Emergency Powers Archives

BOLDIN: Emergency Powers – Not in the Constitution

October 3, 2026 Michael Boldin

For Good Reason The word “emergency” doesn’t exist in the Constitution. That means the rules of the Constitution apply whether someone calls it an “emergency” or not. This wasn’t an accident. It was very intentional, and based on the founders’ own warnings, long-forgotten and ignored today. Let politicians have extra power or funding because they … Read more

Bovard: There’s No Vaccination against Unlimited Political Power

May 20, 2025 James Bovard

Late in the last century, theater goers were jolted when a character in the X-Files movie declared that the Federal Emergency Management Agency can allow “the White House to suspend constitutional government upon declaration of a national emergency.” If the same line was used before thoughtful movie audiences nowadays, the response might be bitter cat … Read more

Bill Limiting Tennessee Governor’s Emergency Powers Passes In TN House

March 29, 2025 Adelia Kirchner

Adelia Kirchner – The Tennessee Conservative A bill to protect the constitutional rights of Tennesseans by prohibiting the governor from suspending any part of the Tennessee Constitution in the issuance of an emergency order, proclamation, or rule passed on the House floor by a 77-16 vote on Monday afternoon. House Bill 0324 (HB0324) is sponsored by Representative Rusty … Read more

So Kids, What Did We Learn From This Week’s House Session (06/08/23)?

June 9, 2023June 9, 2023 Judy Aron

We learned that Republican attendance still put them in the minority today as compared to the Democrat caucus. With 8 Republican members out, and 4 on the Dem side, it put the numbers around 191D-187R in the morning and hovering around 188D-182R later in the day. It is the reason some nanny state bills passed … Read more

Justice Gorsuch Has Some Thoughts About the Response to COVID-19

May 24, 2023 Steve MacDonald

In what may be the non-sequitur of the century, US Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch appended a procedural order with a 900+ word public service announcement about the danger to liberty and Democracy … from the political response to COVID-19.

Are Dems Who Bemoaned Trump’s Exec. Orders Excited About Biden Abusing Emergency and War Powers?

June 18, 2022 Steve MacDonald

These days, no matter who the president is, they will likely unleash a raft of Executive Orders meant to undo the previous president’s orders. The appropriate response on either side is to complain about abuse of authority or undermining the Democracy or the Republic.

Gov. Sununu Fails to Keep His Word, Shows He Cannot Be Trusted

May 29, 2022May 27, 2022 Op-Ed

Gov. Chris Sununu obliterated his own credibility today by going against his word that he would support further emergency powers reform as an extension of the 2021 budget deal with Freedom Caucus lawmakers.

Grassroots Activism Brings 15 Liberty Bills to The Governor’s Desk

May 6, 2022 Op-Ed

EAST DERRY, N.H.—RebuildNH today celebrates two years of hard effort to restore freedom in the Granite State through volunteer political activism using the tools of participation in government set up by our Founders.

NH Senate Democrats Just Voted to Allow ‘Suspending’ the Constitution

January 9, 2022 Op-Ed

New Hampshire liberty advocates won a major victory on Wednesday when our State Senate voted to pass HB 440, Rep. Jim Kofalt’s Civil Liberties Defense Act. This bill will prohibit constitutional rights from being suspended during a state of emergency.

So Kids, What Did We Learn From Thursday’s House Session (01/06/22)?

January 7, 2022January 7, 2022 Judy Aron

We learned that an impending Friday snowstorm can motivate roughly 400 legislators to work through 70 bills in 2 days (Wednesday and Thursday).

The Ticking Time Bomb of Excessive Government Power

December 10, 2021 Jim Kofalt

Imagine that two years ago, someone had told you OSHA’s broadly defined powers would soon be applied in an attempt to force Americans into accepting a novel medical treatment they don’t want, and some believe they don’t need.

Your State House 11/15/21: Childcare, Emergency Powers, Redistricting

January 12, 2025November 15, 2021 Carol McGuire

This week, my committee met for the last time this year, to finish three bills we’d held over. HB 457, changing the duties of the legislative youth advisory council, was amended to simply allow some of their meetings to be held virtually. This should help the lack of geographic diversity on the council, especially since … Read more

Michigan Legislature Revokes Gov. Whitmer’s Emergency Powers

July 24, 2021 Steve MacDonald

Before the spring of 2020, almost no one knew who Gretchen Whitmer was or what she did. But only weeks into the so-called pandemic response Whitmer had “made a name for herself.”

Rebuild NH: Publicly Announced Agreement Acceptable Regarding Emergency Powers Reforms

June 24, 2021June 24, 2021 Op-Ed

Call your state senator and ask them to keep the promises they’ve made; thank those representatives in the Freedom Caucus who stood firm to demand these changes.

Two Steps Forward, Three Steps Back – Senate Rolls Over for Sununu, Expands Governor’s Emergency Powers

June 17, 2021June 17, 2021 Op-Ed

In a joint House-Senate committee today, the Senate openly carried out the governor’s bidding by adding language to the budget that would make his emergency powers fundamentally stronger than they have been over the past 15 months while including only nominal checks from the Legislature that functionally will not work to limit the governor’s power.

Roll Call : 178 House Reps. Voted to “Infringe” Your Rights at Will

May 10, 2021May 10, 2021 Steve MacDonald

The Constitutions, Federal and State, were crafted to identify natural rights that the government was not permitted to infringe. Free Speech, Assembly, Religious Conscience, Self Defense, redress, and Due Process, to name a few. But 178 NH Politicians voted to infringe them at will.

HB 440: Addressing A Court Opinion Granting Our Governor Kingly Powers During States of Emergency

May 7, 2021May 7, 2021 Steve MacDonald

In the Binford decision, an NH Superior Court Judge accepted that if a Governor of NH declared a State of Emergency (for any reason), nothing in heaven or on earth could stop their exercise of power, including the State Constitution.

The House Defends the New Hampshire Republic The Senate Must Follow Suit

November 19, 2024April 14, 2021 Andrew Manuse

Last week, the New Hampshire House showed it understands the gravity of our time, advancing reforms within its budget to end the current State of Emergency and restore a balance of powers in our state. We owe these men and women a debt of gratitude.

RebuildNH Celebrates Bipartisan Effort to Restore Balance of Power in NH

April 10, 2021April 9, 2021 Op-Ed

EAST DERRY, N.H.—The N.H. House of Representatives overwhelmingly declared that no governor ought to use emergency powers the same way as Gov. Chris Sununu ever again, and passed a reform yesterday with a bi-partisan veto-proof majority that will make sure of this.

Breaking: NH House Passes Emergency Reforms Along with State Budget – It’s Time to Contact the Senate!

April 7, 2021 Op-Ed

The N.H. House passed the budget bills today containing the emergency powers reforms that you helped us include, and now the bill is on its way to the Senate. We appreciate the representatives who voted with us today, and we also appreciate you for reminding them to do the right thing. Thank you!