Sens. Kelly, Formica Renew Calls to End Governor’s Executive Powers Including Order on School Masks

HARTFORD – Senate Republican Leader Kevin Kelly (R-Stratford) and Senate Republican Leader Pro Tempore Paul Formica (R-East Lyme) released the following statement renewing Senate Republicans’ calls to end executive branch emergency powers, including the executive order on the school mask mandate, and restore the legislative process and local control in developing policy related to pandemic-response efforts:

“Connecticut Senate Republican lawmakers have long called for an end to the Governor’s executive powers and restoration of local decision making and the legislative process. We again call on the Governor ahead of this week’s proposed extension of his emergency powers to recognize that it is well beyond time to include the people’s voices in the process and end rule by executive order. When it comes to issues such as mandating masks in schools these are decisions that should not be made by one person in charge of one branch of government. We urge the Governor to end his control by executive order and we urge Democratic lawmakers to restore the legislative process and reject the Governor’s clearly politically motivated ask that the legislature extend emergency powers.”