State lawmakers are pushing to curb governors’ virus powers

State lawmakers are pushing to curb governors’ virus powers

Jeff Fitter, owner of Super Smokers BBQ, poses for a photo inside his restaurant Thursday, Jan. 28, 2021, in Eureka, Mo. Fitter says his profits were down by about half last year, largely because of the closures and capacity limits imposed by St. Louis County. He is supporting a bill that would limit local emergency health orders to 14 days unless authorized for longer by the Legislature. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

January 28, 2021 | by: DAVID A. LIEB | KNWA Fox4 | Source

“Irritated by the sweeping use of executive orders during the COVID-19 crisis, state lawmakers around the U.S. are moving to curb the authority of governors and top health officials to impose emergency restrictions such as mask rules and business shutdowns.

The push is underway in such states as Arizona, Michigan, Ohio, Maryland, Kentucky, Indiana and Pennsylvania, where legislators are seeking a constitutional amendment to strip the governor of many of his emergency powers.

Pennsylvania Republican Sen. Wayne Langerholc said the amendment would “make it unequivocally clear that our General Assembly is a co-equal branch … that we are not a monarchy and that our voices matter.””

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