Facing a surprisingly competitive general election against Republican Lee Zeldin, New York’s Democrat Governor Kathy Hocul announced on Monday she would not renew her state’s COVID emergency orders.
NEW: @GovKathyHochul says she will NOT renew her emergency Covid powers before they expire tonight. Hochul has been extending them month to month to better manage the pandemic. But she has also faced criticism for renewing them even as other restrictions were being scaled back. pic.twitter.com/BZFrkowsxk
— Zack Fink (@ZackFinkNews) September 12, 2022
Hochul’s action stands in contrast with that of Texas Gov. Greg Abbott.
On March 13, 2020, Texas’ Republican governor announced his declaration of a state of emergency over COVID-19. His first order came after 39 cases were reported in Texas. He has renewed the order each month since, for a total of 30 months.
The original emergency declaration and its renewals have been the basis of every COVID-related executive order issued since—including lockdowns and mask mandates, all without input from the state’s Legislature.
Despite the issue of executive overreach being a stated priority of the Republican Party of Texas last year, lawmakers refused to pass any restrictions on the practice. They also declined to consider efforts ending the emergency orders.
Most recently, in late August, Abbott declared that “a state of disaster continues to exist in all counties due to COVID-19.”
Abbott’s current COVID emergency order expires in nine days.
Concerned Texans may contact the Office of the Governor at (512) 463-2000.
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