Senate Democrats Voice Opposition to Trump’s Federal Funds Freeze

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Senate Democrats speak out against the Trump administration's funding freeze during a Jan. 28 press conference. Credit: Lawrence Cook / Senate Democrats

Less than 48 hours after issuing a unilateral decree that federal funds to states must be frozen, Republican President Donald Trump had to walk it back after facing a firestorm of criticism from Americans and Democrats all across the country – including the 25 members of the Senate Democratic Caucus right here in Connecticut.

Trump’s Office of Budget and Management issued a memo Monday evening declaring that trillions of dollars in federal grants and loans to states would become unavailable as of Tuesday at 5 p.m., sparking mass confusion across the country and prompting frantic calls to elected officials from parents, educators, public safety officers, social service providers and others.

Members of the Senate Democratic Caucus were among the first to speak out against the unconstitutional Trump edict during an 11:30 a.m. press conference in the state Capitol that was designed to announce a proposed new investment in higher Medicaid reimbursement rates for Connecticut doctors and dentists – rates which haven’t been raised in 17 years – but which instead turned into a referendum on the disastrous first eight days of the new Trump administration.

Senate President Martin Looney, D-New Haven, called the threat to Connecticut and its operations “unfathomable.” He said more than 2,400 positions in state government were funded at least in part by federal support and some $10 billion in federal funds seemed potentially at risk, threatening services like social security and veterans benefits. 

“Everything appears to be at risk, and we need to be prepared for that here,” Looney said. “And we also want to call out our Republican colleagues — smaller number as they may be in the General Assembly — what do they have to say about this? Are they endorsing these federal cuts, or are they going to try to stand up for the people of Connecticut and recognize the carnage President Trump is about to bring upon us?”

Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff, D-Norwalk, encouraged Connecticut residents to speak up against the funding freeze. 

“We need people to not be afraid. We need people to say what is right for this country and for our state,” Duff said. “We have federal grants that not only cover Medicaid, but that also cover lead pipes in water. We have federal grants that cover roads and bridges and repairs. Those are things that matter to people.”

Sen. Cathy Osten, a Sprague Democrat who serves as Senate chair of the legislature’s Appropriations Committee, said the chaos caused by the Trump administration was a predictable outcome of the Republican’s return to the White House. 

“If anybody is here today saying they did not know this was going to happen, they are lying. We all knew this was going to happen,” Osten said. “This is something that we cannot let go by. But we need each and every one of you walking beside us, in front of us, behind us, and saying, We don’t accept this anymore. Enough is enough”.

Later that day, at a Tuesday afternoon press conference with Governor Ned Lamont, Democratic members of Congress and some Democratic mayors, Attorney General William Tong announced that Connecticut had just joined with 21 other Democratic states in seeking an immediate injunction in federal court to stop the freeze. Tong said the order was unconstitutional because the funds that Trump had sought to hold up had already been appropriated by Congress, which has sole authority under the Constitution to spend money. 

Senate Democrats then took to the microphone to excoriate Trump once again. Sen. Norm Needleman, D-Essex, questioned why only Democrats had spoken up against a move that impacted residents across Connecticut regardless of their political affiliation. 

“Every member of the legislature represents a large number of constituents, and we’re fighting this battle for everybody. And I am specifically calling out my Republican colleagues – many of whom I like personally – but where the hell are they? Why are they not standing up with us? Standing up to this bullshit?” Needleman said. “The battle lines have been drawn …  We need to stop acting nice to people who have sold their souls to the devil. This is a moral matter. If we don’t stand up for what’s right, for people, for humanity, where the hell is the humanity? People are going to die based on the decisions that these idiots in Washington are making.”

Sen. Pat Billie Miller, D-Stamford, questioned whether Tuesday’s chaos was what Trump supporters were seeking when they voted for him. 

“Is this what “Make America Great Again” looks like? Is this what it looks like – that children don’t have childcare, that people can’t put food on their table, instilling fear in Americans? Is that what this is about? Because this is not the America that I read about when I was in school,” Miller said. “America has always been about taking care of our most vulnerable. Taking care of those who can’t take care of themselves. So we are dismantling everything that our forefathers fought for?”

Less than 24 hours later, the Trump administration reversed course in the face of overwhelming public opposition and rescinded its own Monday afternoon edict.

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