CT House Lawmakers Vote To Extend Lamont's Emergency Powers

Danbury CT

12 May, 2021

11:07 AM

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CONNECTICUT — The governor is one step closer to having his emergency powers extended into the summer. The state House of Representatives voted Tuesday to extend Gov. Ned Lamont's pandemic authority until July 20. The vote went mostly along party lines, with all Republicans and just one Democrat voting against. The extension may come with a new failsafe, however. A second bill, endorsed unanimously by lawmakers in both parties, lets the leadership of the legislature effectively veto any new executive order made by the governor. The bill also calls for the full legislature to approve any new extensions of the 90-plus executive orders Lamont has signed since the pandemic began. The emergency powers were granted to Lamont by the legislature in March 2020, at the start of the coronavirus, and he has wielded them broadly ever since. Executive orders have imposed limits on social gathering sizes, closure of businesses, face mask mandates and personal protective equipment purchases. Lamont has also issued orders related to coronavirus testing, especially for high-risk populations in congregate settings. His emergency powers also gave flexibility to hospitals, nursing homes and first responders to change certifications to bring in more manpower to deal with the pandemic. The governor's emergency powers were originally set to expire after six months, but were extended in September and again in March as the pandemic dragged on. Proponents of once again extending Lamont's emergency powers, which have effectively allowed him to rule by executive fiat for over fourteen months, argue such authority is necessary for the efficient continued roll out of the vaccine and disbursement of federal coronavirus relief funds. Critics have accused the governor of imperiously removing responsibilities from elected lawmakers, with one pub owner in Milford suing Lamont for the unilateral shutdown of her business. The judge ruled in the governor's favor. Some of the orders, like expanded options for telehealth, have already been extended by the legislature. Both bills are now heading towards the state Senate.