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Independent Voters: Why local elections matter
The Essex Republican Town Committee believes local elections have real consequences for families, students, and communities across Connecticut.
Today, DEMOCRATS in Hartford continue to allow transgender girls (biological males) to compete in girls’ high school sports and to use girls’ locker rooms.
REPUBLICANS in Hartford have introduced multiple bills to address this issue and protect fairness and privacy in women’s sports. DEMOCRATIC leadership blocked every one of these bills in committee, refusing to bring them forward for debate or a vote in either the House or Senate.
BACKGROUND
- The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) prohibits transgender women (biological males) from competing in women’s sports — a policy that applies to elite programs such as UConn Women’s Basketball.
- National polling consistently shows that approximately 75% of Americans support maintaining sex-based categories in women’s sports.
- The U.S. Supreme Court has affirmed that states have the authority to set their own policies on this issue.
HOW OUR CONNECTICUT GOVERNMENT WORKS
- House of Representatives: 102 Democrats, 49 Republicans
- State Senate: 25 Democrats, 11 Republicans
Democrats hold a supermajority, blocking legislation without bipartisan discussion.
Any legislator may introduce a bill, but:
- Bills must pass through committees controlled by Democratic leadership
- Most Republican bills never receive a public hearing or vote
- Citizens often see only one side of an issue, with little opportunity for open debate
This is not healthy democracy.
CT Voters: Democrats: ~800,000 (35%) Republicans: ~500,000 (22%)Independents: ~900,000 (42%)
INDEPENDENT VOTERS MATTER.
Public Benefit Surcharge
1. Eliminate Electric “Public Benefits” Charge & Fund Appropriate Programs Through State Taxes
The Public Benefits Charge raises $1 billion yearly, currently allocated as follows:
- 50% – Assistance with electric bills for low-income households
- 25% – Clean-energy efficiency and conservation programs
- 15% – Renewable-energy mandates
- 10% – Utility-related and administrative costs
The current Democratic Sponsored Public Benefits Charge is a flawed regressive system – a flat surcharge, regardless of income. Current System:
- Family A earns $100,000, electric bill $450/month → pays ~$850/year
- Family B earns $500,000, electric bill $450/month → pays ~$850/year
Both families pay the same amount, despite a 5× difference in income.
Republican Solution: Progressive Funding Through State Taxes
If these same programs were funded through Connecticut’s income-based tax system:
- Family A ($100,000 income) → pays about $300/year
- Family B ($500,000 income) → pays about $2,500/year
1. Protects seniors and middle-income households
2. Aligns cost with ability to pay
3. Restores transparency and accountability
830-g: A Non-Solution to Affordable Housing
2. Repeal 8-30g — Connecticut’s Affordable Housing Appeals Law
Statute 8-30g, enacted in 1989 by Democrats, was intended to encourage affordable housing.
Each town must meet the “10% Threshold” of “affordable housing units”.
Essex has 3,000 housing units, so the 10% threshold would be 300 units.
“Affordable” – state guidelines (in Essex, rental = $1,500/month)
Restricted for low-to-moderate income households – state guidelines (in Essex, 2-person income max $80K, but can only spend 30% of income, so can’t make less than $60K)
Locked in for at least 30 years
If town DOES NOT MEET the 10% Threshold:
- Developers may override local zoning rules
- Projects only need to have 30% affordable units
- Courts, not communities, control land-use decisions
FACTS regarding the 8-30g:
- 83% (141/169) of CT towns do not meet the 10% requirement (Essex has 3.3%)
- Only one other state — Massachusetts — has a comparable law
- Most states rely on incentives, not mandates or zoning overrides
Republican Solution: Repeal Statute 8-30g & provide affordable housing incentives.
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In the News
STATEMENT FROM CONNECTICUT REPUBLICANS ON THE
ARREST OF NICOLAS MADURO
MIDDLETOWN, CT — President Trump promised the American people he would stop the flow of deadly drugs into our country, drugs that have taken the lives of millions of Americans and devastated families and communities.
Nicolás Maduro, who illegitimately declared himself president after receiving barely 30 percent of the vote in Venezuela’s last so-called “free” election, was repeatedly warned to halt the flow of narcotics from his country into the United States. The Trump administration even offered assistance to help stop the trafficking. Maduro refused. Instead, he not only allowed the drug trade to continue, he enabled it, condoned it, and personally profited from it.
Presidents of both parties have long relied on their constitutional authority to act when foreign actors pose a direct threat to the safety and security of the United States and its people. President Trump did exactly that.
Unfortunately, Democrats, particularly Jim Himes, Chris Murphy, and Dick Blumenthal, appear far more interested in playing politics than in protecting Americans. Nearly 1,000 Connecticut residents died from drug overdoses in 2024, and overdoses have continued to rise in 2025. These are not abstract numbers; they represent lost lives, grieving families, and shattered communities.
If only Democrats cared as much about American lives as they do about defending a foreign drug lord who profits from the deaths of Americans.
Connecticut Republican Chairman Commends Senate for Ending Shutdown
Middletown, CT — Connecticut Republican Party Chairman Ben Proto today praised the United States Senate for passing bipartisan legislation to end the federal government shutdown. “Tonight’s vote restores critical services and protects millions of Americans from further economic uncertainty. Senate Republicans and eight brave Democrat Senators put people over politics and worked together to put America back on track” said Republican State Chairman Ben Proto.
