Lamont’s emergency powers extended to May 20

Gov. Ned Lamont’s extraordinary powers to combat COVID-19 will continue until at least May 20 after Democrats in the General Assembly agreed to a one-month extension of his authority. The extension comes as Connecticut is making progress on coronavirus vaccinations but seeing an increase in its test positivity rate and COVID-19 hospitalizations as now more younger people are contracting the virus. Want to get this in your inbox every Friday? Subscribe to Capitol Watch at courant.com/newsletters

The big story

Lamont’s emergency COVID19 powers extended until May 20:

Democratic lawmakers have approved a one-month extension of Lamont’s emergency powers to combat the coronavirus pandemic over objections from Republicans who say the legislature has become increasingly irrelevant as Lamont has governed via executive order for more than a year. The measure passed the state House of Representatives March 25 and the state Senate on Tuesday. Supporters of the extension said lawmakers and the Lamont administration need additional time to decide which executive orders should be continued, which should be changed and which should be suspended. The orders range from keeping bars closed to requiring mask-wearing to expanding the number of people eligible to give COVID-19 vaccinations. Senate President Pro Tem Martin Looney said Lamont still needs broad authority to act because “we do not have this pandemic in our rear-view mirror yet.” Lamont officials have warned that letting the emergency declaration expire could also impact federal funding related to the pandemic. But even Republicans who were complimentary of the job Lamont has done guiding the state through COVID-19 argued it was time for the legislature to be more involved. “Let us get back to work,” Sen. Paul Formica, R-East Lyme, said. “We are a coequal branch of government, and it’s time for us to start acting that way.”

Five things you may have missed

Connecticut gets first credit rating upgrade in two decades:

For the first time in 20 years, a Wall Street credit rating agency has upgraded its rating of Connecticut’s finances, an important signal that reflects confidence in the state’s budgeting and could save money in the future through reduced borrowing costs. State Treasurer Shawn Wooden said the upgrade by Moody’s Investors Service was “a significant milestone for the state.” It comes as tax collections have exceeded expectations and the state is on track to end the fiscal year with a $180 million surplus as well as a reserve fund of more than $3 billion. Moody’s said the upgraded bond rating “reflects the state’s continued commitment to numerous governance improvements that have already borne fruit.” Those measures include the so-called debt diet Lamont has pushed since being elected, saying Connecticut needed to scale back borrowing, as well as a measure that requires surplus funds to be saved or used to pay down pension debt.

Zoning reform bills advance, but not without changes:

A pair of bills that would overhaul the state’s zoning rules to promote the construction of more affordable housing and address racial segregation were advanced by the legislature’s planning and development committee Wednesday, but even supporters of the measures said they are likely to undergo changes as they move through the General Assembly. One change already made is eliminating a provision that would have required communities to approve certain multifamily housing developments near train stations. Senate Bill 1024 would legalize construction of accessory apartments statewide and prohibit cities and towns from using vague terms such as “character” in zoning rules to block proposed projects.

House Bill 6611 would set benchmarks and deadlines for cities and towns to develop affordable housing. Wednesday’s votes moved the measures forward, but it is unclear if the House or Senate will take up the measures before lawmakers adjourn in early June.

Bipartisan agreement on designating pizza as official state food:

A legislative committee that has had protracted debate on bills examining voting rights and other issues found bipartisan consensus to advance legislation that would make pizza Connecticut’s official state food. The bill is being pushed by New Haven lawmakers, but before Wednesday’s committee vote, several members opined about where the best pies can be found. “I just want to say that we have good pizza in Meriden, too. Not just New Haven,” said Rep. Hilda Santiago, D-Meriden. Rep. Stephanie Thomas of Norwalk said: “I just want the record to reflect that as a Jersey girl I’m not admitting that Connecticut pizza is better than New Jersey pizza if I vote yes on this bill.” Connecticut has a state flower (mountain laurel), state animal (sperm whale), state bird (American robin) and state hero (Nathan Hale), but no food-related designations have made their way into statute.

