As expected, the state Senate approved extending Gov. Ned Lamont”™s emergency powers on Sept. 28. Its 18 to 15 vote followed the House”™s 80 to 60 vote on Sept. 27.
Senators voting against the measure included Democrat Dennis Bradley (Bridgeport).
The emergency powers, first approved in March 10, 2020 when the Covid-19 pandemic began, had been set to expire on Sept. 30. The latest move ”“ which is the fifth extension ”“allows Lamont to exercise his emergency powers through Feb. 15, 2022, when the next regular legislative session begins.
The latest extension has been criticized by some state Republicans as unnecessary, but Lamont and his Democratic allies maintain that it is necessary to make the state government more nimble in reacting to Covid developments.
“We”™re doing this to keep you safe,” the governor told Fox-61. “We”™ve got boosters in line we’ve been talking about. With vaccines for kids, we’ve got to be able to act and act fast.”
