CONSERVATIVE CAUCUS OBJECTS TO GOVERNOR EXTENDING UNILATERAL RULE OF STATE BY EXECUTIVE FIAT

Governor Lamont announced today his intention to continue the unilateral rule of the state by executive order, extending the duration of the civil preparedness and public health emergency declarations for at least another five months. The Connecticut General Assembly Conservative Caucus strenuously objects to this extension and demands that legislative leadership reject the public health emergency declaration to reestablish the appropriate standing of the Legislature as a co-equal branch of government representing the people of our state. Giving one single man virtually unlimited power to rule over the state’s 3.5 million residents, with essentially no oversight or input from the state’s elected representatives in the legislature, must cease.

Since the Governor invoked his emergency powers, misconceptions, mistruths and falsehoods have abounded (including last week’s The Day editorial) about the laws authorizing the Governor’s executive powers and the process by which the Governor can extend his unilateral rule. The people of Connecticut deserve to know the truth about how the governor seized power, and question his intentions of retaining it.

On March 10, 2020, the Governor declared a Civil Preparedness Emergency (CPE) pursuant to C.G.S. § 28-9, which permits such a declaration in the wake or imminence of: a serious disaster; enemy attack; sabotage; or other hostile action in our state, or an adjoining state. The Governor decreed the CPE to end on September 9, 2020. A CPE remains in effect until the decreed end date or until the governor earlier proclaims the disaster, attack, sabotage, or hostile action no longer exists. On March 10, 2020, the Governor also declared a Public Health Emergency (PHE) pursuant to § 19a-131a(b)(1).

Within the 72-hour window immediately after issuance or extension, the PHE and certain CPE declarations may be disapproved by a vote of a committee of various legislative leaders. The legislature does not, and did not, vote to grant the Governor any power. Pursuant to CGS § 28-9(1), the Governor’s declaration of either a CPE or a PHE gives him the power to suspend or modify any statute, regulation or requirement he sees as conflicting with his efficient and expeditious execution of civil preparedness functions. That power is the genesis of most of the Governor’s seventy or so Executive Orders issued since March 10, 2020.

Assuming that the declarations were valid and legal when first issued, prior to September 10, 2020, the Governor can renew his PHE declaration pursuant to CGS § 191a-131a(b)(2). That unilateral act can then only be rejected within the first 72 hours following the declaration by a committee of legislative leadership and leadership of the Public Health Committee. If allowed to take effect, the new PHE would remain in effect until the newly decreed end date or until sooner revoked by a determination that a substantial risk of a significant number of human fatalities or incidents of permanent or long-term disability no longer exists.  If the Governor re-declares a CPE pursuant to C.G.S. § 28-9, the renewed declaration has no override provision and no statutory end date. The Governor can essentially rule as he wishes until he decides to stop.

It is time now for the Connecticut General Assembly to stand up and end the unilateral rule of Governor Lamont, reestablishing its appropriate role of representing the people of Connecticut.

The members of the Connecticut General Assembly Conservative Caucus are:  Rep. Mike France, Chair (R‑42); Rep. Craig Fishbein, Vice Chair (R-90); Rep. Anne Dauphinais, Secretary (R-44); Rep. David T. Wilson, Treasurer (R-66); Rep. Tim Ackert (R-8); Rep. Brian Lanoue (R-45); Rep. Doug Dubitsky (R‑47); Rep. Rick Hayes (R‑51); Rep. Kurt Vail (R-52); Rep. Joe Polletta (R-68); Rep. John Piscopo (R‑76); Rep. Gale Mastrofrancesco (R-80); Rep. John Fusco (R-81); and Rep. Vincent Candelora (R-86)