Press Releases
Official Press Releases from the CTGOP
April 16, 2025
CONNECTICUT DEMOCRATS CONTINUE TO DIVIDE CONNECTICUT
Their Actions to Ignore Federal Law Will Cost Connecticut Taxpayers (Middletown) Earlier today, we learned that Connecticut Education Commissioner Charlene Russell-Tucker declined to sign the U.S. Department of Education’s letter certifying compliance with federal civil rights law, which now includes the rejection of discriminatory practices related to “diversity, equity, and inclusion” programs. “It is thoroughly disappointing that Connecticut Democrats so blatantly refuse to comply with federal law. This political decision to continue DEI policies not only harms the students in our schools but also risks Title 1 funding, which primarily helps support districts with higher percentages of low-income
March 4, 2025
SENATORS MURPHY AND BLUMENTHAL ONCE AGAIN OPPOSE MAKING WOMEN’S SPORTS SAFE FOR WOMEN ATHLETES
(Middletown) Last night, Senate Democrats including Connecticut’s own Senators Chris Murphy and Dick Blumenthal, voted to block the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act, which would have kept men out of women’s sports. “This shameful vote by Senators Murphy and Blumenthal is just the latest in a series of Democrat resistance to Republican-led initiatives to keep women’s sports safe and fair,” said Republican State Chairman Ben Proto. “Here on the state level, Connecticut Democrats in the State House voted down a Republican amendment requiring the State Department of Education and CIAC to develop a plan to keep biological
March 3, 2025
CHRIS MURPHY AND SENATE DEMOCRATS ATTEMPTING TO TAKE OVER US FOREIGN POLICY: Murphy And Senate Democrats Action Prolong Russia-Ukraine War
(Middletown) This past week, US Senator Chris Murphy and other Senate Democrats met with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky shortly before he met with President Donald Trump and Vice-President J.D. Vance in the Oval Office. At that meeting, Senator Chris Murphy, leading the Senate Democrat meeting, urged Zelensky to reject the mineral rights agreement the Trump & Zelensky administrations had negotiated. “Senator Murphy and the Senate Democrats need to understand their role,” said Republican State Chairman Ben Proto. “Murphy and his fellow Senate Democrats purposely urged President Zelensky to reject an agreement that his administration negotiated in good faith with the United States.
February 26, 2025
GOVERNOR LAMONT’S PSYCHIATRIC SECURITY REVIEW BOARD RELEASES CONVICTED MURDER AND CANNIBAL BACK ONTO CONNECTICUT’S STREETS
(Middletown) Late last week, Governor Lamont’s Psychiatric Security Review Board granted Tyree Smith, a murderer and cannibal, a conditional release, allowing him to leave Connecticut Valley Hospital in Middletown. Smith confessed to and was sentenced for the 2011 killing of a homeless man in Connecticut, in which he ate the victim’s body parts. “The Lamont-appointed Psychiatric Security Review Board decided to release onto the streets a murderer and cannibal – a man who killed another person with an axe before removing parts of his brain and organs to eat them. This decision is mind-boggling. Smith is dangerous, and the
February 19, 2025
CONNECTICUT SPENDING $1.3 BILLION ON ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS WHILE OUR CITIZENS CANNOT AFFORD COST OF LIVING
MIDDLETOWN – Earlier this week, the Yankee Institute reported that the State of Connecticut spends $1.3 billion on illegal immigrants, which includes the cost of Medicaid, Medicare, and housing programs. “I am appalled, but not surprised, that Governor Lamont and Connecticut Democrats are spending billions of dollars of taxpayer money on illegal immigrants,” said Connecticut Republican Chairman Ben Proto. “They continue to prove that their top priority is not the people of Connecticut, but the people who broke our laws to come to our country and our state illegally.” “$1.3 billion dollars would go a long way to solving
February 7, 2025
Connecticut Republican Statement Concerning Attorney General Tong’s Plan To Continue Child Mutilation & Permit Boys in Women’s Sports
MIDDLETOWN – Attorney General William Tong’s decision to support the continuation of harmful surgery and other dangerous medical services on minors while denying women’s rights in sports is dangerous to children and risks the loss of federal health funding for Connecticut families, according to State Republican Chairman Ben Proto Friday. “Attorney General Tong is either sadly misinformed or a prisoner to an ideology that rejects science, common sense and fairness,” said Proto. “We need to help children with gender dysphoria and confusion, we need to restore the law which demands boys and girls play sports with genders they were
January 28, 2025
GOVERNOR LAMONT AND CONNECTICUT DEMOCRATS CONTINUE TO FAIL CONNECTICUT
Governor Welcomes Criminal Illegal Aliens to Come to Connecticut MIDDLETOWN — Governor Ned Lamont fails to grasp that we are a nation of laws and borders and that his far-left progressive attitude is putting Connecticut residents at risk, according to Republican State Party Chairman Ben Proto. “Ned Lamont continues to speak and act as if he doesn’t care about the dangers of an open border and the presence of criminal illegal aliens who do not have legal rights and are not entitled to taxpayer funded services,” said Proto. “Connecticut citizens have always welcomed peaceful immigrants who come here and
January 17, 2025
CT DEMOCRATS VOTE AGAINST PROTECTION OF WOMEN AND GIRLS IN SPORTS
MIDDLETOWN — On Wednesday, Congressmen, John Larson, Joe Courtney, Jim Himes, Congresswomen Rosa DeLauro and Jahana Hayes, voted against legislation that would protect girls and women athletics. They voted against legislation that would strengthen opportunities for our daughters and granddaughters to compete in interscholastic sports against only biological girls and women, asserted Republican State Party Chairman Ben Proto. “Connecticut Congressional Democrats demonstrated how completely out of touch they are with the insane idea that biological boys and men should be allowed to compete in women’s sports,” said Proto. “Their actions are abhorrent to female empowerment, common sense and fairness.”
