Please Follow us on Gab, Minds, Telegram, Rumble, Gettr, Truth Social, Twitter

Yesterday, Gov. Ned Lamont announced that his administration submitted a plan to the leadership of the Connecticut General Assembly to tap into the recently created Emergency State Response Reserve in response to funding reductions made by the Trump administration, for instance, to restrict certain benefits to legal citizens.

This is the first time Lamont submitted a plan to withdraw funding from the reserve, which was created in November through Special Act 25-1. The reserve contains $500 million, and the enabling statute authorizes the governor to transfer funding from it to support health and human services programs.

This initial $167.9 million plan includes funding for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP); healthcare coverage support in response to Affordable Care Act changes; homelessness prevention and response services due to grant changes in the Continuum of Care program; coverage for Planned Parenthood of Southern New England; and to increase 2-1-1 call center capacit.

Lamont said, “These are services that must continue to be supported, and here in Connecticut we will stand behind them and do what we can to ensure that this most basic assistance remains available.”

His plan contains the following expenditures:

• Funding for SNAP through June 30, 2027; $24,550,000.
• Replacement of the expiring enhanced premium tax credits for residents enrolled in Covered CT, through June 30, 2027; $64,100,000.
• Replacement of the loss of enhanced healthcare subsidies; $50,760,000.
• Supplemental payments to federally qualified health centers to help promote access to primary and preventive care for those individuals with incomes below 100% of the FPL; $5,000,000 (state share).
• Interim funding for expiring Continuum of Care grants to prevent and end homelessness, and the continuation of formerly HUD-funded vouchers for supportive housing; $6,880,000.
• Coverage for Planned Parenthood of Southern New England (PPSNE) facilities; $8,500,000.
• Replace funding for PPSNE’s frozen federal Title X grant; $1,900,000.
• Funding to 2-1-1 to support additional call volume and Community Action Agencies to support community outreach and assistance for SNAP recipients; $4,700,000.
• Operational costs for the Connecticut Department of Social Services to help Medicaid and SNAP clients meet new eligibility rules and program requirements; $1,540,000.

As required in Special Act 25-1, bipartisan legislative leaders have 24 hours upon receipt of the plan to review and – if it is their will – disapprove of the expenditures before the funds can be legally transferred.

Following the withdrawal of this funding, $332 million will remain in the reserve.

Governor Lamont and his budget staff continue to monitor the situation and may identify additional needs for its use. Special Act 25-1 authorizes the governor to make expenditures from the reserve until February 4, 2026, which is the opening day of the next regular legislative session.

State Sen. Rob Sampson (R-Wolcott) responded to Lamont’s plan to use the Emergency Reserve to benefit partisan, progressive organizations.

“As predicted, the majority’s plan for an ‘Emergency State Response Reserve’ has strayed away from what was promised during the November special session: immediate and targeted emergency assistance for those in need," said Sampson. "This proposal goes far beyond backfilling SNAP funding—which in and of itself was not necessary at the state level because of the federal government reopening. Instead, it funnels millions toward partisan initiatives designed to affect progressive social change without legislative scrutiny."

“These are not emergencies," argued Sampson. "They are policy choices that belong in the regular legislative session starting February 4. This end-around to spend taxpayer dollars without legislative oversight has now become common practice for majority Democrats in Hartford."

“Connecticut’s emergency reserves should be preserved for true emergencies—not raided to fund pet projects. I will continue to advocate for returning excess taxpayer dollars to the people, not expanding the progressive influence of state government and its surrogates," concluded Sampson.

You can read Sampson’s original statement on his opposition to Governor Lamont’s $500 million ‘slush fund’ during the November 13 Special Legislative Session here and see his remarks below:

‘NO AD’ subscription for CDM!  Sign up here and support real investigative journalism and help save the republic!'