Proto condemned Connecticut’s Democratic Senators Chris Murphy and Dick Blumenthal for putting politics ahead of people, particularly those who rely on federal assistance programs like SNAP and WIC to feed their families.
“The Senate’s action is a long-overdue step toward restoring stability in our government and ensuring that essential services continue for those who need them most,” said Proto. “But once again, Chris Murphy and Dick Blumenthal failed to stand up for Connecticut’s working families. They chose loyalty to the far-left progressive failed politics of the Democrat Party that leaves thousands of Connecticut residents struggling, especially those depending on SNAP and WIC benefits, rather than choosing to help these families simply to buy food and essentials for their families. I truly don’t know how they sleep at night knowing the hardship they continue to cause hard working families across Connecticut and America” continued Proto.
Proto credited Senate Republicans and responsible bipartisan leaders for putting an end to the political stalemate and putting the American people first.
“The Democrats’ shutdown hurt real people. They hurt families, small businesses, seniors, and children,” Proto continued. “Connecticut’s senators had a choice: stand with their constituents or stand with the political establishment. Unfortunately, they chose politics over people.”
Proto reaffirmed that the Connecticut Republican Party stands for fiscal responsibility and effective governance.
“Republicans believe in common sense, pragmatic rational government that serves the people, not itself or failed political philosophy,” said Proto. “Tonight’s vote is a step in the right direction, a direction that benefits all of Connecticut. Connecticut deserves senators who put our families and our future before silly and failed partisan gamesmanship.” concluded Proto.
LEGISLATIVE LEADERS HARDING AND CANDELORA ENDORSE RYAN FAZIO FOR GOVERNOR
Stamford, CT – Tonight, at the historic annual Prescott Bush Awards Dinner hosted by the Connecticut Republican Party, the Fazio for Governor campaign announced the endorsements of Senate Republican Leader Stephen Harding (R-30) and House Republican Leader Vincent Candelora (R-86).
“Ryan Fazio is the best candidate to represent our Republican Party in November. Ryan has a proven record of winning difficult races while remaining loyal to the core values of our party,” said Harding.
In the legislature, Ryan Fazio has a record of enacting positive conservative change,” said Candelora. “Ryan will be a governor Republicans can trust to fight for lower taxes, lower utility costs, support our law enforcement, and reverse Ned Lamont’s Sanctuary State policies for good.”
Ryan Fazio added, “Tonight is about Republicans coming together to chart a new course for Connecticut. I’m grateful for this unifying support from our Republican leaders and I’m ready to fight every day to earn the trust of voters across our state.”
from Connecticut Republican Chairman Ben Proto on Senator Dick Blumenthal’s Opposition to President Trump’s Judicial Nominees
Once again, Senator Dick Blumenthal and his far-left allies are attacking President Trump’s judicial nominees—not because they lack qualifications, but because they don’t conform to the radical, activist mold Blumenthal prefers.
When Presidents Obama and Biden nominated hyper-partisan judges with extreme ideological agendas, Blumenthal couldn’t get to a microphone fast enough to sing their praises. These were judges who openly supported policies that undermine the Constitution and who viewed the bench as a platform for legislating, not adjudicating.
Now, when President Trump nominates jurists with impeccable credentials, mainstream legal views, and a demonstrated commitment to upholding the Constitution and defending individual rights, Blumenthal runs to the Senate floor crying “partisanship.” Spare us the hypocrisy.
Senator Blumenthal has spent his career supporting some of the most radical judicial nominees in American history—individuals who see the Constitution as an obstacle, not a foundation. His record is clear: he favors judges who overturn the will of the people and rewrite laws to match his progressive ideology.
His latest rhetoric would be laughable if it weren’t so pathetic. This isn’t about qualifications or fairness—it’s about Blumenthal’s fear of judges who respect the Constitution, the limits of their power, and the rights of the American people.
Dick Blumenthal may not recognize judicial integrity when he sees it—but the rest of us do. And we’ve had enough of his partisan games.
Statement from Connecticut Republican Chairman Ben Proto on Connecticut Children’s Medical Center Ending Gender Affirming Care for Minors
Connecticut Children’s Medical Center’s decision to end “gender-affirming care” for minors raises important questions. In announcing they are “reviewing the long-term sustainability of our gender care program,” one must ask whether the program was implemented to address actual medical needs or to fulfill a political agenda. The hospital also cites “political backlash” as unprecedented in its 45-year history of serving children. But this is not simply political backlash—it is a reflection of growing societal concern.
These concerns center on the appropriateness of subjecting young children—who are still years away from fully developing mentally, emotionally, intellectually, physically, and sexually—to irreversible medical procedures. Many individuals who underwent such treatments as minors now express deep regret over decisions made before they had the maturity and capacity to fully understand the consequences.
Life-altering, irreversible medical interventions of this nature should be made by individuals who have reached an age and level of development where they can make informed, thoughtful decisions for themselves. In taking this step, Connecticut Children’s Medical Center has chosen a responsible and prudent course, and I am confident they will continue to deliver the exceptional care they have provided to Connecticut’s children for decades.
The Essex Republican Town Committee
The Essex RTC serves the Republican part at the local level. We provide opportunities to select and support individuals seeking elected or appointed governmental roles at the local, state and federal levels who value: individual rights and limited government, fiscal responsibility and economic opportunity for all.
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