, forcing politicians to negotiate in good faith to avoid an automated outcome that neither side fully controls.

Alex Boris passed a bill requiring mopeds to be registered at the point of sale. When data showed total registrations subsequently declined, he publicly admitted the policy missed the real issue: owners weren't re-registering after a year. This demonstrates a rare political willingness to use data to admit failure and iterate on policy.

Unlike most countries that fund legislation upon passing it, the U.S. Congress passes laws first and separately debates funding later. This fundamental disconnect between approving work and approving payment is a structural flaw that repeatedly manufactures fiscal crises and government shutdowns.

Congress uses its spending power to enact policies in areas where it lacks direct authority, like education or local transport. By offering "conditional spending," it creates powerful incentives for states to comply with federal standards to receive necessary funds.

The legislative process is notoriously slow, but this is an intentional feature. The Constitution's structure creates a deliberative, messy process to ensure that laws with nationwide impact are not passed hastily. This "inefficiency" functions as a crucial check on power, forcing negotiation and preventing rapid, potentially harmful policy shifts.

Introducing legislation in Congress isn't always about immediate passage. Bills frequently function as messaging vehicles to build awareness and support for an idea over several congressional terms. This gradual process allows for the evolution of major policy, like the creation of new government agencies, which rarely happens in a single two-year cycle.

The current expectation for legislative stalemate could be completely upended by a significant economic downturn. A recession would make fiscal stimulus more politically appealing to both parties, consistent with historical patterns, creating an environment for policy action that otherwise seems unlikely given the political landscape.

The Epstein Transparency Act passed with near-unanimous, immediate support because voting against it has terrible optics. This contrasts with typical legislative delays, revealing how politicians prioritize public perception and speed when the "right" side of an issue is obvious to voters.

Assemblyman Alex Boris argues against copying California's AI safety bill (SB53). Unlike state-specific data privacy laws, such a bill wouldn't grant new rights to New Yorkers, as any company large enough to be affected in New York is already subject to the California law, making the effort redundant.