Reps. Ferraro & Kennedy Want Voice In State's Pandemic Response

Press release from Connecticut House Republicans:

September 3, 2020

HARTFORD – In an effort to provide a greater voice for their constituents, State Reps. Kathy Kennedy (R-119) and Charles Ferraro (R-117) along with their House Republicans colleagues, at a Capitol press conference today, challenged Gov. Lamont’s authority to singlehandedly determine how Connecticut emerges from the pandemic, saying a legislative committee should vote on his efforts to extend his sweeping executive orders beyond their Sept. 9 expiration date.

Republicans said the state Constitutional safeguards that guarantee separate but equal branches of government are at stake. The orders would affect virtually all aspects of public life. Republicans said the orders should be re-evaluated on a case-by-case basis. There are more than 70 executive orders dealing with myriad issues.

Rep. Ferraro said, "While we are still in a public health emergency, it is fair to say that the conditions in CT that existed in March of 2020 do not at all resemble the conditions that we are seeing as we head into September. We all agreed, when we shut down the General Assembly in March, that it was necessary for the Governor to have emergency executive authority in order to deal with the serious viral pandemic of COVID 19 in a timely and efficient manner. However, now that these powers are coming up for renewal, and the situation has vastly improved, it is time for the legislature to do what the voters elected them to do.... legislate. With our children going back to school and with people going back to work it is important that their voices can again be heard through their representative government.”

"I am concerned about extending these broad executive powers beyond the September date, the public health situation is much different than it was in March. Yes, Connecticut still has the serious potential for the resurgence of the virus, and we should consider continuing some practices such as appropriate social distancing, masks when not distancing and good hygiene. The state needs to follow the science and make the best possible decisions weighing safety issues and practical commonsense concerns," said Rep. Kennedy. "It is also important to understand that as we face these complex social, economic, and social issues we should rely on our representative form of government. As a member of the legislative branch and on the Public Health committee, I believe it is time to represent our constituents and weigh in directly on many of these issues for a more balanced approach."

At the press conference Dr. William Petit, Ranking Member of the Public Health Committee, said, “Science, not politics must be our north star. This is about the lives of those who are at risk, or those who could become at risk. Let’s have a straight up or down vote by the committee that was set up to decide exactly these issues.’’

In a letter to the panel made up of legislative leaders and members of the Public Health Committee on Tuesday, House and Senate Republicans asked that a vote on the extension of executive orders be conducted before Lamont executes another sweeping order to extend them for an additional five months.

“It is not asking too much that this committee comply with the legislative intent that we all agreed on months ago,’’ Republicans said. “As an equal branch of government, our constituents expect us to represent them in Hartford, not give in to one person’s decision.’'

This press release was produced by Connecticut House Republicans. The views expressed here are the author's own.