Sen. Sampson: “I feel like I’m watching Connecticut’s version of Groundhog Day”

State Senator Rob Sampson (R-16) serves as the ranking senator of the legislature’s Government, Administration and Elections Committee and has been the most outspoken member of the legislature pushing back on the Governor’s overuse of his executive power since his unchecked determination on what businesses are considered “essential” back in March of last year.  Additionally, when Governor Lamont sought to extend his executive power in early September 2020, Senator Sampson led the effort that ended up necessitating a meeting of the media-named “Group of 10” legislative leaders to hold a vote to approve the extension.  

Following yesterday’s announcement of the Governor again extending his authority, now through April 2021, Sen. Sampson offers the following statement:

I feel like I’m watching Connecticut’s version of Groundhog Day.  The Governor is again extending his executive authority without any identifiable rationale to do so.  This time, it is happening despite the legislature being back fully in session.

The Governor and Democrats are enjoying this marriage of convenience where the Governor tackles all the prickly items and legislative Democrats do not have to put their names on any risky or difficult decisions.  A decent respect to the opinions of Connecticut residents and their elected representatives requires that the legislature could and should debate and vote on these items.

While it is a forgone conclusion that the dissenting opinion would easily be out voted in the ten-person meeting, should that mean we ignore the legislative branch entirely? Has the entire General Assembly been reduced to just a rubber stamp of the Governor?

How can the Governor and legislative leaders justify the extension of emergency powers while the Democratically controlled legislature continues to take up controversial but certainly not immediately pressing issues that generate incredible public interest? – issues like the religious exemption on vaccinations, a public option for health insurance, more taxes, and even fines for not voting!

The world is still turning. Many citizens, and their workplaces have made considerable changes to adapt to the daily whims of the Governor and his response to the coronavirus.  They deserve genuine representation.  That is how our system is supposed to work.

I am further disturbed by how Hartford Democrats are using the Governor’s want to extend his powers as an opportunity to fan the flames of divide in our state. Respectfully, Senator Looney, the Republican Leaders’ response was not a rally cry of national republicans for a reckless discard of public health-based policy, but rather a call to start implementing assembly approved long-term changes. If the excuse is that the legislature cannot be collected to hold a vote quickly enough to meet the demands of this pandemic, my suggestion is to try harder. You forced through rules that allow much of the public to be excluded from the legislative process but then decided it was safe earlier this month for both the Senate and the House to be called in to an in-person session.  I am confused.  Is it safe or not?