Senate Republicans Offer Amendment to Better Protect the Voice of the People

Sens. Kelly & Formica Statements on Today’s Vote to Extend Gov. Lamont’s Emergency Powers

HARTFORD – Senate Republican Leader Kevin Kelly (R-Stratford) and Senate Republican Leader Pro Tempore Paul Formica (R-East Lyme) released the following statements regarding CT Democrats’ plans to vote today to extend Governor Ned Lamont’s emergency orders for another month:

Sen. Kelly said: “Our democracy is not set up for one-person rule. We are a government of the people, by the people and for the people. It’s past time the legislature fulfills its constitutional responsibility to act as a coequal branch of government alongside the executive branch. People’s health and safety deserves more than a month to month strategy of policies defined by executive orders that may or may not be there in June. If we want policies like a vaccination program or telemedicine over the long term, these concepts must be codified in state law. That is the legislature’s responsibility and it should not be delayed again. We have a job to do.”

Sen. Formica said: “Senate Republicans offered an amendment today to better protect the balance of powers between the legislative and executive branch in the future. We need to make sure the legislature, and the people’s voices we represent, have a role in the executive order process. This amendment makes it incumbent upon the legislature to vote to approve or nullify any executive order that exceeds seven days. When dealing with issues as important as public health, we need to ensure the full legislature – not just a 10 member group of leaders – has an equal voice. Republicans want to codify the good work our state has done during this pandemic and restore the legislature’s voice and role in government moving forward.”