Haines Votes Against Lamont’s Extension of Powers
HARTFORD – Rep. Irene Haines (R-East Haddam) voted today against a resolution to extend the governor’s executive powers granted at the onset of COVID-19. The resolution, which extends these powers until September, passed 74-56 with all Republicans and nine Democrats voting in opposition.
This is the sixth extension of the governor’s powers since the pandemic began and it expires on September 30th, 2021. Thanks to Republican legislation turned into a Special Act this session with support from Rep. Haines (Special Act 21-5), legislative approval for such extensions has been required since May.
Rep. Haines argued that the state is no longer in an emergency situation and this extension is unnecessary. State employees are back to work, agencies are functioning, and the legislature is clearly able to convene and vote when necessary. She also noted that at any point, if the situation got worse, the governor could simply declare another emergency.
“It is well past the time that the legislature should be restored as a co-equal branch of government so that we can do our jobs and represent our constituents,” said Rep. Haines. “There is no reason that this executive power needs to continue. So far 24 other states have ended their orders, and some have even negotiated with our president to continue receiving federal funding dependent on those orders.”
She is referring to Kansas, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania, all states that were able to negotiate with President Biden to keep receiving additional funding for SNAP once their emergency powers expired.
“I am disappointed by today’s vote,” she concluded. “The legislature needs to get to together and start making tough decisions about our next steps- we can’t just leave it all to the governor like we have since March of 2020. I hope that if we are asked to vote again to extend in September, the majority will accept our reality and vote to end these powers once and for all.”
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