December 2, 2024
PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN AGAIN FAILS THE PEOPLE OF AMERICA
Pardon of son Hunter Biden a Slap in the Face to Americans MIDDLETOWN — President Joe Biden announced that he was issuing the most sweeping pardon for his son Hunter Biden, by any President in over 50 years. This will ensure that his son not only does not face criminal sentencing for the crimes for which he has been found guilty or pled guilty but also for any other crime he may have committed over the past 10 years, including potential influence peddling while his father was Vice President. “President Biden’s pardon of his son, Hunter Biden, is
November 21, 2024
CONNECTICUT REPUBLICANS MOURN THE DEATH OF GOVERNOR M. JODI RELL
MIDDLETOWN – The Connecticut Republican Party mourns the loss of former Governor M. Jodi Rell. Governor Rell passed away in Florida, Wednesday, November 20, 2024. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Rell family. “I had the honor, privilege and pleasure of knowing Jodi Rell and working with her” said Republican State Chairman Ben Proto. “As a young attorney, one of my first jobs was as counsel to the Connecticut House Republican Caucus. I had the opportunity to work with then State Representative Jodi Rell, on the bill screening committee. I had the opportunity to learn a great deal
November 13, 2024
CONNECTICUT UNIVERSITIES TRYING TO FIND “CREATIVE WAYS” TO USE TAXPAYER MONEY TO PAY UNDOCUMENTED STUDENTS
MIDDLETOWN — Connecticut universities are attempting to find “creative ways” to get undocumented students “paid jobs”. These “creative ways” must include the ability to pay the undocumented students without a need for a social security number, or other ways that don’t mention employment or tax status. “While students from other countries are always welcome to study at our great universities, particularly those in Connecticut, it seems counterintuitive to have students who do not have any type of documentation to be in the United States, let alone a simple student visa that would, not only allow them to study in
October 30, 2024
Statement from Chairman Ben Proto
Connecticut Republican Party Chairman Ben Proto released the following response to statements made by a few Connecticut Republicans: “The Connecticut Republican Party, and its entire leadership team, proudly supports Donald Trump, JD Vance, and all our Republican candidates. We know Kamala Harris and Tim Walz could not be a more wrong choice for our country and Connecticut. We strongly urge those who share our commitment to a more affordable country and state, energy independence, a more secure border, safer streets, better schools, and support for Israel and our Jewish allies, to cast their vote for President Donald Trump. Disparaging
October 29, 2024
BOB DUFF PROVES TO BE THE MOST INDECENT POLITICIAN IN CONNECTICUT
ATTACKS TRUMP BY MINIMIZING THE HORRORS OF THE HOLOCAUST AND OPENING JEWISH WOUNDS MIDDLETOWN — The Connecticut Republican Party, led by Chairman Ben Proto, demands an immediate apology from State Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff (D-Norwalk) and calls on Connecticut Democrats to denounce the abhorrent comparison made in a recent video posted by Duff. The video equates former President Donald Trump to Hitler—a comparison that is not only deeply offensive but also trivializes the atrocities of the Holocaust and the suffering of its victims. This rhetoric dangerously distorts history and insults the memory of those who perished under the
October 24, 2024
Chairman Proto Files Another SEEC Complaint Against Democrat Candidate for State Representative Amanda Veneziano
MIDDLETOWN — Following a recent mailer sent to voters by Amanda Veneziano, Democrat candidate for the 55th State House District, Connecticut Republican Chairman Ben Proto filed a complaint with the State Elections Enforcement Commission. “The disregard for the law and the intent of clean elections is a clear indication Amanda Veneziano is not of sound character and should not be serving in public office” Proto said. “This is the second time she has willfully ignored the spirit and letter of the law, the first time, she admitted to breaking the law but still received her grant, this time, she
October 23, 2024
TREN de ARAGUA GANG COMES TO CONNECTICUT
CHRIS MURPHY, JAHANA HAYES, AND DEMOCRATS FAIL TO PROTECT CONNECTICUT MIDDLETOWN — On Monday, Tren de Aragua gang members committed a heinous murder in Stamford. Police captured the two in New Rochelle, New York, after they fled the scene of the murder with two young children. “When Senator Chris Murphy said that the Democrat Party has failed the people we care most about, ‘undocumented Americans’, these were the people he was talking about. Because of Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, Chris Murphy, Jahana Hayes, Joe Courtney, and the entire Connecticut Congressional delegation’s failure to secure our border, a Connecticut
October 15, 2024
DEMOCRATS FIDDLE AS CONNECTICUT BURNS
MIDDLETOWN — Recent reports show that Connecticut is lagging behind the rest of the country in terms of job and wages growth. Approximately 40% of Connecticut households live paycheck to paycheck. In addition, Connecticut families are paying $1,136 more per month for the same items as they were in January 2021. “Unfortunately, we, in Connecticut, are suffering through some horrendous decision-making from Democrats in both Hartford and Washington,” said Connecticut Republican Chairman Ben Proto. “The worse the news gets, the worse the decision-making coming out of the Governor’s office, the legislature, PURA, Department of Labor, and the myriad of
October 2, 2024
Statement on Vice Presidential Debate
“We saw last night a clear difference between leadership. Senator JD Vance showed the American people the priorities of the next Trump Administration: a strong and secure border, prosperous and healthy citizens, and leadership that will focus on healing our divided country. “Governor Walz showed the unstable continuation of a Harris Biden Administration. We have all experienced the disastrous 3.5 years of the Harris Biden Administration including skyrocketing energy prices and unaffordable grocery bills that force families to make decisions they never should. We got to see Governor Walz’s true demeanor when he slipped and expressed Democrats’ extreme and
September 18, 2024
GOVERNOR LAMONT AND DEMOCRATS PLAYING POLITICS WITH ELECTRIC RATES
MIDDLETOWN — With rising electric rates, voter anger, and no real energy policy, Governor Lamont and the Democrats have put off any action to relieve ratepayers of overly burdensome electric bills until after the election. “It is truly shameful that Governor Lamont and Democrats in Hartford are too afraid to do their jobs and go into Special Session to address the ever-rising public benefits charges on our electric bills,” said Republican Chairman Ben Proto. Questions about true motivations rose earlier this week when State Representative and Energy and Technology Committee Co-Chairman Jonathan Steinberg (D- Westport) recently said, “Does he [Governor
September 11, 2024
CONNECTICUT REPUBLICAN PARTY STATEMENT ON PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE
MIDDLETOWN — Last night President Donald Trump and Vice-President Kamala Harris met for the first time to discuss the issues facing America, Americans and the world. The debate, allegedly moderated by David Muir and Lindsey Davis of ABC News, showed stark differences between the two candidates. “Last night we saw a Kamala Harris that seems to have been created out of whole cloth” said Connecticut Republican Chairman Ben Proto. “She acted as if she had nothing to do with the horrific policies of the past 3+ years of the Biden-Harris administration. It’s as if she was absent from an
August 19, 2024
GOVERNOR LAMONT NEEDS TO COME HOME AND HELP BAIL OUT THE TOWNS DROWNING FROM STORM DAMAGE
MIDDLETOWN — This weekend, many communities in Connecticut were hit by devastating rains, washing out major and minor roads, inflicting damage to government, business, and residential properties, and most upsetting, causing the loss of life. Governor Ned Lamont, who has been on vacation for the past week and is now in Chicago for the Democrat’s National Convention, has left Senator Martin Looney in charge of this disaster. “The Governor is in Chicago at the sham Democratic National Convention to enjoy the generosity of major donors and hobnob with politicos from around the country, while parts of Connecticut are literally drowning,”
August 15, 2024
STAMFORD DEMOCRAT REPRESENTATIVE ANABEL FIGUEROA MUST RESIGN FOLLOWING ANTISEMITIC COMMENTS
Before Tuesday’s state primary, a video from Stamford Representative Anabel Figueroa, D-Stamford surfaced in which Figueroa made antisemitic remarks. To be specific, she urged voters against permitting “a person who is of Jewish origin, of Jewish origin, to represent our community. It’s impossible.” Today, another video came to light which includes more antisemitic comments from Rep. Figueroa. “Antisemitism has no place in America, and it certainly should not be propagated by elected officials in our state. I am calling on Stamford Democrat Rep. Anabel Figueroa to immediately resign from public office,” said Connecticut Republican Party Chairman Ben Proto.
