Latest Column | No Kings? CT Democrats Might Want to Look in the Mirror (July 2025)

By Sen. Rob Sampson

No Kings? Connecticut Democrats Might Want to Look in the Mirror
By Senator Rob Sampson

As the 2025 legislative session sprinted to its conclusion on June 4, legislative Democrats turned to Republicans for help in moving hundreds of bills before the deadline— part of a final, frantic push to pass legislation before the midnight deadline. It’s chaotic, rushed, and often deliberately opaque. But even while we are in the minority, Senate Republicans still hold a powerful tool: time. And when used wisely, time exposes everything the majority would rather you not see.

This year, we used our toolkit to full effect. We challenged bad bills, demanded answers, and forced real debate. Along the way, we revealed exactly why Connecticut continues to suffer from high costs, intrusive government, and a lack of accountability.

One of the most troubling examples was Senate Bill 1370, a piece of legislation that should alarm every taxpayer. It would dramatically expand the state’s prevailing wage law—requiring not only that union-level wages (often two to three times higher than the competitive market rate) be paid for labor on public job sites, but also for off-site fabrication of any materials used in those projects.

This means that small manufacturers and shops—many of which are family-run and barely staying afloat—would be forced to inflate their bids because of government-imposed wage mandates, even when the work happens nowhere near a construction site. It also means that much of the “off-site” fabrication will now also occur “out-of-state.”

The consequences? Massive cost increases for local governments, which are already required to pay prevailing wage on most infrastructure and construction projects. Towns and cities across Connecticut will face a simple but painful choice: raise local property taxes or cut core services like education. And make no mistake—SB 1370 doesn’t spare anyone. It hurts contractors, taxpayers, and schoolchildren alike.

Not surprisingly, Democrats couldn’t get this bill passed on its own merits. So, they did what has become their go-to move: they buried it in the 700-page state budget at the last minute, avoiding direct debate and public scrutiny.

As Chair of Policy and Screening, I made sure it didn’t go unnoticed. I forced open debate and demanded transparency. And what did Democrats do in response? They doubled down—but not without revealing their own hypocrisy. They exempted the state’s own Department of Transportation from the new mandate, silently acknowledging—without saying so—that the policy would be financially disastrous.

This is the kind of legislative sleight-of-hand that erodes public trust. And sadly, SB 1370 is just one example.

The $56 billion budget passed this year represents a nearly 14% increase in state spending, one of the largest in recent memory. Yet Democrats continue to insist there will be “no new taxes.” That claim is implausible on its face. The money must come from somewhere, and Connecticut families already shoulder one of the highest tax burdens in the country. Bookmark this column. We’ll revisit that promise when the tax hikes arrive.

Worse still, many of the budget’s line items amounted to a political patronage list than a responsible fiscal blueprint. Hidden within the fine print are dozens of earmarks—many vague or inexplicable—allocating taxpayer funds to entities with little public oversight. That’s why I’ve initiated a deeper review of these items. Accountability isn’t optional; it’s essential.

Much has also been made of my role in slowing down the session’s final days. Senate Republicans, under the leadership of Senator Steve Harding and with me in a key role as Policy and Screening Chairman, used every procedural tactic we had—debate, amendments, and pointed questions—to make sure bad bills didn’t pass in darkness.

In response, House Speaker Matt Ritter claimed that I referred to myself as “the king” during the final days of session—a mischaracterization he invented. That’s not only false, but it’s also a stunning bit of irony.

While Democrats held rallies proclaiming “No Kings” and accusing others of authoritarianism, they were the ones bypassing committee hearings, rushing through last-minute bills, and packing unrelated policy into giant omnibus measures with no real accountability. In reality, no one exercises more unilateral power in this state than the progressive Democrats in charge of our legislature.

Their supermajorities give them the ability to pass virtually anything if they consider it a priority. If a bill didn’t make it to the finish line, it’s because they didn’t fight for it—not because Republicans stopped it. We can bring issues into the light, offer tough amendments, and use time to force the majority to choose what matters most—but at the end of the day, they still get to choose. Blaming me is nothing more than political scapegoating. And frankly, it proves we’re being effective.

Now, even as the regular session ends, Democrats are threatening a special session to force through their extreme housing bill—a proposal that amounts to a statewide takeover of local zoning authority. Even Governor Lamont seems hesitant to sign it. He should be.

The people of Connecticut are frustrated—and they have every right to be. They’re tired of being told one thing and seeing another. Tired of skyrocketing costs, vague spending, and legislative tricks that put government control above common sense.

That’s why I’m here. That’s why I’ll keep fighting—on the floor, in committee, in special session, and in every column like this one.

Because while Connecticut may not have kings, it certainly has a ruling class. And someone needs to stand up to them.