I am reaching out today to encourage your support for LD 131, An Act to Amend the Governor's Emergency Powers, and the other proposals seeking to amend the state’s emergency powers statute. Title 37-B §742 is the Emergency Powers statute and has been used during the last year to address the pandemic. There is no doubt that the chief executive of a state needs to have certain authorities during periods of emergency; however, those authorities should not be free to persist at the sole discretion of the chief executive. The legislature is the voice of the people of Maine. It is the first branch of government and must be allowed to inform the decision making during an emergency. This bill and other similar pieces of legislation reassert the legislative check on executive power by ensuring consultation and communication continue between the Legislature and Chief Executive Office during an emergency. LD 131 requires that after thirty days, the Governor comes to the legislature to get approval for extending the emergency proclamation. The bill requires that the Governor, in declaring an emergency, must apply it to the smallest political subdivision possible and that to impose a statewide emergency, must receive a simple majority of the Legislative Council. Any order issued by the Governor directly resulting in the temporary or permanent closure of any business or civic or religious organization must be approved by 2/3 of the membership of the Legislative Council. These measures are not about any one Governor, but about the restoration of the balance of power between these two branches of government. The people’s voice has been silenced for more than a year. Good government demands that, following such extraordinary events, we review what worked and what didn’t, then adjust accordingly. These proposals do that and ensure that the next time we face an emergency together, it will truly be together, with the voice of Maine people and lawmakers informing the Governor’s decisions and making them better by ensuring consultation outside of a closed office. Thank you for your time in reading this letter and please support LD 131, An Act to Amend the Governor’s Emergency Powers, and all similar bills that seek to restore the proper balance between Maine’s branches of government.

I am writing you to encourage your support for LD 131 An Act to Amend the Governor's Emergency Powers and the other proposals seeking to amend the state’s emergency powers statute. Title 37-B §742 is the Emergency Powers statute and has been used during the last year to address the pandemic. There is no doubt that the chief executive of a state needs to have certain authorities during periods of emergency; however, those authorities should not be free to continue at the sole discretion of the governor. The legislature is the voice of the people. It is the first branch of government and must be able to inform the decision making during an emergency. This bill and other similar pieces of legislation, reassert the legislative check on executive power by ensuring consultation and communication continue between the Legislature and Chief Executive Office during an emergency. LD 131 requires that after thirty days, the Governor comes to the legislature to get approval for extending the emergency proclamation. The bill requires that the Governor, in declaring an emergency, must apply it to the smallest political subdivision possible and that to impose a statewide emergency, she must receive a simple majority of the Legislative Council. Any order issued by the Governor directly resulting in the temporary or permanent closure of any business or civic or religious organization must be approved by 2/3 of the membership of the Legislative Council. These measures are not about any one Governor, but about the restoration of the balance of power between these two branches of government. The people’s voice has been silenced for more than a year. Good government demands that, following such extraordinary events, we review what worked and what didn’t, then adjust accordingly. These proposals do that and ensure that the next time we face an emergency together, it will truly be together, with the voice of Maine people informing the Governor’s decisions and making them better by ensuring consultation outside of a closed office. Thank you for your time in reading this letter, and please support LD 131, An Act to Amend the Governor’s Emergency Powers and all similar bills that seek to restore the proper balance between Maine’s branches of government.

I am writing you to encourage your support for LD 131 An Act to Amend the Governor's Emergency Powers and the other proposals seeking to amend the state’s emergency powers statute. Title 37-B §742. is the Emergency Powers statute and has been used during the last year to address the pandemic. There is no doubt that the chief executive of a state needs to have certain authorities during periods of emergency; however, those authorities should not be free to continue at the sole discretion of the chief executive. The legislature is the voice of the people. It is the first branch of government and must be able to inform the decision making during an emergency. This bill and other similar pieces of legislation, reassert the legislative check on executive power by ensuring consultation and communication continue between the Legislature and Chief Executive Office during an emergency. LD 131 requires that after 30 days, the Governor comes to the legislature to get approval for extending the emergency proclamation. The bill requires that the Governor, in declaring an emergency, must apply it to the smallest political subdivision possible and that to impose a statewide emergency, she must receive a simple majority of the Legislative Council. Any order issued by the Governor directly resulting in the temporary or permanent closure of any business or civic or religious organization must be approved by 2/3 of the membership of the Legislative Council. These measures are not about any one Governor, but about the restoration of the balance of power between these two branches of government. The people’s voice has been silenced for more than a year. Good government demands that, following such extraordinary events, we review what worked and what didn’t, then adjust accordingly. These proposals do that and ensure that the next time we face an emergency together, it will truly be together, with the voice of Maine people informing the Governor’s decisions and making them better by ensuring consultation outside of a closed office. Thank you for your time in reading this letter and please support LD 131, An Act to Amend the Governor’s Emergency Powers and all similar bills that seek to restore the proper balance between Maine’s branches of government.

I am writing you to encourage your support for LD 131 An Act to Amend the Governor's Emergency Powers and all other proposals that seek to amend the Maine's emergency powers statute. Title 37-B §742. is the Emergency Powers statute that has been used during the last year to address the pandemic. There is no doubt that the chief executive of a state needs to have certain authorities during periods of emergency; however, those authorities should not be free to continue at the sole discretion of the chief executive. The legislature is the voice of the people. It is the first branch of government and must be able to inform the decision making during an emergency. This bill and other similar pieces of legislation, reassert the legislative check on executive power by ensuring consultation and communication continue between the Legislature and Chief Executive Office during an emergency. LD 131 requires that after thirty days, the Governor comes to the legislature to get approval for extending the emergency proclamation. The bill requires that the Governor, in declaring an emergency, must apply it to the smallest political subdivision possible and that to impose a statewide emergency, she must receive a simple majority of the Legislative Council. Any order issued by the Governor directly resulting in the temporary or permanent closure of any business or civic or religious organization must be approved by 2/3 of the membership of the Legislative Council. These measures are not about any one Governor, but about the restoration of the balance of power between these two branches of government. The people’s voice has been silenced for more than a year. Good government demands that, following such extraordinary events, we review what worked and what didn’t, then adjust accordingly. These proposals do that and ensure that the next time we face an emergency together, it will truly be together, with the voice of Maine people informing the Governor’s decisions and making them better by ensuring consultation outside of a closed office. Thank you for your time in reading this letter and please support LD 131 An Act to Amend the Governor’s Emergency Powers and all similar bills that seek to restore the proper balance between Maine’s branches of government.