{"id":525534,"date":"2021-05-19T12:20:16","date_gmt":"2021-05-19T16:20:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=525534"},"modified":"2021-05-19T12:20:21","modified_gmt":"2021-05-19T16:20:21","slug":"the-people-have-spoken-voters-strip-away-layers-of-pennsylvania-governors-emergency-powers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/the-people-have-spoken-voters-strip-away-layers-of-pennsylvania-governors-emergency-powers\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018The People \u2026 Have Spoken\u2019: Voters Strip Away Layers Of Pennsylvania Governor\u2019s Emergency Powers"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">28<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fthe-people-have-spoken-voters-strip-away-layers-of-pennsylvania-governors-emergency-powers%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=525534&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><div><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/GettyImages-1213156920-scaled-e1621439230355.jpg\" class=\"ff-og-image-inserted\"  style=\"display:none\"><\/div>\n<p>Pennsylvania voters approved two ballot measures Tuesday to limit the governor\u2019s emergency powers and give more power back to the state legislature.<\/p>\n<p>While the final vote tally is still incomplete, preliminary results show 54% of voters supported a ballot question that would allow a simple majority of lawmakers to do away with a disaster declaration at any time, according to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.inquirer.com\/politics\/election\/spl\/pa-primary-2021-ballot-question-disaster-declaration-results-20210519.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">The Philadelphia Inquirer<\/a>. As of current, the governor or two-thirds of the assembly can\u00a0terminate the declaration, according to the report.<\/p>\n<p>Another <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dos.pa.gov\/VotingElections\/Pages\/Joint-Resolution-2021-1.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">measure<\/a> passed by a similar percentage of voters limits the length of a disaster declaration to 21 days rather than 90 days and gives the legislature the power to extend an emergency order rather than the governor, according to the report.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" readability=\"8.4807692307692\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">BREAKING: (AP) Pennsylvania voters become the first in the nation to impose restrictions on a governor\u2019s authority under an emergency disaster declaration.<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Stephen Ohlemacher (@stephenatap) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/stephenatap\/status\/1395020763938369542?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">May 19, 2021<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>The measure passed mainly along party lines, with the proposals supported mainly by Republicans, according to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.audacy.com\/kywnewsradio\/news\/local\/ballot-questions-limiting-governor-emergency-power-undecided\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">KYW<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Republican State Sen. Scott Martin who helped author the amendments applauded voters for voting yes in a statement obtained by the Daily Caller.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe people of Pennsylvania have spoken. Adopting these two constitutional amendments begins the process of restoring checks and balances to the decision-process of how we as a state deal with long-term emergencies.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cResidents of this Commonwealth knew that a yes vote meant a return to communication, collaboration and transparency in the handling of future emergencies,\u201d he continued. \u201cWe now will begin the steps to adopt a better way to handle emergencies that involves accountability and working together across all branches and levels of government.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Chairman of the Pennsylvania House State Government Committee Rep. Seth Grove said the state \u201cConstitution has been permanently changed to reestablish our constitutional checks and balances.\u201d<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" readability=\"10.510638297872\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Pennsylvania was the first state to have ballot questions to curb executive powers during emergency declarations.<\/p>\n<p>Our constitution has been permanently changed to reestablish our constitutional checks and balances.<a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/VrIZoqLCmA\">https:\/\/t.co\/VrIZoqLCmA<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Rep. Seth Grove (@RepGrove) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/RepGrove\/status\/1394995804377583620?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">May 19, 2021<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf recently called on voters to vote \u2018no\u2019 to the ballot proposals, saying they were \u201cpoliticizing disaster response,\u201d according to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wtae.com\/article\/pennsylvania-disaster-ballot-questions-governor-wolf-urges-no-vote\/36406295#\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">WTAE<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The head of the state\u2019s Emergency Management Agency said the measures could have a \u201cdetrimental impact on the state\u2019s ability to respond to future disasters and emergencies,\u201d according to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcphiladelphia.com\/news\/politics\/pennsylvania-emergency-official-asks-voters-to-reject-ballot-questions-related-to-disasters\/2813196\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">NBC Philadelphia<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Republican Majority Leader Kim Ward of Pennsylvania\u2019s Senate said in April that voting \u201cyes\u201d gives power back to the people, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cA \u2018yes\u2019 vote does not take power away from the governor,\u201d she reportedly said. \u201cRather, it brings back the balance of power by giving the people a say in how to manage their communities during emergency situations.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Senate GOP Caucus spokeswoman Erica Clayton Wright said in April \u201can emergency declaration is meant to give the executive branch the power to triage a crisis, not a vehicle for the governor to enact, amend and suspend laws and regulations for an excessive period of time,\u201d according to NBC Philadelphia.<\/p>\n<p>Wolf and Republicans have been locked in a battle since the beginning of the pandemic, with Wolf imposing a <a href=\"https:\/\/dailycaller.com\/2020\/12\/10\/pennsylvania-coronavirus-lockdowns-ban-indoor-dining-large-gatherings\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">series of lockdowns <\/a>and closures that have been criticized by Republicans.<\/p>\n<p>The fight has been taken to court; the Third U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals <a href=\"https:\/\/dailycaller.com\/2020\/10\/01\/pennsylvania-appeals-court-allows-governor-tom-wolf-restore-pandemic-restrictions-unconstitutional-federal-judge\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">ruled<\/a> in October Wolf could reinstate his restrictions after a federal judge ruled his orders were unconstitutional.<\/p>\n<p>U.S. District Judge William Stickman IV <a href=\"https:\/\/dailycaller.com\/2020\/09\/14\/federal-judge-rules-pennsylvania-governor-tom-wolf-rachel-levine-shutdown-non-essential-businesses-gathering-unconstitutional\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">ruled<\/a> in favor of plaintiffs who alleged the governor and Secretary of Health Rachel Levine imposed arbitrary restrictions and violated constitutional rights.<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/dailycaller.com\/2020\/08\/20\/pennsylvania-health-secretary-rachel-levine-secret-agreement-car-show-coronavirus-restrictions\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">(RELATED: Pennsylvania Health Secretary Made Secret Agreement To Allow Car Show Against State\u2019s Gathering Limit)<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Stickman ruled while Wolf\u2019s actions \u201cwere undertaken with the good intention of addressing a public health emergency \u2026 even in an emergency, the authority of government is not unfettered.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Stickman ruled the state\u2019s gathering limits violated the right of assembly and that the stay-at-home and business closures violated the Fourteenth Amendment.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Pennsylvania voters approved two ballot measures Tuesday to limit the governor\u2019s emergency powers and give more power back to the state legislature.While the final vote tally is still incomplete, preliminary &#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2278556,"comment_status":"close","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/GettyImages-1213156920-scaled-e1621439230355.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"\u2018The People \u2026 Have Spoken\u2019: Voters Strip Away Layers Of Pennsylvania Governor\u2019s Emergency Powers","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-525534","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/GettyImages-1213156920-scaled-e1621439230355.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"\u2018The People \u2026 Have Spoken\u2019: Voters Strip Away Layers Of Pennsylvania Governor\u2019s Emergency Powers","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/525534","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=525534"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/525534\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2278556"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=525534"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=525534"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=525534"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}