LD980 would place several limitations on the powers of the Governor to issue and maintain an emergency proclamation, and specify that a violation by the Governor of the exercise of emergency powers is an impeachable offense.
The House passed a motion to defeat LD980 on June 7, 2021, by a vote of 78 to 62. We have assigned pluses to the nays because Article IV, Section 1, of the Maine Constitution vests legislative power in the House of Representatives and the Senate, not the Governor. Each state, under Article IV, Section 4, of the U.S. Constitution, is guaranteed a republican form of government, which requires a limitation and separation of powers.