August 15, 2024
DEMOCRATS ARE TONE-DEAF ON RISING ELECTRIC BILLS
PURA APPROVES ANOTHER INCREASE IN ELECTRIC BILLS MIDDLETOWN — The Public Utility Regulatory Authority (PURA), on Wednesday, approved an increase in electric bills to “true up” the cost Eversource and UI are incurring to “enhance,” among other things, the electric vehicle charging grid, as part of the so-called Regulatory Adjustment Mechanism, imposed by the Democrats. “This additional cost will be added to electric bills starting next month and is part of the Democrat’s plan to force electric vehicles down the throat of Connecticut residents,” said Ben Proto, Connecticut Republican Party Chairman. This additional cost will only add to
August 8, 2024
LAMONT AND DEMOCRATS NEED TO FIX CONNECTICUT’S ELECTRIC BILL
Lamont should issue an Executive Order Putting Moratorium on Collecting Public Benefit Charges and Call Legislature into Special Session MIDDLETOWN — Today, the Senate and House Republicans held a press conference on the ever-rising electric bills Connecticut homeowners and businesses have been receiving. Leaders Harding and Candelora, together with the entire Senate and House Republican Caucuses, called for an immediate Special Session of the General Assembly to address the outrageous electric bills Connecticut homeowners and businesses received this month. (A copy of the Joint Release is Attached. You can watch the press conference by clicking this link.) “Unfortunately,
August 6, 2024
HARRIS-WALZ IS THE MOST FAR-LEFT RADICAL TICKET IN AMERICAN HISTORY
(Middletown) “Today, Vice President Kamala Harris showed her true colors and the direction she wants to take America by choosing one of, if not the most, far-left progressive Governors in America,” said Republican State Chairman Ben Proto. “Governor Walz has said that he is more than happy to be labeled a big government liberal. And his actions as Governor of Minnesota prove just how happy it makes him,” continued Proto. “Whether it is providing free government services, like enrollment in MinnesotaCare or free college tuition to illegal immigrants, allowing for abortions up to the time of birth, raising taxes
July 29, 2024
ANTISEMITISM MUST NOT BE TOLERATED
MIDDLETOWN — “Swastikas painted at a Stamford High School is a further indication that antisemitism in Connecticut, and across the country and world, is on the rise,” said Connecticut Republican State Chair Ben Proto. “It’s no coincidence that this heinous act follows Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to the United States, the attempt to rip down the American flag in Washington DC and trying to replace it with the Palestinian flag, and, more importantly, the deadly attack by Hezbollah, targeting a playground and killing Jewish children and young adults.” “Hate speech of any kind must be condemned and fully
July 24, 2024
Statement on Prime Minister Netanyahu’s Address to Congress
MIDDLETOWN — Today, Connecticut Republican Party Chairman Ben Proto released the following statement on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s address to the United States Congress in Washington, DC. “Connecticut Republicans welcome Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu back to the United States. Despite the protests of many radical Democrats on the Far Left, America stands side by side with the State of Israel. Prime Minister Netanyahu’s speech before Congress demonstrated strength, solidarity with the United States, and commitment to bringing home the eight American hostages held by Hamas since the horrific terrorist attacks on October 7, 2023. Our fellow Americans will not
July 21, 2024
STATEMENT FROM CONNECTICUT REPUBLICAN PARTY ON WITHDRAWAL OF PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN FROM THE PRESIDENTIAL RACE
(Middletown) The Democratic Party is in shambles, and they have no plan to help the average American in Connecticut. We’ve seen the disastrous consequences of their policies over the past four years: record inflation, soaring prices for every day necessities, unprecedented border crossings, and a weakened status on the international stage. Furthermore, the strong arming to force President Biden to step down underscores a disturbing lack of democratic process within the Democrat Party. Instead of allowing a transparent and open primary process, it appears that the Democrat Party is maneuvering behind the scenes to select a candidate that aligns
July 13, 2024
STATEMENT ON THE ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATION OF FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP
(Middletown) Chairman Proto today released the following statement following the attempted assassination on President Trump: “Today’s attempted assassination of former President Trump is tragic and sad. Our prayers are with President Trump and his family. “The actions of one deranged individual do not represent American values. We make change at the ballot box. All Americans, regardless of political affiliation or political philosophy, must condemn this heinous act and recommit to engaging in political discussion that will move our country forward in a nonviolent manner.”
June 7, 2024
WETHERSFIELD DEMOCRATS PROVE TO BE COWARDS BY FAILING TO HONOR A HERO
MIDDLETOWN — Chairman Ben Proto chastised Wethersfield Democrats who failed to honor the senseless murder of State Trooper Aaron Pelletier after calling the thin blue line flag racist and non-inclusive. “As all of Connecticut knows, Connecticut lost a brave and dedicated State Trooper last week who was killed in the line of duty at a routine traffic stop by a hit and run driver on Interstate 84 in Southington” Proto began. “This loss is a loss for all of Connecticut and we should honor our police and we all pray that we will never again have to lay to rest
May 22, 2024
CONNECTICUT REPUBLICANS CALL ON GOVERNOR LAMONT TO KEEP HIS WORD AND VETO TAXPAYER DOLLARS TO PAY STRIKING WORKERS’ BILL
MIDDLETOWN — House Bill 5431, poorly named An Act Establishing a Connecticut Families and Workers Account, now released as PA 24-131, has been sent to Governor Ned Lamont’s desk for his signature. Will it be a veto signature, as he promised, or will it be a signature signing the bill into law? “Governor Lamont, at his post-legislative session, clearly stated that he does not support this bill. He described it as ‘too cute by half’ and said if the legislature wants to create a fund for striking workers, it should do so with a true vote on the issue,” said
May 1, 2024
Governor Lamont, Lt. Governor Bysiewicz and Democrats in Connecticut Need to Act on Yale
MIDDLETOWN — “The rise of blatant antisemitism at Yale University requires action by Governor Ned Lamont, Lt. Governor Susan Bysiewicz, and the Democrats in the Connecticut General Assembly,” said Ben Proto, Chairman of the Connecticut Republican Party. Their silence on these actions, particularly that of Senate President Martin Looney, who represents the city of New Haven, has been deafening. Their silence provides these antisemitic protestors with the belief that what they say is supported by the Democrats.” “The leadership of Yale University is complicit in all these antisemitic activities,” continued Proto. “It is time for Governor Lamont, Lt. Governor
March 14, 2024
LARSON, HAYES AND HIMES FAIL TO PROTECT AMERICANS FROM CHINESE INFLUENCE
MIDDLETOWN — Yesterday, the United States House of Representatives overwhelming voted to approve legislation which bans any social media platform, including TikTok, from use in the United States unless it was sold to a U.S. entity. TikTok, a social media application owned and controlled by ByteDance, a China-based company, is among the most used social media platforms in the world. “When it came time to protect Americans, and their personal data and wellbeing, John Larson, Jahana Hayes and Jim Himes, failed the call, and voted to protect the Chinese company that is regularly collecting personal information and data on
March 7, 2024
CTGOP Statement on the 2024 State of the Union Address
Connecticut Republican Party Chairman Ben Proto released this statement following President Joe Biden’s State of the Union Address on Thursday, March 7th: “As evidenced by tonight’s State of the Union Address by President Biden, the current Democrat playbook is to urge Americans to deny reality. If ever a President and political party have engaged in mass gaslighting, it is Joe Biden and his Democrat cohorts.” “President Biden has presided over the worst border crisis and the highest inflation rates in modern history. He and his party have weaponized our Justice Department for political reasons while degrading the American
January 22, 2024
Chairman Ben Proto Urges Swift Investigation into Greenwich Democrat Trevor Crow
(Middletown, CT) In light of Democrat Trevor Crow’s stunning admission regarding her failed 2022 campaign at a Greenwich Democratic Town Committee Meeting on Wednesday, January 17th, Connecticut Republican Chairman Ben Proto today called on the State Elections Enforcement Commission (SEEC) to swiftly investigate these admissions and impose appropriate punishment. “Trevor Crow has admitted in an open forum that she willfully violated Connecticut’s clean campaign finance laws by raising additional funds to spend on her race while using the state grant,” said Proto. “This admission should immediately trigger the SEEC to launch an investigation and hold her accountable prior to her
