Bills to constrain governor’s executive powers rejected on party-line votes The proposals to require more legislative oversight of civil state of emergency declarations were voted down by majority Democrats on the State and Local Government Committee. Share The Legislature’s State and Local Government Committee rejected in a series of party-line votes Monday more than a dozen bills seeking to constrain Gov. Janet Mills’ executive authority during a civil state of emergency. The bills are a response to complaints that ongoing COVID-19 restrictions ordered by the Democratic governor under a public health emergency are damaging livelihoods and violating citizens’ rights.