Climate change bill that could raise gas prices moves forward:

The legislature’s environment committee voted Wednesday in favor of a significant climate change bill that would generate funding to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, cut air pollution and promote electric cars but that could also raise Connecticut gasoline prices by 5 to 9 cents per gallon in 2023. Lamont is seeking the legislature’s OK to join the multistate Transportation Climate Initiative, a regional cap-and-trade plan to raise money to combat climate change by seeking wholesale reductions in motor vehicle pollution, the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions. Opponents of the proposal say increased costs for wholesalers will be passed along to consumers through increased prices and have decried it as a new gas tax. The program is expected to raise $89 million in Connecticut in 2023 and as much as $117 million in 2032. Massachusetts, Rhode Island and the District of Columbia have also joined the effort.

Committee OKs legislation ending religious exemptions for vaccines: A bill to eliminate Connecticut’s religious exemption for required vaccines for schoolchildren was pushed forward in the legislature’s public health committee by a largely party-line vote Wednesday, with Democrats in favor and Republicans opposed, but members on both sides of the aisle expressed support for grandfathering in all children with existing religious exemptions currently in Connecticut schools. The bill was the subject of a 24-hour public hearing in February and has drawn strong opposition from some parents who see it as government infringing on their rights. Supporters say they are concerned about a recent increase in students claiming the exemptions and say that can put other students who cannot receive vaccines due to medical conditions at risk. “You have a right to religious expression and affiliation as an American,” said Rep. Henry Genga, D-East Hartford. “Exposing those with life-threatening illnesses is not a result which we have a right to.”

Odds and ends

The Connecticut Supreme Court

Monday dismissed a challenge from a Milford tavern owner and affirmed Gov. Ned Lamont’s emergency powers that have kept bars shuttered since the pandemic took hold in Connecticut last March. The unanimous opinion said COVID-19 is a “serious disaster” under state law and Lamont’s decision to act via executive order and suspend laws and regulations is within the authority of his office. The suit, field by Kristine Casey, owner of Casey’s Irish Pub, had argued the state law authorizing gubernatorial emergency powers during disasters was vague and should not extend to the pandemic. … Rep. Robyn Porter, D-New Haven, bristled on social media

Tuesday at the concept of COVID19 “vaccine passports” that would require people to show proof of vaccination to visit a business, take a trip or attend a sporting event. Lamont has no plans to develop the tool on a statewide basis, but recently suggested businesses in the private sector may take the lead on the issue. Porter, however, wrote on Facebook that the proposed passports were a “backdoor way of mandating [vaccines] without technically making it a mandate.” ... Biagio ‘Billy’ Ciotto, the colorful ex-state senator from Wethersfield who died last month at the age of 91, was remembered at his funeral Monday by friends, colleagues and even President Joe Biden, who wrote a personal letter that was read at the service. “Please accept Jill’s and my heartfelt condolence on the passing of your beloved Billy,” Biden wrote to Ciotto’s wife of 66 years, Jeanne, and her family, in a letter read by U.S. Rep. John Larson, whose office Ciotto had worked in until recently. … Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin received his first COVID-19 vaccine Thursday as the state expanded eligibility to all residents 16 and up. “I just got my vaccine. I got the first shot just now. It’s April 1, but I’m not fooling. It feels good to get that vaccine,” the 41-year-old mayor said in a video posted to Twitter from a walk-up clinic in Hartford. “Do it for yourself, for your loved ones, your colleagues, your classmates. Do it for your community. We’ve got to beat this virus, and the way we do it is by getting this vaccine.” … Mary Ann Turner, the longtime Enfield Republican Town Committee chairwoman, has been named vice chairwoman of the Connecticut Republican Party. Turner will serve through June, when the party’s central committee will elect a new slate of officers. She replaces Sue Hatfield of Pomfret, a state prosecutor and former GOP candidate for attorney general who has stepped in as chairwoman after J.R. Romano, the chair since 2015, resigned in January before his term ended.