December 22, 2023
VOTERS, NOT JUDGES, SHOULD DECIDE WHO WILL REPRESENT THEM
The Colorado Supreme Court decision to exclude Donald Trump from the ballot is not only un-American but violates the very core principles of our Representative Democracy (Middletown, CT) Chairman of the Connecticut Republican Party, Ben Proto issued the following statement in response to the Colorado Supreme Court’s decision to exclude Donald Trump from the Colorado primary and general election ballot: “This decision is a direct assault on and to our Constitution and removes the most fundamental right we, as Americans, have – our right to vote and to determine who will represent us in government.” “The Colorado
December 19, 2023
CTGOP “CONGRATULATES” DEMOCRAT STATE SENATOR ON HIS RECEIVING THE CONNECTICUT COMMUNIST PARTY’S ANNUAL AMISTAD AWARD
State Senators Gary Winfield and Jan Hochadel state their commitment to the Connecticut Communist Party and its Values MIDDLETOWN, Conn. – The Republican Party of Connecticut shares its congratulations with State Senator and Chief Deputy Majority Leader Gary Winfield (D-New Haven), who recently attended and enthusiastically accepted the 2023 Amistad Award from Connecticut’s Communist Party. Senator Winfield – who claims to be a Democrat – received the award for epitomizing Communist Party values. “The Connecticut Republican Party congratulates Senator Winfield on his achievement as a top communist in Connecticut and for exemplifying the values of the Connecticut Communist
September 20, 2023
ABSENTEE BALLOT SCANDAL BEFUDDLES DEMOCRAT LEADERS
(Middletown, CT) The Bridgeport Absentee Ballot scandals continues to grow and Democrats, from Governor Lamont, to Mayor Ganim, to Connecticut Democrat Chair Nancy DiNardo are at a loss as to what to do or say. “Yesterday Governor Lamont said ‘I really want to thoroughly investigate this” and that people shouldn’t jump to conclusions. Mayor Ganim said he doesn’t condone any of these actions taken by city or campaign workers (who work for him in both roles) and Nancy DiNardo, when confronted with the issue and my call to increase penalties for these violations, did what Democrats are now programmed
September 18, 2023
VOTERS, NOT PARTISAN ELECTION OFFICIALS, SHOULD DECIDE ELECTIONS
The Attempt by Democrats to disqualify Donald Trump, or any other candidate from the Republican Primary Ballot, is un-American. It has recently been reported that a group of highly partisan, left-wing conspiracy driven Democrats have called upon Stephanie Thomas, the Connecticut Secretary of the State, to use the provision of Section 3 of the 14th Amendment of the United States Constitution to disqualify Donald J. Trump from the Republican Presidential Primary Ballot. “Secretary Thomas, should not even entertain this request and, more importantly, neither Secretary Thomas, nor any Secretary of the State or election official across America is
July 29, 2023
CONNECTICUT REPUBLICAN PARTY MOURNS THE PASSING OF FORMER REPUBLICAN STATE SENATE LEADER LOUIS DELUCA
Connecticut Republican State Chairman, Ben Proto, and the entire Connecticut Republican State Party mourn the passing of Louis DeLuca, the former Republican Leader of the Connecticut State Senate. “It was my great pleasure to know Lou DeLuca as both a friend and a leader in Connecticut” Ben Proto said. “Lou was tremendously devoted to his family, in particular his late wife, Alice. His love and commitment to his hometown of Woodbury and Connecticut made him an exceptional leader. Lou was never one to be lacking for words and was quick to compliment when he saw an exceptional idea or
July 24, 2023
Hypocrisy Abounds with Ned Lamont and CT Democrats
CT Voters Deserve Answers on Lamont Business Dealings Connecticut’s Governor, Ned Lamont, continues to play the “rules for thee, not for me” game that Democrats across the country have mastered. Whether it is the utter waste of taxpayer money on the state pier boondoggle, the school construction scandal that has fallen off the radar, the no bid multi-million dollar COVID testing contract that was given to his wife’s company, the “rats” that were shoved into the budget and bond bills at the last minute, without so much of a syllable being spoken to legislators, let alone municipal officials who
July 9, 2023
AG Tong and CT Democrats Take Fight Against Parents to New Level
Democrats want to keep parents out of their children’s lives. CT Attorney General William Tong and Connecticut Democrats are taking the fight against parents to a new level. It’s never been clearer that they believe the government is better suited to raise children than the child’s parents. If Attorney General Tong and his Democrat cohorts have their way, parents would have no say about their children’s physical and psychological health. In the recent words of Joe Biden “These are our kids. These are our neighbors. Not somebody else’s kids, they’re all our kids.” The Government claiming your kids are their (read as the
July 5, 2023
Democrats’ Mileage Tax ‘Study’ is as Tone Deaf as Can Be
“New Tax Ned” Lamont and the Democrats Just Can’t Help Themselves Ned Lamont and Connecticut Democrats didn’t get the message when Connecticut taxpayers stood up and gave a resounding NO to their plan to put tolls on our highways. Democrats think because a couple of years have passed since they failed to pass their regressive toll and TCI taxes, that they can now quietly slip in a mileage tax by asking taxpayers to help study how it would work. Newsflash Governor, Connecticut taxpayers are not that gullible. “Unfortunately, Governor Lamont, while trying to convince taxpayers that he cut
June 16, 2023
Biden Visits CT to Cheer Lamont’s Unconstitutional Ban on Open Carry
Democrats will tout CT’s unconstitutional ban as national model- one that does nothing for the most dangerous neighborhoods in CT Joe Biden is coming to Connecticut under the guise of “preventing gun violence”- but in the wake of Governor Lamont and Connecticut Democrats unconstitutional ban on the open carry of firearms by law-abiding citizens it is clear that Joe Biden is really coming to Connecticut to cheer-lead the trampling on of our citizens clear constitutional rights by a nearing tyrannical state government. “Biden and Lamont are hosting this event right down Albany Avenue from the North End of Hartford- one of
June 5, 2023
CT Democrats Pass “Fair Share” Zoning Override While CT Sleeps
Democrats lied to the public and their own members, claiming “Fair Share” would be withdrawn. This past weekend, the Democratic leadership in the Connecticut House of Representatives lied and unabashedly misled the people of the State of Connecticut on poor housing/development policies they were trying to advance. Democrats told the public, and even members of their own party who opposed the bill, that the “Fair Share” Housing bill was dead and that the Fair Share portion would not be part of any bill. Fair Share is an onerous concept which originated in New Jersey that mandates that every town
May 26, 2023
Democrats and Lamont Push Unconstitutional Gun Control Bill
Constitutional Rights Are Under Assault In CT, Dems Move to Ban Open Carry The following is the text of the Second Amendment: “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.” The following is the text of Article First, Section 15 of the Constitution of the State of Connecticut: “Every citizen has a right to bear arms in defense of himself and the state.” Governor Lamont and Connecticut Legislative Democrats’ gun-control bill, which passed the CT House of Representatives
May 18, 2023
RUSSIAGATE HOAX CONFIRMED BY DURHAM REPORT
Connecticut Dems Pushed BS Trump-Russia Hoax then Impeached With the Durham Report’s analysis that the FBI & DOJ had no basis to open their investigation into President Trump, it is worth noting that every Connecticut Democrat in Congress voted to impeach President Trump based on what is being confirmed as a seriously flawed investigation with little to no basis in fact. “The Durham Report is damning. John Durham in his report shows how the Democrats weaponized government law enforcement agencies by engaging in outrageous, unacceptable, and borderline illegal behavior, for the sole purposes of attempting to bring down a sitting
May 15, 2023
CT Republicans Have a Plan to Balance the Budget & Cut Taxes
Republicans Offer First Balanced Budget Since 2017, Historic Tax Cuts Connecticut Republicans are working overtime to fight for a balanced budget and lower taxes. In consecutive weeks, CT House Republicans & Senate Republicans rolled out common-sense budgets which deliver historic tax cuts to Connecticut residents. “With the inflation and cost-of-living increases that residents have suffered through during Democrat rule in Connecticut and the failed economic policies of the Biden-Harris administration, these Republican budget and tax relief proposals come at a time when they are most needed. Connecticut’s residents need tax relief, and the State Government must make responsible budgeting decisions to ensure that tax relief
