A Vote on Executive Orders

July 19, 2021

On Wednesday, the House of Representatives met in a special session to vote on whether or not to extend the Governor's authority to issue executive orders per Connecticut’s emergency declaration. After much deliberation, I voted "yes."

In the weeks leading up the vote I heard from folks on both sides of the issue. There were those who urged me to vote against it, seeing it as "a power grab," saying the pandemic was a hoax and/or is over, and that we are living in "a dictatorship." Others in the towns I represent, including medical professionals and teachers, urged me to vote in favor, citing the ongoing need to protect the public from the newer variants of the virus. I agree with the latter.
 
Rhetoric aside, I do understand people's concern about government over-reach. Surely, we are through the worst of the pandemic of 2020. Connecticut has been a leader in the number of people vaccinated, and our state has, generally, "re-opened." Why, then, does the Governor need the ability to issue new executive orders? Because, despite our early and effective containment, we are not out of the woods yet. Should the Delta (or other) variant spike, the Executive Branch needs to act quickly. The Legislature, on the other hand, as a deliberative body, is not nimble, and so cannot act as decisively as might be needed.
 
Significantly, under this extension, the Governor's powers are limited to certain aspects of public health and civil preparedness. Were we to have voted NOT to extend the limited emergency declaration, and were the infection rate to spike to a dangerous level, he could, in fact, declare a NEW emergency and have more power. So, in a very real sense, by voting to extend the existing authority (which we put parameters on when in session in March) we are limiting the scope of his authority. I know this sounds counter-intuitive, but it is procedurally accurate. It’s important to note that of the hundreds of Executive Orders at the height of the pandemic, today only a handful remain. This vote does not give the Governor unbridled power. We, the legislature, can veto any future Executive Order if we believe it crosses a line.
 
So what does the declaration do? As drafted, this continued emergency declaration allows the State to create new vaccination sites in such places as commuter lots; be more flexible with procurement rules for healthcare providers; deal with the eviction crisis, keeping renters in their homes while aiding landlords in recovering lost rent; continue efforts to get an estimated 1.5 million Connecticut residents fully vaccinated; and, yes, require masks in schools for unvaccinated children (those under 12) as needed.  
 
Additionally, extending the emergency declaration is critical to making sure Connecticut continues to receive every dollar of federal funding available. Several federal funding sources are contingent on the continuance of the emergency declarations and executive orders. The pandemic has brought with it a significant financial toll and this federal funding is what our state needs to come out of this pandemic even stronger. It makes absolutely no sense to leave federal funds on the table.

Finally, if you are interested in what I said on the Floor of the House on Wednesday, please click HERE (my remarks begin at the 1:02:48 mark).

Thank you.