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Senior Deputy Senate Republican Leader Rob Sampson (R-Wolcott), ranking member on the Government Oversight Committee, led Senate and House Republicans on Tuesday in introducing proposals aimed at rooting out what they call a "culture of corruption" in state government, seeking to increase transparency in funding and prevent abuse of taxpayer dollars through legislatively directed spending on predominately progressive advocacy organizations, whose functions include controversial services such as illegal immigrant advocacy, abortion services, and "gender-affirming" care—all causes widely championed by Democrat majority lawmakers. This call for reform comes amidst an ongoing federal probe examining ties between lawmakers, state agencies, and community organizations.

Sen. Sampson was joined by House and Senate Republican Leaders Vincent Candelora (R-North Branford) and Stephen Harding (R-Brookfield), along with members of each caucus, in highlighting what they described as an ongoing lack of respect for Connecticut taxpayers’ money and offering legislative reforms.

"Connecticut taxpayers are getting a raw deal. While families are struggling with record costs and crushing taxes, the majority in Hartford has been quietly steering your money to politically connected organizations behind closed doors. There’s no transparency, no oversight, and no accountability—just insiders taking care of their own. People in this state have a right to know where their money is going.

"This is corruption on steroids. Hundreds of these earmarks are simply written as a name and a dollar amount. No description of purpose. No performance requirements. No deliverables. Just a check. The danger in all of this is that majority Democrats who control the spending are using your money for political advocacy, paying out their preferred activist organizations as the vehicle. Why? In part to protect their own members with political cover when they return to their districts. The validity of this statement is not in doubt. Leaders of both Democratic caucuses have publicly intimated as such.

“This is a system run by the Democratic machine that’s been in power too long and thinks no one is watching. Our job is to make sure people are watching. That’s what this press conference is about—shining a light on how your money is really being spent and demanding an honest, open process," said Sen. Sampson.

In a joint statement, Sen. Harding and Rep. Candelora added, “It’s a pattern. From the State Pier debacle to the CSCU Chancellor scandal to this week’s Diamantis trial, the disrespect for taxpayers’ money is widespread in state government. Mismanagement. A lack of oversight and accountability. Money wasted. We now see that lack of respect with regard to taxpayer-funded grants for nonprofits. They are divvied out with minimal vetting and little to no transparency. That is disrespectful to taxpayers and that must change.”

Republicans are proposing the following legislative reforms which would apply to all grant recipients receiving a grant-in-aid earmarked from a state appropriation or bond allocation from the state. They include:

Transparency of Purpose

As a condition of receiving funds, the grant recipients must:

• Submit a written request to the Appropriations Committee which shall include the following information:

• The amount of funds requested;
• The necessity for and intended use of such funds;
• A clear description of the public purpose furthered by the granting of such funds; and
• The legislator/requestor who made the initial request for funds, including a certification that they, their family members, or any business with which they are associated, have no financial interest in and will receive no financial benefit from the grant of funds.
• Such information shall be publicly posted online.

Transparency in Reporting

Prior to receiving initial grant and annually thereafter, no later than 60 days before the end of the fiscal year in which the funds were received, the grant recipient must submit to the Appropriations committee a certified, detailed accounting of the recipient's budget for the previous fiscal year that includes:

• Each amount spent on administrative costs;
• Each amount spent on lobbying, political and advocacy activities, including but not limited to, funds paid to any tax-exempt organization recognized under IRS Code 501(c)(4);
• A detailed reporting of all sources of income, in addition to the state funds;
• A detailed accounting of all disbursements;
• If applicable, a detailed accounting of how third-party and subsequent grant recipients expended the funds they received; and
• A list of all current Board Members.

“I hope that these commonsense reforms receive bipartisan support," said Sen. Sampson. "If we are called into Special Session this month, I urge Democrats to bring these good government solutions in front of the entire legislature for action.”

Sen. Sampson spoke at length on the senate floor in February during the 2025 Legislative Session regarding the nearly $3 million in taxpayer funds allocated to partisan, politically connected organizations through controversial provisions in H.B. 7066, where Governor Lamont initially exercised his line-item veto on such provisions. Days later, he signed off on a spending package that effectively resurrected this multimillion dollar giveaway to 24 select partisan and/or dubious organizations.

View Sen. Sampson's senate floor remarks on related H.B. 7066 here and here.

Watch the full press conference below.

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