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State Senator Rob Sampson responded to a social-media graphic published by Democratic State Senate candidate Jack Perry that Sampson says misrepresents his legislative record on electric rates, the gas tax, affordability and data-center incentives.
Rather than simply disputing the claims, Sampson published a detailed fact-check citing Connecticut General Assembly records, roll-call votes, floor debate, news coverage, legislation he introduced and public advocacy spanning several years.
“Jack Perry is certainly free to disagree with my positions, but he should disagree with the positions I actually hold,” Sampson said. “I have more than fifteen years of votes, legislation, floor debate and public statements that anyone can examine. When a campaign graphic says the opposite of what the public record shows, voters deserve the opportunity to see the facts for themselves.”
Perry’s graphic claims that Sampson will not hold Eversource accountable, will not take action to suspend the gas tax, is not focused on lowering the cost of living and will not stop AI data centers. It also references Sampson’s 2020 vote against legislation concerning insulin cost sharing.
Sampson addressed each claim with supporting documentation.
EVERSOURCE AND ELECTRIC RATES
Perry Claim: Sampson “won’t hold Eversource accountable.”
Sampson Response: The public record documents years of legislation, votes and advocacy aimed at utility accountability and reducing electric costs.
In 2020, Sampson voted for HB 7006, the “Take Back Our Grid Act,” which strengthened utility performance and accountability requirements following Tropical Storm Isaias.
Official Senate roll call:
https://www.cga.ct.gov/2020/
In 2021, Sampson introduced SB 454, An Act Concerning the Combined Public Benefit Charge:
He also introduced SB 629, An Act Eliminating a Charge Assessed to End Use Customers of Electric Services:
In 2023, Sampson introduced or co-introduced a series of proposals addressing different components of Connecticut’s electric-rate structure.
SB 679 proposed reducing electric distribution companies’ allowed return on equity:
SB 680 proposed separating PURA from DEEP:
SB 682 addressed energy procurement authority:
SB 683 proposed eliminating another surcharge assessed to electric customers:
SB 684 was titled An Act Suspending the Combined Public Benefit Charge:
SB 685 addressed certain above-wholesale zero-emission energy contracts:
In 2024, Sampson repeatedly called for relief from rising electric bills and the Public Benefits Charge. He published an opinion column detailing Connecticut’s electric-rate crisis:
Sampson also joined ratepayer advocate Scott Pearson and others in delivering more than 68,000 Change.org petition signatures to Governor Ned Lamont demanding electric-rate relief.
Coverage and video:
https://www.
Change.org documentation:
https://www.change.org/p/
In 2025, Sampson introduced SB 598, An Act Prohibiting Electric Distribution Companies From Collecting Fees Other Than Fees for the Purchase or Delivery of Electricity.
Actual bill:
https://www.cga.ct.gov/2025/
NBC Connecticut coverage:
https://www.nbcconnecticut.
He also supported SB 647, An Act Concerning Protections for Consumer Access to Affordable Electricity:
Sampson’s 2026 affordability agenda again includes removing Public Benefits Charges from electric bills and placing those public-policy costs into the regular state budget process.
Connecticut Public coverage:
https://www.ctpublic.org/news/
Sampson statement:
https://www.
“The claim that I won’t hold Eversource accountable is particularly difficult to understand,” Sampson said. “There is a documented record going back years of bills I introduced, votes I cast, press conferences I participated in and public advocacy aimed directly at electric rates and the policies driving them.”
GAS TAX
Perry Claim: Sampson “won’t take action to suspend gas tax.”
Sampson Response: Sampson voted to suspend Connecticut’s gasoline tax.
In 2022, the legislature passed HB 5501, suspending Connecticut’s 25-cent-per-gallon gasoline tax.
Official bill page:
https://www.cga.ct.gov/asp/
Enacted law:
https://www.cga.ct.gov/2022/
Senate roll call:
https://www.cga.ct.gov/2022/
Sampson voted yes.
He also publicly advocated gas-tax relief as part of the Senate Republican “Affordable Connecticut” initiative and participated in public rallies calling for reductions in gasoline and diesel taxes.
“The claim says I wouldn’t take action to suspend the gas tax,” Sampson said. “There is an official Senate roll call showing that I literally voted to suspend it.”
DATA CENTERS
Perry Claim: Sampson “won’t stop AI data centers.”
Sampson Response: When Connecticut considered major tax incentives for data centers, Sampson was one of only five senators who voted against them.
