Government is run best and Americans enjoy the most freedoms when there is a sufficient separation of powers and actual checks and balances.

Abuse of Power

It is dangerous when one part of our government seeks to seize control over the other branches to impose its will over the people. 

Historically–even before the COVID-19 pandemic–Presidents and Governors have used their executive authority to bypass the legislative process. 

This practice exploded during and after the pandemic, when we saw the abuse of Executive Orders at the federal and state levels that:

• stifled government worker productivity;

• imposed mandates which, despite the available evidence, didn’t “follow the science” while removing choice from personal health care decision-making; and 

• introduced opportunities for mail-in ballot voter fraud.

Separation of Powers

The Founding Fathers reasoned that having three co-equal branches of government– each with the ability to temper the others’ ability to become too big– was the best way to guarantee Americans’ freedoms and ensure citizens remained free of an oppressive government.

The Framers of the Constitution envisioned the Congress would address most of America’s domestic affairs while the President focused on international matters which were limited at the time. Recognizing that the Congress would be most in touch with the People, the Framers addressed the limited powers and responsibilities of the Congress in Article I of the Constitution, while the President’s powers and responsibilities are listed in Article II and the Courts are in Article III.

In New York, our State Constitution follows a similar system where Article I is the people’s “Bill of Rights,” Article II relates to Suffrage, Article III relates to the Legislature; Article IV relates to the Governor; Article V relates to Officers and Civil Departments; and Article VI relates to the Judiciary.

This sequential listing and the powers and responsibilities listed therein are clear indicators that the Framers of our Federal and State Constitutions envisioned the Legislative Branch to be first among the equal branches of government.

Despite this, throughout time, Presidents and Governors of both parties have usurped the powers meant for the Legislative branches. 

If the President or a Governor wants a long-term rule–a law–that affects the freedom of the people, he or she must go through the Legislative Branch.  Having locally elected officials weigh in on these matters will ensure that whatever rule is being offered has sufficient “buy-in” from the communities and is subject to public debate.

Addressing Recent Executive Overreach

In July of 2021, without a public hearing, sworn testimony or debate by Elected Officials from both political parties, President Biden signed an Executive Order to require all federal executive branch workers to be vaccinated. Likewise, despite almost every other nearby state canceling their school mask mandate, New York Governor Hochul waited until March 2022 to end New York’s statewide school mask mandate – and in the summer of 2022, Hochul stated she “reserved the right” to reinstate the mandate despite the evidence which shows children are far less likely to acquire and spread covid.

During my time in Congress, I have supported legislative initiatives to end President Biden’s Executive Orders that kept government workers from showing up to work every day, starting with the Pandemic is Over Act. In January 2023, I also boycotted a Congressional event at the White House over their outdated COVID-19 policies. 

I joined House Republicans in reasserting Congress’ Article I powers by championing the REIN IN Inflation Act, requiring the President to consider the inflationary effects of an Executive Order before signing it. I also proudly supported the REINS Act, which would mandate Congressional approval for any major rule or regulation by a federal agency allowing Congress to reclaim oversight over the regulatory process. I ensured the Fiscal Year 2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) included protections for servicemembers who refused to take the COVID-19 vaccine and I supported legislation such as the Freedom for Healthcare Workers Act, which eliminated the COVID-19 vaccine mandate on healthcare providers.

In January 2023, I also joined New York’s House Republican Delegation on a letter to Governor Hochul demanding she rescind her healthcare worker vaccine mandate, which forced nearly 34,000 healthcare professionals out of work and caused major staffing shortages, straining hospital systems and impacting quality of care.

Although we are out of the woods on COVID-19, should another pandemic or any other gross overreach of power regarding mandates begin to pop up, I would unequivocally reject them.

Of the People, By the People, For the People

The accountability built into our system of government ensures true power remains in the hands of the people. Protecting the American concepts of “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” depends on respect for the separation of powers and the checks and balances afforded to each branch of government–this means less law-making from a single executive authority and more public “buy in” through the legislative process.