April 26, 2023
Biden Announcement No Surprise & No Good
Biden Formalizes Re-Election Campaign After Failed First Term “President Biden’s announcement that he will seek reelection is no surprise, what is even less of a surprise is the utter failure the Biden/Harris administration has been. Biden took a booming economy that was envied around the world and driven us into the worst economic times we have seen in over a generation.” said Republican State Chairman Ben Proto. “Americans have been burdened with the failures of Joe Biden and his radical policies. We simply can not afford another term of the Biden-Harris administration.” “Connecticut has suffered greater than
April 21, 2023
Connecticut Democrats Push Property Tax Hike
CT Ranks Among Highest Property Tax States- Democrats Want More This week Connectiut Democrats passed SB999 (An Act Increasing the Uniform Assessment Rate for Property Tax) out of committee, effectively pushing forward a 5% or ($27 Billion Dollar) Property tax increase, according to the CGA Office of Fiscal Analysis. “There it is” said Connecticut State Republican Chairman Ben Proto “after the pomp and circumstance over election year gimmicks, Connecticut Democrats have unveiled their true tax-and-spend plan. Forcing municipalities to raise property taxes to fund a Hartford money-grab is wrong, its backhandd, and taxpayers, particularly low income and middle class taxpayers are the
March 22, 2023
Republicans in Hartford Urge Rejection of New Gas and Heating Oil Taxes
GOP Leaders Kelly, Candelora, Environment Committee Republicans Criticize Democrat Plan to Make Home Heating Oil and Gasoline More Expensive “We call on the people of Connecticut to urge lawmakers to reject this misguided proposal.” Committee Vote Slated for Wednesday Senate Republican Leader Kevin Kelly (R-Stratford), House Republican Leader Vincent Candelora (R-North Branford) and Republican lawmakers on the Environment Committee today released the following statement raising concerns about the Governor’s bill slated to be voted on Wednesday which will make home heating oil and gasoline more expensive and resembles “TCI on steroids.” “Two years ago, Republicans defeated the governor’s push for the Transportation and
March 20, 2023
CTDems Propose Banning Open Carry, Less Punishment for Illegal Firearms
Dems Take Stands Against Public Safety and Second Amendment Connecticut Democrats have proposed banning the open carry of legal firearms. While not an unusual position of far-left Democrats, the public hearing on a bill proposing tougher penalties for illegal firearm offenders brought out even more interesting developments; Senator Gary Winfield (New Haven D-10) the powerful Chairman of the Judiciary Committee, insisted that those individuals who are on parole or pretrial release should not suffer any additional penalties for carrying an illegal firearm. Senator Winfield asked “What person on the streets of Hartford who’s spending time out there,or who was in a
February 24, 2023
House Republicans Petition Bill to Provide Residents and Business with Financial Relief
GOP Forces Hearing on Proposal to Eliminate Highway Use Tax HARTFORD—House Republicans have used a parliamentary procedure to circumvent Democrat opposition to a bill that would save inflation-weary businesses and residents money by eliminating the new highway use tax (HUT) on heavyweight trucks. Republicans petitioned to raise H.B. 5290, An Act Eliminating the Highway Use Tax, after the Finance Committee’s Democratic leadership refused to even hear it. Republicans on Tuesday secured the required 51 petition signatures to force a public hearing on the bill. “Many members of the General Assembly proposed this legislation on behalf of their constituents, and the
February 17, 2023
Legislative Democrat Lunacy Continues in Hartford
CT Democrats Spend the Week Proposing Reparations, higher Landlord Taxes, & Encouraging Homelessness By this point in the legislative session it has become clear that Connecticut Democrats are hyper-focused on trying to pass ridiculous, partisan, far-left legislation that solves nothing but makes Connecticut even more unaffordable. This week’s insane proposals even included reparations-yes, you read that right; Connecticut Democrats are proposing a racially based direct transfer of wealth, similar to what Democrats did in San Francisco, that would bankrupt Connecticut and drive taxes to outrageously high levels. In addition to this impractical and racially offensive proposal, Democrats also proposed
February 10, 2023
Connecticut Democrats Continue to Threaten the Integrity of Connecticut’s Democratic Vote
Dems Want Mandatory Voting, Except for Political Foes They Disagree With Democrats in Hartford have been focused on attacking the fundamental norms of our elections and democratic system: Already, CT Dems have proposed allowing Non-Citizen Voting and Incarcerated Felons Voting. If that wasn’t enough, now they’re going as far as proposing mandatory voting. Meanwhile, without sensing the irony, Democrats are simultaneously trying to set a dangerous precedent of removing voting rights from political activists they disagree with. “Connecticut citizens, like all Americans, believe fundamental things about our elections; they believe elections should be secured by Voter ID, they believe only United States Citizens should vote
February 9, 2023
Connecticut Democrat’s Assault on Parents’ Rights Continues
Democrats Still Believe Parents are Monsters, Introduce Legislation Keeping Parents from Learning about so called “Sensitive Communications between Teachers and Students Remember when Connecticut Democrats posted a meme comparing parents concerned about their children’s education to monsters? Well now they aren’t just calling parents names, they’re attempting to legislate that belief in Hartford. Within the last few weeks, Democrats in the General Assembly have introduced legislation that would: –Take away parental notification/permission for covid shots at twelve years of age. –Keep parents from knowing about communications between a teacher and student (regardless of the student’s age) about sensitive/sexual topics. -“Protect teachers”
February 4, 2023
A Third Straight Week of Ridiculous Proposals from CT Dems in Hartford (Even After Lego Leaves)
Dems Move to Silence Parents and Citizens; Give Illegal Immigrants “Right to Housing”, Establish Statewide Rent Control & Housing Authority Jurisdiction After weeks of crazy, out-of-touch proposals from Democrats at the State Capitol, one might have thought that Lego’s announcement that they would be departing from the State of Connecticut would have served as a wake up call, and that we might be seeing serious legislation with an eye to fixing the declining economic situation in the state… but one would be mistaken. Instead this week brought a new round of Far-Left proposals which do nothing for Connecticut citizens and nothing
January 28, 2023
Connecticut Democrats Stay Out-of-Touch & Crazy This Week at the Capitol
Connecticut Democrats Stay Out-of-Touch & Crazy This Week at the Capitol Propose Replacement of Gas Stoves, an Army of Tax Agents, & 16 Year Olds Voting After proposing non-citizen voting, felons voting, and removing parental notification for COVID shots for children last week, Connecticut Democrats didn’t miss a beat marching down the same radical path at the State Capitol this week: With a new round of out-of-touch, left wing proposals that do nothing to help Connecticut’s residents, Democrats in Hartford followed the failed agenda of the Biden Administration & the Far-Left in Washington, proposing; a costly & ridiculous Replacement of
January 20, 2023
Connecticut Democrats’ Left-Wing Craziness Shows at State House
Connecticut Democrats’ Left-Wing Craziness Shows at State House Democrats Propose a Constitutional Amendment to Allow “Undocumented” Immigrants the Right to Vote and a bill Removing Parental Consent/Notification for COVID Shots Connecticut Democrats continue to prove that they are out of touch with Connecticut and are moving further and further left at a faster and faster pace. Just this week, Democrats in Hartford proposed a Constitutional Amendment that would give voting rights to non-citizens and a bill to remove a parent’s right to be notified and consent to their 12 year old child receiving a COVID shot. (Democrats also proposed a bill
November 5, 2022
LAMONT LIED (AGAIN) DURING DEBATE ON GENDER IDENTITY INSTRUCTION IN CONNECTICUT SCHOOLS
State Department of Education Employees Edit Website, Remove References to Gender Identification Studies The Connecticut Department of Education edited its website following the Tuesday night debate in which Governor Ned Lamont said Gender Identity was not being taught in Connecticut schools. The problem was, the State Department of Education was touting on its website that the complete opposite was taking place in Connecticut schools. “Governor Lamont once again either doesn’t know what’s going on in his administration or flat out lied about what is happening; he can choose guilty or dumb” said Connecticut Republican Party Chairman Ben Proto. “On Tuesday night, at the debate hosted
