https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/pennsylvania-voters-back-limits-on-governors-emergency-powers/ar-BB1gUruN Wolf has been one of the more controversial governors during the pandemic (Republicans would say tyrannical). A referendum this week proposed constitutional amendments to (a) limit emergency declarations to three weeks unless extended by the legislature and (b) allow the legislature to unilaterally cancel an emergency state at any time. It looks like both passed. I have mixed feelings. In principle, it’s a reasonable check on executive overreach, and I support a more parliamentary government. But in practice, it gives more power to the state’s GOP.
Idaho's legislature passed several bills limiting the governor's emergency powers. They also passed a law making it for all practical purposes to put citizen's initiatives on the ballot after the people (in an overwhelmingly pro-Trump state) voted for Medicaid expansion. Is there a pattern emerging?
Our Legislature had a similar measure they were considering, but it died when the Legislative session ended last Friday at 5:00pm. The GOP supermajorities controlling the House and Senate wanted to limit power on the GOP Governor. Merely as a thought exercise, it would have been interesting to see how the GOP Supreme Court decided considering Republicans hold all nine seats on the Court. Edit: For those lacking 2+ firing brain cells, there's more than a little snark covering up for resigned despair at the state of our State government in that comment.
