State Reps. Charles Ferraro and Kathy Kennedy joined fellow Republicans in a press conference Sept. 3 calling for more legislative input on Gov. Ned Lamont’s pandemic-related executive orders. Contributed photo.
In an effort to provide a greater voice for their constituents, state Reps. Kathy Kennedy (R-119) and Charles Ferraro (R-117), at a Capitol press conference Sept. 3 along with their House Republican colleagues, challenged Gov. Ned Lamont’s authority to singlehandedly determine how Connecticut emerges from the pandemic, saying a legislative committee should vote on his efforts to extend his 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 more than 70 orders have affected virtually all aspects of public life. Republicans said the orders should be reevaluated on a case-by-case basis.
“While we are still in a public health emergency, it is fair to say that the conditions in Connecticut that existed in March of 2020 do not at all resemble the conditions that we are seeing as we head into September,” Ferraro said. “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.”
Kennedy echoed Ferraro’s observation that circumstances had changed since 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,” she said. “The state needs to follow the science and make the best possible decisions weighing safety issues and practical commonsense concerns. 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.”
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.”
One might ask why these two concerned legislators both voted against Paid Family Medical Leave. I don’t think I want their input on how to deal with the pandemic.
Both Ferrao and Kennedy voted against Paid Family Medical Leave. I don’t want them determining the safety mission of CT.