Top Indiana officials defend governor s emergency powers
CASEY SMITH, Associated Press/Report for America
March 11, 2021
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INDIANAPOLIS (AP) Officials in Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb’s administration on Thursday defended his use of emergency powers during the COVID-19 pandemic as lawmakers continued to push bills that would limit the governor’s executive orders authority.
A half dozen top Holcomb staffers told a state Senate committee the governor’s capacity to quickly address emergencies has been critical to the state s response, arguing that limitations to those powers could hinder the state s current progress and delay urgent reactions to future public health emergencies or natural disasters.
In a rare legislative move, seven officials in Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb s administration spoke Thursday in opposition to a bill being pushed by his own party that would limit the emergency powers he s used during the coronavirus pandemic.
Lawmakers who support the legislation say they want a seat at the table in the decision-making process and improve the state s emergency powers law. Leaders in Holcomb s administration worry the legislation would limit the governor s ability to respond in a timely fashion during a crisis like the COVID-19 pandemic.
Plus, legal experts testified during a committee hearing Thursday that they view the legislation as unconstitutional, an argument many lawmakers don t buy.
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