Holzapfel, McGuckin & Catalano to Governor: ‘Enough is Enough with the Emergency Orders’

The 10th District Legislators, Senator Jim Holzapfel and Assemblymen Greg McGuckin and John Catalano today responded to Governor Murphy’s announcement to extend the state’s Public Health Emergency for the seventh time since March. The lawmakers continue to cite their bill that would limit the Governor’s executive powers, saying this legislation is needed now more than ever.

The lawmakers released the following statement calling on the Legislature to move S-2482 and A-4147, which would require the Governor’s executive orders to expire in 15 days unless extended by the Legislature.

“Since March, it has been one order after another with no end in sight. Even though we have successfully flattened the curve, the Governor insists it’s not enough. Small businesses are continuing to suffer under his restrictions.  Our delegation and our residents are fed up and the legislature must put a stop to this abuse of power,” the legislators said.

“In times of crisis, we need appropriate checks and balances to prevent the overreach of power like we are witnessing now. We cannot allow decisions by one person, with such far-reaching consequences, to impact an entire state for so long without legislative input. This measure would ensure representatives, elected by people, from all corners of the state have a say in whether consequential emergency orders should be extended.

“The longer the Governor sits back and waits for a vaccine, the longer our residents, business owners, and economy will suffer.”