Survey

Members of the legislature have told us that Connecticut has a $5 billion surplus, but they are not willing to permanently reduce taxes and give some of that money back to us. If you could choose, which tax would be your priority for reduction or repeal?

Families across the state – regardless of whether it’s an urban center or the most rural community – have felt the pain, helplessness, and tragic loss of addiction. The rate of drug-related deaths continues to rise, leaving families with wounds that will never heal. Do you believe that more should be done to provide proactive mental health and addiction services to families who need it, and that we need stiffer penalties for those trafficking in lethal drugs like Fentanyl?

During the 2024 legislative session, the legislature dedicated $160 million from the state’s remaining federal covid recovery funding to help state colleges and universities cover operating costs but failed to dedicate additional funding to help local school districts pay for surging special education costs. In the future, should state government prioritize funding for students at the start of their educational journey over tuition-paying college students?

Over the last two years, there’s been a push in the legislature to ban the sales of new gas-powered vehicles. Do you think state government should mandate a transition to electric vehicles or let the free market decide?

Connecticut residents are seeing more instances of brazen crime—particularly committed by juveniles. The legislature has passed policy that has resulted in more rights for criminals, fewer protections for victims, and put our cops and their families at risk. Do you believe that government’s priority should be the safety of our citizens, and would you support legislation that protects victims, punishes criminals, and gives our police officers the tools they need to do their jobs?

As federal officials grapple with the surge of undocumented immigrants at our nation’s southern border, Connecticut officials in state government are dealing with the exploding costs—it’s over-budget by millions—of providing free health care to undocumented children up to age 19. Some legislators are exploring raising the eligibility age to 25. Do you think the legislature should expand eligibility for free healthcare for undocumented immigrants?

When the legislature legalized the commercialized marijuana market in 2021, a resulting byproduct is a prohibition on police pulling over motor vehicle operators they see smoking marijuana while behind the wheel, or if they detect the odor of marijuana coming from vehicle—even if kids are inside. Do you believe the legislature should close this loophole to make our road safer?

Security video capturing absentee ballot fraud in Bridgeport last summer generated headlines statewide and has raised concern among citizens and legislators about the integrity of Connecticut elections and lack of accountability against bad actors. Do you think individuals who commit criminal elections violations should face mandatory jail time?

The legislature in 2017 passed bipartisan “fiscal guardrails” that help control state spending and build financial reserves, and in another bipartisan vote in 2023 renewed these measures for at least another 5 years. These tools have helped the state begin to pay down unfunded debt, which now stands at roughly $80 billion. Now that the state has a healthy budget reserve fund, some lawmakers want to scale back these guardrails to spend more money on social service-style initiatives. Do you think lawmakers should keep these financial controls in place.

Connecticut was founded on the concept that the best government is local government. We may be a small state, but we are made up of 169 towns and cities who all have their own unique identiy and their own unique needs. Efforts are currently underway in Hartford to take away our ability to make our own decisions when it comes to our local schools and our local planning & zoning activities (i.e., development). Do you agree that our towns know what is best for