November 5, 2022
Jahana Hayes Doubles Down on ‘Democrats Saving the Economy’
CT GOP Releases Final Ad Calling Hayes Out In case you missed it, in the last of her two debates with George Logan (she dodged the others), Jahana Hayes doubled down on her absurd claim that “Democrats saved the economy” In response, the Connecticut Republican Party released the following digital advertisement: “Democrats Saved the Economy” https://youtu.be/EPRo6GDlSEM “Democrats didn’t save the economy, they’ve destroyed it.The Biden-Pelosi-Harris administration Jahana has closely aligned herself with is destroying the country. Meanwhile, Hayes is so out-of-touch she actually thinks the Democrats have done a good job. If she spent more time talking
November 3, 2022
CTGOP Releases New Ad, “Mojo”
Who exactly got their “Mojo” back, Ned? The Connecticut Republican Party released its final ad of the Governor’s race this week, calling out Ned Lamont’s perpetual fib that under his leadership, “Connecticut is getting its ‘mojo’ back”. The advertisement can be viewed here: https://youtu.be/j8m2SHx30hw “Ned’s claim to have turned the state around is absurd on its face. We still haven’t recovered 2008 job numbers. Our GDP is contracting,, not growing. Our wage growth is stagnant, worst in the nation. Connecticut is consistently ranked among the worst states to retire or do business in,” said State Chairman Ben Proto. “Ned
November 1, 2022
Remember When Connecticut Democrats Actually Called Concerned Parents Monsters
We Remember at CTGOP. Happy Halloween Parents- Remember to Vote Out the Democrats Next Tuesday As Democrats look to turn the page from their war on parents, it’s worth reminding CT parents that it was Joe Biden and Connecticut former Commissioner of Education Secretary Miguel Cardona who began the crackdown on concerned parents. It’s also worth reminding CT Parents that it was Democrats who set their children’s education back by forcing school closures, who have been trying to mandate COVID shots for minors and students, who have tried to force regionalization of our schools. But, in the spirit of Halloween, what Connecticut
October 31, 2022
Connecticut Republicans Continue Surging in the Polls
CT-05 Nominee George Logan leads in the polls, Stefanowski closing the distance in race for Governor, U.S. Senate Race Heating Up As Election Day approaches, Republican candidates across Connecticut are closing the gap or, in the case of George Logan, leading in public polling. Meanwhile, the race for governor is heating up with the most recent polling showing Ned Lamont & Dick Blumenthal under 50% with Bob Stefanowski & Leora Levy quickly gaining ground. Republican State Chairman Ben Proto released this statement on the welcome news: “Republicans have the momentum heading into November.As we move closer to Election Day, the Governor’s race is tightening as voters compare Ned Lamont’s
October 26, 2022
Governor Lamont’s Income Jumped from $9 Million to $54 Million Dollars Last Year
GOP Calls on Lamont to Release Details. Will media get to the bottom of it before election day? There are more questions regarding the ethics of the Lamont Administration (federal probes into school construction, state pier, etc.) than there are answers. Now, the news is out that the Democrat Governor made $54 million dollars last year. “Where there’s smoke, there’s usually fire,” said State Chairman Ben Proto. “We’re asking how Governor Lamont multiplied his income by 500% to approximately $54 million. Will the media continue to turn a blind eye to the questions of Lamont’s ethical issues as it pertains to his financial gains? With two weeks left until Election Day, we want to know just how ‘blind’ the
October 24, 2022
CTGOP Releases Ad Campaign Calling Out Jahana Hayes’s Record
Today, the CTGOP released a new advertisement calling out Jahana Hayes for her socialist endorsements and far-left voting record. The advertisement can be viewed here. “Jahana Hayes is too radical for Connecticut, and far too radical for the Fifth District. Hayes, who voted to defund our police, voted to federally mandate unrestricted, late-term abortion, and voted to raise taxes and inflation. Hayes and the Democrats have driven fuel & utility prices through the roof by standing in the way of American energy independence… She has no plan to fix any of the problems her, Biden & Pelosi have created.” said Republican State
October 21, 2022
Logan fights for Connecticut families while Hayes offers more of the same pain
New Britain – Following tonight’s debate between George Logan and Jahana Hayes, Connecticut Republican Party Chairman Ben Proto issued this statement: “George Logan was the clear winner of tonight’s debate. Once again, Jahana Hayes showed her true self – out of touch with Connecticut families and more concerned with maintaining her position than offering solutions for the working women and men of the 5th District. Her idea that her left-wing progressive policies that have brought about the worst recession in forty years, the lowest wage growth, highest energy costs, and allowing fentanyl to flow through our borders, not like candy but
October 19, 2022
Real Clear Politics upgrades CT-02 to “toss-up”: Connecticut Republicans continue building momentum
Hartford, CT — The race for Connecticut’s 2nd Congressional District between Mike France, Joe Courtney & Green Party Candidate Kevin Blacker has been upgraded by Real Clear Politics from “Lean Democrat” to “Toss Up.” This marks the fourth Connecticut race (Governor, U.S. Senate, and CT-05,) to move toward the GOP recently. “Courtney, who is facing his strongest opponent in years, is arguing with Jahana Hayes over who is the most extreme left-wing progressive and, like Richard Blumenthal, is tied up by ethics problems. Eastern Connecticut voters are tired of Joe Courtney and Connecticut Democrats’ failed economic and social policies, their continued assault on the Constitution and on parents, and their never-ending lust for
October 19, 2022
CT Senate Shifts from “Likely” to “Lean” Democrat: Republicans are Gaining Ground in Connecticut
This week it was reported that Real Clear Politics moved their rating of the U.S. Senate Race in Connecticut from “Likely Democrat” to “Lean Democrat.” This comes on the heels of strong polling for Republican Senate Nominee Leora Levy and Republican Gubernatorial Nominee Bob Stefanowski, and following political rating changes in CT-05 from “Lean Democrat” to “Toss-Up” and of CT-02 from “Likely Democrat” to “Lean Democrat.” “Republicans have the momentum,” said State Republican Party Chairman Ben Proto. “Voters are disappointed and angry with the failures of One-Party, Democrat control in Washington and Hartford. Our 401ks are down, while our
October 7, 2022
Kamala Harris’s Very Bad Visit to CT-05
In case you missed it, this week Connecticut Democrats flew Vice President Kamala Harris into New Britain to try and save Rep. Jahana Hayes’s failing campaign. Although touted as a policy trip on abortion in Connecticut, even the Vice President herself admitted the event was political under a thin veil of policy, saying at the event “this is not a political event, but it is a fact that in 34 days there is a mid-term election.” “All the Vice President really talked about was voting Democrat this year” Said Connecticut Republican Chairman Ben Proto. “Democrats are desperately trying
October 3, 2022
Ned Lamont and CT Democrats have Destroyed Connecticut’s Economy
Last week’s quarterly economic numbers for Connecticut were atrocious. Personal Income Growth in Connecticut trailed the national average by more than half. Our gross domestic product shrank 4.8%. Unfortunately, the problem doesn’t end there. Connecticut still has not recovered the jobs we lost in 2008. The sad fact is that Connecticut is the only state in the nation that has failed this badly. If that wasn’t bad enough, the early outlook on CT’s 2023 revenue figures is bleak: “Governor Ned Lamont is gaslighting voters when he claims to have turned around Connecticut’s economy. The numbers show his narrative to be completely false, but he has nothing
September 22, 2022
CT House Republicans Release GOP’s Contract With Connecticut
Today, Connecticut’s Republican State House leaders released their Contract with Connecticut. This plan will: Support Law Enforcement and punish criminals Ensure Parents are the Primary decision makers in their children’s lives Ensure that Connecticut government at all levels is Transparent, Accessible, and Accountable Respect Local Government Control In concert with House Republicans, Bob Stefanowski and Laura Devlin released their detailed economic plan titled CT First, which cuts two billion dollars in middle-class taxes, making Connecticut more affordable, which is a stark contrast with the two billion dollars in new taxes that Connecticut Democrats and Ned Lamont administration imposed upon Connecticut families.
