Bakersfield Asm. Vince Fong is seeking to curb California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s power.
Fong and Asm. Jordan Cunningham (R–San Luis Obispo) introduced Assembly Bill 108 on Wednesday, which would limit what the governor is able to do under the California Emergency Services Act.
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If AB 108 is passed, the governor would have to approach the Legislature to approve any changes to laws and regulations enacted under the California Emergency Services Act 60 days after declaring an emergency.
Fong said the bill is similar to emergency power laws seen in other states and is an effort to balance the different branches of government.
“The California Constitution places the authority to make laws solely under the legislative branch of government, but this governor has run roughshod over these constitutional checks-and-balances,” Fong said in a statement. “We need to restore legislative accountability and balance that is foundational to our system of representative democracy.”
The proposed legislation comes in response to Newsom’s actions during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Fong said Newsom “has unilaterally changed our state’s laws without the input of the state Legislature, which is unacceptable.”
