Hello friend,

As we all know, this month the federal government came to a screeching halt. But let me make one thing clear: This is not a failure of the Democrats or government workers. This is a deliberate gambit on behalf of radical Republicans who are choosing to use the shutdown as a wrecking ball, to threaten irreversible cuts to healthcare, fire federal workers en masse, and destroy the programs that help keep their own constituents afloat.

While Trump and his allies try to shroud the truth, here’s the reality: Premiums will skyrocket, doubling or even tripling in many cases – squeezing normal working-class families beyond what their current paychecks can afford. My own constituents are not immune; our neighbors, coworkers, and even the veterans who serve our country will bear the brunt. We must make certain that healthcare is no bargaining chip.

But this doesn’t stop at insurance. Connecticut is in the crosshairs, and Russell Vought is taking aim. Unelected and a significant contributor to Project 2025, he is implementing a new regime of control deciding which programs live or die and which states are punished, with Democrat-led states being his biggest target. What is unfolding is a seizure of power masquerading as austerity, with numerous infrastructure, energy, and health projects being canceled or having their funds frozen. This, when coupled with his efforts to place federal workers “in trauma” through mass layoffs, is causing irreparable harm.

In 2024, Trump claimed he did not know this man or the other extremists behind Project 2025. But now we see that blueprint coming to life under a government run by ideology catering to itself and people just like them, not the people who elected it. Like the reckless cuts and chaos caused by Elon Musk and DOGE earlier this year, this administration is run by ego, not public service.

I am prepared to stand on the floor, speak to the media, and fight for what’s right to defend Connecticut and every American. We must fight for a democracy that serves every person under the flag, not just the power-hungry few.

If you believe that the government should serve the people, not the privileged, please chip in today, as every dollar helps us organize and build a movement needed to hold this administration accountable.

Only together can we make clear that our democracy will not be torn apart from within.

In service,
Dick