CT Lawmakers Vote To Extend Lamont's Emergency Powers

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 bill sailed through the state Senate on Wednesday, 24-12, again along party lines.

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, and he has wielded them broadly ever since. Executive orders have imposed limits on gathering sizes, forced some businesses to close and required masks in certain situations. Lamont has also issued orders for 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 extending Lamont's emergency powers argue such authority is necessary for vaccinations 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. A judge ruled in the governor's favor.

Some of the orders, like expanded options for telehealth, have already been extended by the Legislature.