Melendez Calls Out Newsom for Abuse of Power

SACRAMENTO – Newly elected state Senator Melissa Melendez, R- Lake Elsinore, is wasting no time in making her mark in the state Senate. She has responded to what she calls Gov. Gavin Newsom’s abuse of power during the State of Emergency with the introduction of Senate Concurrent Resolution (SCR) 93.

“Governor Newsom’s lone rule over the people of this state needs to end,” Melendez said in a prepared statement.  “Our constitution empowers the legislature to check the executive authority of the Governor and to guard against the installation of an elected king.  The Governor’s unilateral changing of California law without the legislature’s input is a clear violation of our republican form of government and the essence of federalism.”

As part of the state’s response to address the global COVID-19 outbreak, Governor Gavin Newsom on March 4 declared a State of Emergency to make additional resources available, formalize emergency actions already underway across multiple state agencies and departments, and help the state prepare for broader spread of COVID-19. The proclamation came as the number of positive California cases was rising and following one official COVID-19 death.

SCR 93 would end the Governor’s declared State of Emergency, and restore the checks and balances between the Legislature and the Executive branches of government, as intended by our constitution. This resolution also allows local governments to have the ability to call a local emergency as prescribed in the California Emergency Services Act to address local efforts to mitigate the COVID response.

“To date, over 200 hundred laws have been changed through executive order and without legislative input,” said Melendez. “Even the Legislative Analyst cautioned against the unchecked power of the Governor and suggested the Legislature ‘jealously guard its constitutional role and authority.’  We, as legislators, have the power to restore the separation of powers and to ensure the people of this state don’t become subjects to a lone monarch.”

Melendez represents the 28th Senate District which is entirely encompassed in Riverside County and includes the cities of Blythe, Canyon Lake, Cathedral City, Coachella, Desert Hot Springs, Indian Wells, Indio, Lake Elsinore, La Quinta, Murrieta, Temecula, Palm Desert, Palm Springs, Rancho Mirage, and Wildomar..