Latest Column | ‘As America Turns 250, Connecticut Families Are Being Left Behind’ (May 2026)

By State Sen. Rob Sampson

As we approach the 250th anniversary as a nation, it should be a time to reflect on what has made America the greatest country in the world.

For nearly two and a half centuries, America has stood as a beacon of freedom, opportunity, and self-government. Our system works because power is supposed to belong to the people, not politicians, not bureaucracies, and not one-party rule.

That’s the foundation.

It is why people have sought out this nation and why generations have worked to preserve it. Government exists to serve the people, not the other way around.

But here in Connecticut, we are drifting further away from it.

Instead of focusing on the real challenges here, too many in Hartford are fixated on what’s happening in Washington. Every debate turns into national politics, “Trump this…,” “Republican that…,” and every failure is blamed on someone else, usually someone hundreds of miles away.

That is not by accident.

We recently spent hours debating an “anti-ICE” bill that does nothing to make Connecticut safer, more affordable, or more prosperous. Instead, it is a political statement designed to inflame divisions while ignoring the real issues here at home.

And in all of that noise, something important gets lost.

The victims.

Victims of crimes committed by individuals who should never have been here, families whose lives are permanently altered and whose stories are too often dismissed because they do not fit the narrative.

We can have a fair and honest conversation about immigration policy while still recognizing a basic truth: public safety matters, and every victim deserves to be acknowledged.

Meanwhile, Connecticut families are left dealing with the consequences of policies much closer to home.

Electric bills that are among the highest in the country.
One of the heaviest tax burdens in the nation.
Property taxes that continue to climb year after year.
A business climate that pushes jobs and opportunity out of our state.
And a cost of living that makes it harder for families to stay and seniors to remain in their homes.

These are not talking points. They are daily realities.

People feel it when they open their utility bills, pay their taxes, or try to fill their grocery carts. The strain is real, and it is growing.

In April, Senate Republicans called out what is now undeniable: Connecticut is increasingly unaffordable, and those in charge are not treating it with urgency.

Yet instead of reversing course, the majority continues to push policies that will only make things worse.

Higher taxes, more mandates, and increased costs across the board.

And increasingly, more power concentrated in fewer hands.

In one recent example, legislation was forced through that gives the state comptroller sweeping authority in disputes with private contractors, including the ability to decide who gets paid and who doesn’t.

That should concern anyone who believes in fairness, due process, and limited government.

These are the kinds of policies that rarely make headlines but quietly shape our economy, discourage investment, and expand government control.

I see it every day.

Bill after bill grows government, restricts freedom, and shifts power away from the people. I work every day to slow that down, ask hard questions, and ensure those decisions face real scrutiny before they become law.

Because someone has to stand up and do it.

When questioned, the Democrat majority responds the same way: blame Trump, blame Washington, point anywhere but here.

But here’s the truth:

Connecticut’s affordability crisis is being driven by decisions made right here at our State Capitol in Hartford.

We don’t need distractions.

We need accountability.

And most importantly, we need solutions.

Senate Republicans continue pushing for real relief: eliminating the car tax by fully crediting what you pay locally against your income tax, cutting income taxes, lowering energy costs including the elimination of the hidden tax on electric bills, and better funding towns and education so they are not forced to keep raising property taxes.

These are not radical ideas.

They are common-sense steps that would help families keep more of what they earn, support seniors on fixed incomes, and restore balance to a system that has tilted in the wrong direction.

But they require a willingness to change course.

As America approaches its 250th birthday, we should be asking ourselves a simple question: Are we honoring the principles that made this country great?

Government should be responsive to the people.

It should focus on real problems.

And it should be accountable when it falls short.

Right now, too many Connecticut families feel like their voices are being ignored while their costs keep going up.

That’s not what representative government is supposed to look like.

If we want to truly celebrate 250 years of American independence, we should start by making sure the people of this state can afford to live, work, and raise a family here.

Because freedom doesn’t mean much if you can’t afford to stay.