UNH Today

After taking unprecedented steps to cope with the pandemic, Gov. Chris Sununu now faces a multi-front campaign to check or weaken the governor’s power to deal with future emergencies. Michael Ettlinger, founding director of the Carsey School, said this battle over emergency powers is being fought in statehouses across the country. “The system is checks and balances. You do want the Legislature involved whenever possible, but there is a reason you have emergency power,” Ettlinger said during an interview. “There are times when something comes on suddenly, or the situation is so volatile that it’s not feasible to involve the Legislature in a timely manner.”