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House Endorses Pandemic Authority Extension For Governor Lamont; Senate Votes Tuesday

The Hall of the House during a break in debate of extending the governor's pandemic authority September 27, 2021.
Image from CT-N video.
The Hall of the House during a break in debate of extending the governor's pandemic authority September 27, 2021.

The state House today approved a proposal to extend the governor's pandemic emergency powers through February 15.

The state Senate is scheduled to meet Tuesday to vote on the extension.

Democratic Government Administration and Elections Committee Co-chair Daniel Fox says emerging variants of COVID-19 are unpredictable and dangerous.

"In light of the cautious and careful manner that the governor has acted with the authority bestowed up him during the declared emergency, I believe that it would be appropriate for this body to approve this resolution," Fox said.

But the ranking House Republican on the Government Administration and Elections Committee Gale Mastrofrancesco, urged lawmakers to end the governor's expanded powers.

"There is no public health emergency. Any emergency that happens, this body can convene in no time at all.," Mastrofrancesco said. "There is no sabotage, there is no disaster for civil preparedness. It is absolutely not necessary."

The state Department of Public health has reported 8,483 COVID-19-associated deaths in Connecticut during the pandemic.

Without an extension, the governor's expanded authority would expire on Thursday.

Matt Dwyer is an editor, reporter and midday host for Connecticut Public's news department. He produces local news during All Things Considered.

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SOMOS CONNECTICUT es una iniciativa de Connecticut Public, la emisora local de NPR y PBS del estado, que busca elevar nuestras historias latinas y expandir programación que alza y informa nuestras comunidades latinas locales. Visita CTPublic.org/latino para más reportajes y recursos. Para noticias, suscríbase a nuestro boletín informativo en ctpublic.org/newsletters.

The independent journalism and non-commercial programming you rely on every day is in danger.

If you’re reading this, you believe in trusted journalism and in learning without paywalls. You value access to educational content kids love and enriching cultural programming.

Now all of that is at risk.

Federal funding for public media is under threat and if it goes, the impact to our communities will be devastating.

Together, we can defend it. It’s time to protect what matters.

Your voice has protected public media before. Now, it’s needed again. Learn how you can protect the news and programming you depend on.

Connecticut Public’s journalism is made possible, in part by funding from Jeffrey Hoffman and Robert Jaeger.