In 2021, the General Assembly considered HB 6514, An Act Concerning Incentives for Qualified Data Centers to Locate in the State.
Official bill page:
https://www.cga.ct.gov/asp/
Senate roll call:
https://www.cga.ct.gov/2021/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EAVAYslMPf0
The bill passed the Senate 29-5. Sampson was one of the five no votes.
Sampson also spoke against the legislation on the Senate floor.
Video:
https://youtu.be/EAVAYslMPf0?
Data Center Dynamics reported on Sampson’s opposition at the time and quoted him describing the incentives as “corporate welfare.”
https://www.datacenterdynamics.com/en/news/connecticut-data-center-tax-exemption-bill-passes-senate
“This is another issue where there is no need to speculate about my position,” Sampson said. “Connecticut actually voted on enormous tax incentives for data centers. I opposed them, spoke against them and was one of only five senators who voted no.”
AFFORDABILITY
Perry Claim: Sampson is not “focused on lowering cost of living.”
Sampson Response: Sampson has publicly identified affordability as a central legislative priority for years.
In a 2022 Patch candidate questionnaire, when asked to identify the most pressing issue facing his constituents, Sampson answered: “Affordability.”
https://patch.com/connecticut/cheshire/candidate-profile-rob-sampson-16th-senatorial-district
That same year, Sampson participated in the Senate Republican “Affordable Connecticut” initiative advocating broad tax relief.
At the beginning of the 2023 legislative session, Sampson again identified the cost of living, energy costs and transportation costs among his legislative priorities:
Senate Republicans subsequently proposed approximately $1.5 billion in broad-based tax relief, including income-tax relief, property-tax relief, relief for seniors and families and repeal of the Highway Use Tax.
Sampson continued making affordability a central argument in debates over taxes, energy, housing, regulation and state spending.
His April 2025 Connecticut Mirror column argued for prioritizing electric-rate relief, property-tax burdens and affordability:
The 2026 Senate Republican affordability proposal includes income-tax reductions, property-tax relief, a reduction in Connecticut’s Paid Family Leave payroll tax, occupational-licensing relief and electric-rate reforms.
Connecticut Public:
https://www.ctpublic.org/news/
Sampson statement:
https://www.
“People are free to disagree with my approach to affordability,” Sampson said. “They cannot credibly claim I have not made it a major legislative priority.”
INSULIN LEGISLATION
Perry Claim: Sampson “voted against a cap on insulin prices.”
Sampson Response: Sampson acknowledges the vote but says Perry’s graphic omits the policy argument he made publicly on the Senate floor.
Sampson voted against HB 6003 in 2020 and explained his reasoning during Senate debate.
Legislation:
https://www.cga.ct.gov/2020/
Complete July 28, 2020 Senate transcript:
https://cga.ct.gov/2020/trn/S/
Video of Sampson’s floor remarks:
https://youtu.be/uaOXVAm1tO4?
Sampson argued that capping certain out-of-pocket costs for individuals covered by state-regulated insurance plans did not eliminate the underlying expense and risked shifting those costs elsewhere within the insurance system.
Connecticut Mirror’s contemporaneous coverage:
https://ctmirror.org/2020/07/
“I have never hidden from difficult votes,” Sampson said. “People can watch my floor remarks, read the transcript and disagree with me if they wish. What matters is presenting the actual argument rather than reducing a complicated policy debate to a checkmark and an X.”
A REPEAT OF THE 2020 CAMPAIGN
Sampson said the dispute is reminiscent of his 2020 race against Perry.
“We went through this when Jack ran against me in 2020,” Sampson said. “His campaign repeatedly characterized my positions in ways I believed were inaccurate, and I responded by documenting my actual record. I still have the campaign mail from that race, both his and mine, and I am happy to make it available.”
Sampson challenged Perry to focus the campaign on policy differences rather than characterizations of Sampson’s record that can be checked against public documents.
“Choose your positions. Explain them. Defend them,” Sampson said. “If Jack believes my approach to electric rates, taxes, affordability, data centers or health care is wrong, he should make that case. I welcome that debate.”
“But he should stop misrepresenting positions I have held publicly and consistently for years. My record is extensive, well known and easily verified.”
Sampson concluded:
“I have provided the bills, votes, transcripts, videos and news coverage. Voters and reporters do not have to take my word for any of it. They can check the record themselves.”
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