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Posted on 01/22/2021 6:20:06 PM PST by lightman
The Republican-controlled Legislature on Friday took another step in the drive to strip future governors of some of their constitutional authority under emergency declarations, and give lawmakers more control over the declarations.
The Senate Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee approved it on a party-line basis, 7-4.
Passage by both the House and Senate before Feb. 18 can ensure that it gets on Pennsylvania’s May 18 primary ballot when it can go to voters for a final decision in a statewide referendum.
The measure arises from Republican lawmakers’ strident disagreement with how Gov. Tom Wolf, a Democrat, has handled the coronavirus pandemic in Pennsylvania.
It would end an emergency disaster declaration after 21 days, unless lawmakers approve an extension through a majority vote.
It also gives lawmakers, with a two-thirds majority vote, the ability to end a disaster declaration.
Wolf first issued an emergency order in early March for 90 days, and has since extended it every 90 days.
Republicans say the amendment will bring a balance of power, legislative input and accountability to disaster emergency declarations.
Democrats say it will deprive a governor of the ability to manage a disaster and potentially cost the state money by missing out on reimbursements from federal emergency relief aid.
If Pennsylvania were to end its emergency declaration, it would become the only state in the country to do so during the pandemic, said Sen. Carolyn Comitta, D-Chester.
Pennsylvania Ping!
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how about some election legislation
Only if it has 2/3 vote. Governor will veto
Legislature should have never given
Hey, how about doing a fast bill to clean up the vote fraud?
This is to place it on the ballot as a public referendum. Does it need the governor’s approval?
There was a boilerplate “emergency powers” piece enacted by many states in the aftermath of the 1968-69 riots.
Fear is an emotion and emotions are not rational.
Declaration of a state of emergency has never included the ability to change election laws!
They had a hearing today with secretary bookvar. At about the 26:55 location it was clear this person is not able to perform the job and caused much of the problems with this past election. In stead of organizing responses to question in a procedure document she answered emails witch cause mass confusion between different election boards.
really-no more electronic-internet voting, mail-in-ballots plus req’d voter ID
She is another example of Governor Wolf making appointments based on boobs and melanin.
Our veto-proof republican legislature here in Kentucky is trying to rein in our emergency-loving democratic governor. There’s also a modest effort to impeach the governor but I don’t believe the repubs have the courage to go through with it even though the governor has broken laws and violated the constitution during this nearly year-long COVID inspired emergency.
The Executive branch needs to be able to have Emergency powers to respond to any initial incident, just like in the event of a car crash the FD can close a highway if needed, but not forever and once finished helping injured and mitigating any hazards like fires or leaking fluids, must let PD handle the rest.
The same goes for Governors, they can take soem initial actions for say 30 days IMHO, them must allow the legislature to take over by say meeting weekly to discuss the current situation and approve any necessary measures the Gov feels necessary.
What we have now in Pennsylvania is a perpetual “state of emergency” without accountability.
Governor Wolf is a lame duck...two years to go in his final term. He answers to no one.
When am I going to get my right to have my vote count back? No problem with cutting back on the governor’s powers. They could have gone further tho.
In PA statewide referendums cannot be introduced by the people..
Only the legislature can add a statewide referendum to the ballot, if I am not mistaken.
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