IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 17, 2025

Ben Proto, Chair
[email protected]
 

Proto: “Fetterman Admits It — Democrats Own This Shutdown"

MIDDLETOWN, CT – Connecticut Republican Party Chairman Ben Proto blasted U.S. Senators Chris Murphy and Dick Blumenthal today after Senator John Fetterman (D-PA) admitted that the government shutdown is a result of Democratic decisions.

“Senator John Fetterman said the quiet part out loud — ‘shutting down the government is really what the Democratic Party wants to do.’ He even admitted that the Obamacare subsidies ‘were designed by the Democratic Party to expire... This is NOT something taken by the Republicans,’” said Proto.

“For weeks, Senators Murphy and Blumenthal have been doing what Democrats always do, pointing fingers, peddling talking points, and blaming everyone but themselves,” Proto continued. “Now they’ve been exposed. Democrats refused to negotiate, refused to meet with Republicans in good faith, and chose a shutdown over compromise. Senator Fetterman just confirmed what we’ve been saying all along this shutdown is the Democrats’ fault, plain and simple.”

Proto said the impact is hitting Connecticut families hard. “Tens of thousands of Connecticut residents are going without paychecks, struggling to pay their mortgages or rent, and worrying about putting food on the table,” Proto said. “This debacle rests squarely on the shoulders of Chris Murphy, Dick Blumenthal, and their Democratic colleagues in Washington.”

“Connecticut families, workers, and seniors are paying the price for Washington Democrats’ political games,” Proto added. “Murphy and Blumenthal owe the people of Connecticut an answer: Do they agree with Senator Fetterman that this shutdown is the Democrats’ fault, or will they keep gaslighting the public while the government stays closed?”

“As I’ve said from the beginning, the solution is simple: vote for the continuing resolution that maintain the Biden-era funding levels, keep the government funded at the levels Democrats already supported, and then sit down with the President and Republicans to negotiate on future spending priorities.”

“In simpler terms — stop playing politics with people’s lives and do your damn job.”

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