Sen. Sampson Blasts $56 Billion Biennium Budget Process, Policies

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 4, 2025

 Media Contact:
Matt Fraulino
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Sen. Sampson Blasts $56 Billion Biennium Budget Process, Policies 

HARTFORD – Senior Deputy Senate Republican Leader Rob Sampson (R-Wolcott) today opposed the two-year, $55.8 billion state budget that includes $330 million in new spending that breaks Connecticut’s longstanding bipartisan fiscal guardrails.

In addition to the spending concerns, the 693-page budget includes hundreds of pages of unrelated policy provisions from the 2025 legislative session—many of which were not subject to public hearings. It also contains substantial earmarks for special interest considerations. As an alternative, Senate Republicans filed more than 40 amendments to streamline the legislation as a pure budget document.

“This nearly 700-page budget is less a fiscal document and more a policy dumping ground. It has hundreds of sections that have nothing to do with the budget itself. Controversial bills that failed to pass on their own were quietly tucked into this massive package to avoid public debate. That’s not policymaking—that’s policy laundering.

“I have never been opposed to helping those who truly are in need. That role is the function of a good government. Locally, there are dozens of organizations that deserve support because of what they do for others. Regrettably, this budget contains dozens of earmarks that are due to political patronage or other backroom dealings that we’ve become all to accustomed to in Hartford. It spends money on those who do not necessarily merit hard-earned taxpayer money, including undocumented immigrants, despite federal restrictions.

“The process matters. Even if this budget were perfect, I couldn’t support it because of how it was done. It expands government, increases spending, and will continue to push hardworking taxpayers out of Connecticut. I encourage the Governor to use his line-item veto power to eliminate the most damaging polices buried in this overreaching document,” said Sen. Sampson.

The measure, released in the early hours of Monday, passed the Senate along party lines and now moves to the Governor’s office for approval.