Voss reacts to bill 1.6.21

ABC 36 political analyst Stephen Voss reacts to the state assembly's proposed bill to limit gubernatorial powers

The shortened general assembly session in frankfort this week got off to the start many expected...with republican lawmakers fast- tracking bills that would limit governor andy beshear's emergency powers.

Beshear even criticized one bill...calling it unconstitutional.

Abc 36 political analyst stephen voss says it's normal for new bills to be deemed unlawful....especial ly now...with such a polarized government.

The bill in question...senate bill one...would limit a governor's emergency order to 30 days.

After that...lawmakers would have to approve an extension.

The bill would also stop the governor from issuing an executive order on the same emergency without approval.

Voss says the bill...and others...will likely be refined as they pass through the legislature.

Still...he says potential backlash from kentuckians who may think republican lawmakers are more focused on playing politics can't be ignored.

"i do think some kentuckians were looking to the legislature to take action dealing with the current crisis first, and so it does give the democrats some rhetorical advantage to criticize them for dealing first with a separation of powers issue - a issue that has to do with how government's run."

That's a talking point democrats have already brought up so far in the session.

Senate bill one has already passed through committee...it goes on to the