August 20, 2022
Lamont and Bysiewicz Accept Socialist Endorsement from Radical WFP
“Ned Lamont and the Democrats now openly say what they once only said behind closed doors — that they believe in Socialism, they think our police officers are the enemy and that success should be beaten down and the government should control as much of our lives as possible” said Republican State Chairman Ben Proto. “Ned Lamont and the Democrats of yesteryear (for example, Ned Lamont who was defeated by reasonable, former Democrat- turned-Independent Joe Lieberman) would have publicly disavowed socialism while quietly accepting support behind the scenes, but the new and not so improved Ned Lamont and Democrats today
July 29, 2022
Lamont and CT Dems Misuse COVID Relief Dollars
From the Desk of Chairman Proto: Ned Lamont & CT Dems Fail to Help Actual Businesses Hurt by COVID, Instead Opt for Woke State-Run Venture Capital Firm with “Relief” Dollars This week, Governor Ned Lamont together with CT’s Federal Democrats, announced that the Biden administration approved Connecticut’s request to move ARPA money intended by Congress to help “socially and economically disadvantaged” businesses hit by the pandemic. Instead, Connecticut chose to place it in a venture capital hedge fund run by the state. These dollars were intended to aid businesses and employees who had to shudder doors during Lamont’s draconian
July 19, 2022
CTGOP AD ALERT: In Joe Biden’s America, Connecticut Can’t Afford Ned Lamont
Today, the Connecticut Republican Party launched a new advertisement exposing Governor Lamont’s mishandling of Connecticut’s economy. “While Ned Lamont likes to say he’s cut taxes, he hasn’t cut a single tax. In fact, he’s raised all kinds of taxes, nearly two billion a year in new taxes. Ned is a phony,” said Chairman Proto, “and we’re calling him out on it.” In a scorching end, the ad closes by saying: “Democrats and Ned Lamont just don’t care about the economic pain they are causing. In Joe Biden’s America, Connecticut can’t afford New Lamont.” “Voters should take note, New Tax Ned
July 1, 2022
“New Tax Ned” Lamont Celebrates the 4th with a New Tax
Today, Governor Lamont’s 23% diesel fuel tax increase went into effect. “Following weeks of anti fuel-tax rallies and calls from leaders on both sides of the aisle, Ned Lamont is choosing to pile new taxes onto Connecticut families and businesses,” Connecticut Republican Party Chairman Ben Proto said. “CT taxpayers are not just feeling the heat of summer: despite Joe Biden & DC Democrats’ inflation tax & economic crisis hurting Americans’ pocketbooks more than ever, Lamont is turning up the heat on Connecticut residents and businesses. Effective today, Democrats are instituting a 23% diesel tax hike that will hit CT’s working and middle
June 29, 2022
SOTS Resign and What’s Next
Yesterday, Connecticut Secretary of the State Denise Merrill announced her retirement effective on Thursday, June 30. “Through her time in the House of Representatives and now as Secretary of the State, there has never been a question that Merrill is a dedicated public servant. Even if we were not always on the same side of issues, I have always respected and appreciated the work she has done for the people of the state of Connecticut. We wish Secretary Merrill and her family well and will keep her and her family in our thoughts as she leaves state service and prioritizes her
June 14, 2022
VP Visit, USCGA Graduation
Connecticut State Republican Chairman Ben Proto would like to provide the following statement on Vice President Harris’s trip to the Coast Guard Academy in New London: “First and foremost, thank you and congratulations to the graduating cadets of the United States Coast Guard Academy. Your dedication to our country, and your role in protecting our shores, and putting yourself in harm’s way when called upon, represent the highest ideals of America and the American experience. Republicans have always supported our military and first responders. We will continue to support these brave men and women, their families, and all those who make such
June 14, 2022
Tolls Then TCI Now Trucks
Do you remember when Ned Lamont pushed his first major regressive tax project: Tolls Across Connecticut? How about his second: a new “TCI” gas tax? Now, with working class and middle class families struggling against soaring costs of good and services to make ends meet, Ned and CT Dems are on to new regressive taxes: Come July 1st Connecticut Democrats will be imposing 25 cent per gallon tax on diesel fuel. Come January 1st, Democrats will be imposing a mileage tax on all trucks traveling in Connecticut. “These two regressive transportation taxes will only compound the economic crisis we are
June 13, 2022
CT Democrats compare George Logan to a Monkey
This is What Racism Looks Like. Democrats Compare George Logan to a Monkey. by Kevin Rennie as published on Daily Ructions on May 19. Republicans are accusing state Democrats of comparing Fifth Congressional District nominee George Logan to a monkey. Logan, a two-term former state senator, to Curious George. the famous monkey of children’s books series. Democrats have made frequent references to where Logan lives. When the congressional reapportionment maps were adopted, Logan moved to Meriden from his home in the Third Congressional District. The Wednesday tweet from the Connecticut Democrats’s Twitter account adopts the cadence of a Curious George
June 6, 2022
Lamont Has A Case Of The Biden
This week, Governor Ned Lamont and Secretary of the State Denise Merrill announced their decision to hire a $150,000 a year taxpayer funded partisan, political hack to spot so-called “election misinformation”. According to Connecticut Republican Party Chairman Ben Proto, this is further evidence of Governor Lamont and the CT Democrats handing out plum political jobs to help buy votes and further infringe on the rights of the people of Connecticut. “Joe Biden, Ned Lamont, and Democrats have one mission here: silencing any dissenters under the guise of combating ‘misinformation.’ Their hyper-partisan plan is designed to further infringe on voters’ First Amendment rights and is an attempt to
March 16, 2022
AFTER MORE THAN 3 YEARS OF TRYING TO RAISE TAXES, GOVERNOR LAMONT FINALLY JOINS REPUBLICANS AND CALLS FOR GAS TAX RELIEF FOR CONNECTICUT FAMILIES
“The Senate and House Republicans have proposed a gas tax holiday and, after Legislative Democrats turned their noses down at the proposal, Governor Ned Lamont picked up the Republican position and now is claiming it as his own idea,” Connecticut Republican Party Chairman Ben Proto said today. “Unfortunately, in a press conference Governor Lamont held on Monday, he blamed the spike in gasoline prices on ‘the invasion in Kuwait’. He fails to realize that, first and foremost, Russia invaded Ukraine, and further than gasoline and oil prices have been rising since early 2021, before a single shot was fired
April 21, 2022
Jahana Hayes is in Congress to Get Hers, Not Serve Us
Representative Jahana Hayes has been called out for paying family with campaign funds, but that was not enough to get her to stop. According to recent filings, Hayes has continued her pattern of personal enrichment with campaign dollars. “Rep. Hayes clearly thinks she is above voters’ expectations for elected officials to uphold ethical standards. Do voters want a Far-Left Democrat, who has cozied up to AOC, bragged about shutting down American Energy , pays her own family out of her campaign funds and now has stooped to even paying herself through donor dollars? In November, the inconvenient answer for Hayes
February 3, 2022
Another Day, Another Investigation Into Connecticut Democrats
Appropriately on Groundhog Day the Courant broke the news that Connecticut’s Governor Ned Lamont’s administration was served by the New Haven U.S. Attorney’s office — and it wasn’t New Haven’s world’s greatest pizza. The subpoenas are part of a federal grand jury investigation into the Lamont Administration’s awarding of hundreds of millions of dollars of school construction financing as well as the state pier boondoggle which saw a reshuffling of political staff to other agencies. There are both nepotism and accounting concerns that have federal authorities scratching their heads when it comes to school construction funding. These monies are
January 12, 2022
Cardona played a role in Washington’s ‘War on Parents’
While it may be to our shock, but certainly not our surprise, this week it was reported that U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona directly solicited the decision for the National School Boards Association’s letter to President Joe Biden likening American Parents to domestic terrorists. This letter called on the nation’s highest official to activate a number of federal agencies and offices including the Federal Bureau of Investigations, the United States Postal Service and others to investigate parents. “Here is another example of the stark difference between the image that Connecticut and National Democrats want to project and who
January 5, 2022
CONNECTICUT REPUBLICANS WEIGH IN ON CT REDISTRICTING
It’s time to throw out the Status Quo SOUTHINGTON – Connecticut Republicans, led by Party Chairman Ben Proto, are showing how their actions speak just as loud as their words. Yesterday, the Connecticut Republicans were the only non-legislative entity to offer any alternative Congressional Redistricting plan to the State Supreme Court. Connecticut Republicans submitted two separate maps to the Special Master for consideration: one created a plan that is proportional by population, with population variance of less than .01% and reduces the number of split towns from 6 to 4, the other minimizing the split municipalities from 6
January 7, 2022
CT Republicans Appalled At Lamont’s Order for Nursing Homes to Accept Covid-Positive Admissions from Hospitals
