Democrats Vote Against ALL Emergency Powers Bills

Move signals that they see no role for the legislature during emergencies

STATE HOUSE/REMOTELY- Democrats on the State and Local Government Committee today unanimously voted against 14 bills submitted to address a Governor’s emergency powers. All committee Republicans voted yes on bills submitted to strengthen and address deficiencies in the Emergency Powers Statute (Title 37-B MRSA).

“I am disappointed that Democrats on the committee did not believe we need to address the antiquated emergency powers statute in order to ensure coequal, legislative involvement during a prolonged emergency,” said House Republican Leader Kathleen Dillingham. “It is unfathomable that Democrats on the committee think that the legislature has no role to play when Maine people need them most. Over the past year, our members have heard more from the public on amending the emergency powers law than any other single issue.”

“The Legislature’s ability to represent people is not supposed to be suspended by a long-term emergency,” said Rep. Randall Greenwood (R-Wales). “This pandemic has highlighted a serious flaw in the law governing emergency powers. The legislative branch has effectively been shutout for over a year.”

BILLS THAT DEMOCRATS OPPOSED IN COMMITTEE:

LD 14 – An Act To Require a Two-thirds Vote to Extend a State of Emergency

LD 131 – An Act To Amend the Governor’s Emergency Powers

LD 608 – An Act Regarding the Governor’s Emergency Powers

LD 628 – An Act To Protect Businesses and Civic Organizations from Actions Taken Pursuant to an Emergency Proclamation  

LD 729 – An Act To Provide Transparency Regarding State Contracts during a State of Emergency

LD 955 – An Act To Narrowly Tailor Emergency Powers of the Governor and Other Public Officials

LD 980 – An Act To Establish Balance in the Governor’s Emergency Powers

LD 985 – An Act To RESOLUTION, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of Maine to Require Legislative Approval of Any State of Emergency Lasting Longer Than 60 Days

LD 1019 – An Act To An Act To Promote Transparent Emergency Management

LD 1039 – An Act To Safeguard the People’s Voice in a State of Emergency

LD 1137 – An Act To Limit the Governor’s Emergency Powers by Requiring a Two-Thirds Vote of the Legislature To Continue an Emergency Order after 90 Days

LD 1142 – An Act To Prohibit the Unequal Restriction of Essential Businesses during a State of Civil Emergency

LD 1220 – An Act To Require a Two-Thirds Vote of the Legislature Every 2 Weeks To Maintain a State of Emergency Declared by the Governor

LD 1237 – An Act To Allow the Governor To Declare a Limited State of Emergency for Federal Aid Purposes

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