Governor’s emergency powers still needed

Medical experts expect the virus to surge this fall; the pandemic is far from over.

Not everyone agrees with the timing of his decisions, but Gov. Ned Lamont has been the strong, steady hand the state of Connecticut needs to cope with the coronavirus pandemic for which there is no playbook.

Since March 9 Lamont has operated under emergency executive orders that confer broad responsibility. With the Emergency Public Health and Civil Preparedness Declarations set to expire Sept. 9, the governor on Tuesday extended them another five months through Feb. 9.

We support extending the powers and orders — with a caveat. If the pandemic is under control before the February date, according to metrics that the General Assembly and the governor’s office would agree upon, then the emergency powers should lift sooner.

Early in the crisis the state needed a leader to act decisively and quickly. With the first recorded death on March 17, the scope of the human toll was unknown and feared. Schools had to be closed, all but essential businesses shut down, people were told to shelter in place. Hospitals prepared for the worst; the governor tried to procure critical personal protective equipment that was in short supply across the country. Lamont partnered with the governors of New York and New Jersey.

Executive powers are not to be taken lightly. Republican Senate and House leaders are concerned Lamont’s extension goes too far and circumvents the legislative branch.

They expressed “grave concerns over the extension of unilateral power to the executive branch and the full and total exclusion of the legislative arm of the government,” Sen. Minority Leader Len Fasano and House Minority Leader Themis Klarides wrote Tuesday in a letter to Democratic legislative leadership. “We believe that the power must be given back to the elected representatives who have been elected by the people to act legislatively.”

For a check and balance on the governor’s powers, they want a leadership committee to be able to appeal or reject any new executive order within 72 hours.

That would seem reasonable. But care must be taken that political pressure does not drive policy during this health emergency.

Lamont’s cautious reopening of the state has met pushback. In April, hundreds rallied from their vehicles with parades around the Capitol demanding the right to go back to work; and some groups, such as the restaurant industry, have been urging more leeway with conditions still in a phase two reopening mode.

But proof of the right approach comes down to numbers: Connecticut has one of the lowest rates of positive virus cases in the country, thanks to the governor’s guidance and also, in no small measure, to residents taking the health crisis seriously by wearing masks and practicing social distancing.

We remain in uncertain times, however. Medical experts expect the virus to surge this fall; the pandemic is far from over.

It is appropriate to enable the governor’s orders to stay in place, but a clear measure is must be defined for when they are no longer needed.