January 27, 2021

My Statement Regarding the Extension of the Governor’s Emergency Powers

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Today, Connecticut Democrat leaders announced they will not challenge the Governor’s extension of his emergency powers, which will remain in place until April 20th. The governor’s extension of the public health emergency can be put up for a vote, but only by a committee of 10 consisting of the majority and minority leaders of the House and Senate, the Democratic co-chairs and Republican ranking members of the Public Health Committee, the Senate President pro tem, and the Speaker of the House.

Democrats hold a majority of the seats on that committee by 6 to 4, and unless one or more Democrats break ranks and vote to put the legislative business back into the hands of legislators, that extension will go forward. Democratic leaders indicated today the committee will not even meet to debate the constitutionality or prudence of this decision.

The House Republicans requested that, before they move to extend the Governor’s emergency powers, Democrats in the legislature agree to certain power-sharing measures to ensure the legislature remains a co-equal branch of our state government:

We asked the Democrats — who control both houses of the state legislature — to allow the entire state legislative body to vote on this decision, instead of a select committee of just 10 of us. They declined.
We also asked that businesses and non-profits be given at least 10 days’ notice before they are forced to make modifications or enter another lockdown under an executive order. That request was declined.
Finally, we asked that the capacity limit on churches, synagogues, and other houses of worship be lifted so Connecticut residents can practice their faith while exercising social distancing. They declined that as well.

These kinds of restrictions on unilateral executive power have been introduced and are being debated in almost half the statehouses in this country, but legislative Democrats were unable or unwilling to entertain any of them.

We swore an oath in January to faithfully discharge the duties of our office to the best of our abilities, and I ask my Democratic colleagues to make good on that promise and work with us to return legislative powers to the elected representatives of the people.