HARTFORD, Conn. (WTIC Radio and AP)—Connecticut lawmakers will meet on Wednesday to consider whether to extend Gov. Ned Lamont's emergency declarations, first issued in March of 2020 during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The governor has asked the Democratic-controlled General Assembly to renew the declarations of public health and civil preparedness emergencies through Sept. 30, noting he is only seeking to extend 11 executive orders that address things like vaccine distribution and allow for federal funds.
That's compared to a high of more than 300 at one point during the crisis. Conservative Republicans say it's an overreach by the governor.
Republican lawmakers joined rally-goers on Monday around noon at the State Capitol in Hartford, calling for an end to Lamont's executive powers.
Over 100 people showed up to the Capitol building with signs that read, "Emergency Powers: What Emergency?", "Unmask Our Kids" and "Stop King Ned."
Many in attendance agreed that Connecticut was no longer in a state of emergency, including Jeff Vaimberger of Hartford.
"Where's the emergency? There is no more emergency. There hasn't been since the first three or four weeks of this virus," Vaimberger said.
State Senator Heather Somers (R) spoke at the rally, urging rally-goers to contact their democratic representatives and voice their opposition to the extension.
"There is absolutely no valid reason to request an executive continuance of his total and complete supreme authority," Somers said, "If there are things that are that important to do, we can be called in as a legislature to make sure they happen."
Many attending republican lawmakers said they would be voting no on Wednesday, including State Representative Laura Devlin (R) and State Representative Greg Howard (R).
The crowd cheered in response to questions Howard posed such as, "Who remembers, 'wear a mask and you can have your freedoms back?'" and "Who remembers, 'get your shot and you can have your freedoms back?'"
"When does it end?" Howard asked. "If you call your democratic legislators, it ends on Wednesday. That's when it ends."
House Democratic leaders have proposed extending the governor's powers for another six months.