SOUTHINGTON – Connecticut Republican Party Chairman Ben Proto shared the following statement in reaction to Governor Lamont’s directive to Connecticut nursing homes to receive Covid-19 patients. “This feels like a very dark version of Groundhog Day. How could this be the best possible course of action when we are managing the Omicron variant and know that it is the most contagious strain we have seen yet? There is absolutely no way you can convince me that we should send the most infectious people into the same facilities who house our aging mothers, fathers and friends. “On one hand
April 8, 2022
FACT CHECK: Lamont’s Track Record
This past Tuesday was a sad day for Caroline Simmons, the first-term mayor of one of Connecticut’s largest cities. Mayor Simmons has been reduced to a Lamont apologist, daining to bail out four years of failure and re-characterizing them as “leadership.” Mayor Simmons, can you explain exactly which actions you would deem as “steady leadership” or done with “integrity?” Here is the Lamont track record to consider: Chilling parental input on educational decisions regarding their children’s curriculum, health and safety – referring to parents who stand up for their children as monsters Minimizing employees seeking religious exemptions from vaccines
January 11, 2022
From the Desk of Chairman Ben Proto
Hi There, As Joe Courtney and Jahana Hayes head back to Washington, D.C., Connecticut families are left to ask: how much will this week cost us? Given the horrible track record of Joe Biden and this extreme Congress, one can assume the answer is “a lot.” Democrats’ far-left policies have driven Connecticut into the ground, failed families throughout the pandemic, and now are driving up prices while unemployment remains high. According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, personal consumption expenditures (PCE) in 2021 rose 5.7% from 2020, the largest spike in nearly 40 years, which consumer prices
February 4, 2022
Governor Lamont’s “kinda sorta it might be if you look hard ‘tax cut'”
Connecticut Republican Party Chairman Ben Proto released the following statement: Governor Lamont has proposed a property income tax credit that he calls a ‘tax cut’ for senior citizens, who are on a fixed income, of a whopping $100.00 per year, and for some lucky folks in Connecticut, a tax credit of $300 per year. To be eligible for this ‘credit,’ you must first pay 100% of your real estate property taxes. The average property tax bill in Connecticut is over $4,000/year, with the average in Fairfield County being over $6,000/year. Connecticut needs real property tax reform – this isn’t
February 17, 2022
Lamont’s (and Tong’s) School Construction Corruption Deniability Falling Like a House of Cards
While the people of Connecticut have been wondering when their lives will get back to normal and when the government and Governor Lamont will understand that freedom is our inalienable right, it is not “earned,” the FBI’s investigation into the corruption allegations with former OPM Undersecretary Kosta Diamantis has Governor Lamont pining for the “good old days” when he could blame the legislative Democrats for Connecticut’s problems. The Connecticut Mirror recently reported that OPM Secretary Melissa McCaw and outgoing state Chief Operating Officer Josh Geballe were both informed of the issues surrounding the nefarious awarding of school construction contracts
April 5, 2022
Laura Devlin for Lieutenant Governor
“Laura Devlin is an fantastic candidate for Lieutenant Governor. She has been and continues to be an outstanding leader in Connecticut. Since her first days serving Fairfield’s local government through her time as a State Representative, her tenacity, her ability to inform and energize the public was an overwhelming factor to keep tolls off our roads and to hold the Governor Lamont accountable and to ensure the voices of working men and women are heard in Hartford,” said Connecticut Republican Party Chairman Ben Proto. “She has the character the understanding of the issues and a deep love of Connecticut
January 10, 2021
MEDIA ADVISORY: CTGOP Launches Ad Campaign v. Governor Ned Lamont
On Monday, January 10, 2022, the Connecticut Republican Party launched an ad highlighting the ‘leadership’ shown by Connecticut’s Governor, Ned Lamont, in his nearly-two years of unilateral authority – a power he chooses to wield even though he has the partisan backing of the president, the federal and the state delegations. “This November is on track to be a real reckoning for Governor Lamont and his administration. He doesn’t listen and he refuses to learn while our state continues to suffer. Failed Covid policies and protocols have put the state in the throes of this Covid testing crisis,”
February 18, 2022
MEDIA ADVISORY: CTGOP Launches Ad Detailing Governor Ned Lamont’s Non-Existent Crime Surge Solution
On Friday, February 18, 2022, the Connecticut Republican Party launched an ad which details Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont’s non-response to surging crime and lawlessness in Connecticut. These statewide increases in crime are directly connected to his signing of the “Police Accountability Bill” which was crafted and passed by Connecticut Democrats. The ad can be viewed here: “The message is simple,” said Connecticut Republican Party Chairman Ben Proto, “Lamont and Connecticut Democrats created a crime crisis with their anti-police, pro-criminal policies and they are choosing to do nothing that will solve the problem. Our lives and property are
February 10, 2022
Proto: CT Legislators Must End King Ned’s Reign-and the Mandates
Connecticut Republican Party Chairman Ben Proto released the following statement: I want to make it clear where the Republican Party stands on the votes this week at the capitol: we urge all legislators to vote no on extending the governor’s emergency powers and return the function of our government to normal. We also urge legislators to vote no on any bills that extend the Governor’s ineffective and burdensome mandates. We call on all legislators to return life in Connecticut to normal- for the sake of the next generation. Should the Far-Left Democrats in the Legislature decide to vote
March 9, 2022
Proto Says Tong Needs to Investigate Democrats Excessive Gas Taxes
State Republican Party Chairman Ben Proto Wednesday said the Democrats’ efforts to shift the blame for higher gas prices onto the station owner isn’t fooling anyone but themselves. This week, Attorney General William Tong issued a press release announcing that “If you see anyone charging excessive gas prices, I want to know. We will investigate every report and will take strong action against anyone taking advantage of Connecticut consumers during this international crisis.” “I’d like to know how I report excessive gas taxes,” said Proto. “The state of Connecticut adds 29 cents to the cost of every gallon
February 1, 2022
Taxes are a Life Certainty, right Governor?
This week, the Republican American reported that our own Governor Ned Lamont was in the hot seat for his neglect to pay his federal and local tax obligations in full. He did, however, find time to increase the tax burden on Connecticut residents and businesses by close to $2 Billion. “The failures of Governor Lamont extend from his Capitol office to his home office. On top of his decision not to follow through on the $400 million in relief he promised to working families, he did not even pay his own taxes in their entirety,” said Connecticut Republican
March 31, 2022
The Heat is On: CT Democrats Begin the “U Turn” on the Truck Tax
“I’m sure the only thing missing from the Democrats press conference on their attempts to reign in the hugely expensive and utterly misguided truck mileage tax will be the Beverly Hills Cop soundtrack of the late Glenn Frey’s ‘The Heat is On’ playing in the background,” said Connecticut Republican Party Chairman Ben Proto. “The Connecticut Democrats are feeling the heat: They have decided to start calling for the exemptions on their Truck Tax which, on January 1, 2023, will greatly increase the cost of food, clothing, electronics, diapers, medicine and gasoline and home heating oil, to name just a few things
January 25, 2022
U.S. Senator Blumenthal Flip Flops on the Filibuster
Last week, Connecticut watched Senator Richard Blumenthal not only cave to the radical left, but completely reversed course on his own outspoken stance on nuking the filibuster. In 2017, Blumenthal went so far as to say, “it is our right under the rules to filibuster.” Fast forward to last week when Blumenthal fully abandoned his position and joined the most extreme members of the Democrat Party to end the filibuster. How many other positions will Blumenthal flip-flop on for political expediency? How can he be trusted to deliver on any promise he makes now? As Senate Democrats
January 27, 2022
UConn Bleeds Green – Tens of Millions Owed
Amid bombshell news that UConn Athletics is operating at a $50 Million dollar loss, it was recently announced that the University has been ordered to pay a staggering $11 Million to former UConn Men’s Basketball Coach and Player Kevin Ollie. The administrators and trustees put in place by Democrat Governors Ned Lamont and Dan Malloy are costing taxpayers and students. “UConn has long been the crowning gem of our state’s higher education system but mismanagement by Democrat political appointees is putting that in jeopardy,” said Connecticut Republican Party Chairman Ben Proto. “Students and taxpayers deserve an administration that
February 25, 2022
Where there’s smoke, there’s fire. …And Connecticut is about to Burn.
Contracts, corruption and resignations, oh my! Today, the Governor will give a statement where he will announce that OPM Secretary Melissa McCaw will step down. This is yet another indicator of the improper steering of school construction projects to select contractors. While Lamont dismisses his relationship with one of his most trusted and essential employees, Secretary McCaw, who had the ultimate responsibility to oversee and ensure that literally hundreds of millions of dollars of taxpayer money was being spent wisely, efficiently and in a manner that ensures our money is being utilized in the best possible manner, it
