Healey Keeps Massachusetts Under a “State of Emergency”

It has been 19 months since Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey declared a “state of emergency” in Massachusetts and she has yet to explain what that designation means or when it might expire.

The Associated Press wrote on August 8, 2023, the day the state of emergency was declared, “Healey declared a state of emergency Tuesday, citing an influx of migrants seeking shelter at a time when the cost of housing – already in short supply – continues to rise.”

Healey’s state of emergency appears to be open-ended, as she has not told us when the order will end.

Healey, together with the Massachusetts Legislature, has dedicated billions of taxpayer dollars toward providing shelter and other benefits to illegal aliens but has yet to offer an end-game strategy.

What Exactly Is a State of Emergency?

According to the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA), “A state of emergency can be declared by the Governor of Massachusetts in the event of imminent threat of a natural or man-made disaster.”

What Does a State of Emergency Allow Gov. Healey to Do?

According to MEMA, “Under a state of emergency, the governor has the power to take extraordinary steps to protect the Commonwealth.”

Some examples of “extraordinary steps” include declaring a travel ban or restrictions and closing schools, businesses and government offices.

A state of emergency also allows the governor to “issue executive orders to meet the needs of a threat, emergency, or disaster.”

“These orders are to be treated as laws and may override existing law for the course of the disaster,” according to MEMA.

A state of emergency allows Healey to “exercise any and all authority over persons and property necessary to protect the public,” including “implementing curfews.”