The federal government is supposed to serve Americans regardless of how their state voted. Yet the Trump administration has repeatedly treated federal power as a political weapon. At a time when our own federal government is targeting us, we need legislators who will act as a firewall, stepping in to protect us.
That is why what happens in Hartford matters so much.When Washington has us in its crosshairs, state government becomes the only institution left to respond.
Connecticut’s Democratic majority has pursued that role aggressively by adopting state-level protections in areas where federal policy or funding have gone off course. Because our Democratic majority has governed with fiscal prudence, we can now afford to set aside emergency funding for health care, food assistance, housing, childcare, and other services that Connecticut residents rely on which have been targeted by Trump.
But that response has not been unanimous. Greenwich’s Republican legislators, Senator Ryan Fazio, running for Connecticut governor, and Representative Tina Courpas, seeking re-election, have repeatedly aided the Trump agenda by rejecting measures to protect us from its excesses.
They refused to pay for federal cuts
Connecticut legislators established a $500 million Emergency Reserve (and later a Federal Cuts Response Fund), to help Connecticut mitigate reductions in federal support for health care, food assistance, housing, childcare and other programs.
As the Trump administration disrupted and froze childcare funding, Connecticut also passed SB 1, establishing a $300 million child-care trust intended to create 16,000 preschool and child-care slots by 2030. But Fazio and Courpas voted NO.
What’s worse, if elected, Fazio is promising to slash Medicaid funding by $336 million annually and eliminate funding for the Early Childhood Education Endowment — driving up health care and child care costs for those who can least afford it.
They opposed accountability for immigration enforcement
As ICE agents shot, killed and terrorized populations in cities nationwide, Connecticut enacted measures to expand our Trust Act. The Trust Act restricts state and local cooperation with ICE agents (HB 7259), while adding enforcement-related accountability provisions. Connecticut also passed a law (SB 397) restricting sharing of automated license-plate-reader data, establishing protected areas such as schools, hospitals and houses of worship; restricting officers’ use of masks; requiring identifying information; and expanding the Inspector General’s authority over federal officers’ use of deadly force. But Fazio and Courpas voted NO.
They failed to protect our voting rights
Even as Trump was demanding that Connecticut turn over voter data to the federal government, Connecticut was working to strengthen voter protections, passing a 2026 bill establishing no-excuse absentee voting (HB 5001). The bill, now law, included criminal penalties for tampering with absentee-ballot drop boxes. But Fazio and Courpas voted NO.
They rejected renewable energy and climate action
As Trump waged a war against renewable energy and dismissed climate science as a “hoax,” Connecticut passed HB 5004, which established the 2050 net-zero target, a 2040 emissions target, clean-economy initiatives, solar-canopy planning and other climate policies. But Fazio and Courpas voted NO.
They voted against gun safety
Connecticut passed HB 5043, a measure to strengthen ghost-gun laws and crack down on pistols and conversion devices that can be readily modified to fire automatically. But Fazio and Courpas voted NO.
They failed to protect reproductive rights
In response to the attacks on women’s reproductive freedom in red states, Connecticut passed HB 7287, which includes requirements to provide emergency reproductive care due to pregnancy complications, and extends protections for out-of-state patients. Connecticut also passed an emergency funding package for nonprofits (SB 1453) to offset federal funding cuts, which included $800,000 for Planned Parenthood. But Fazio and Courpas voted NO.
They refused to regulate AI
Trump revoked Biden’s 2023 AI safety executive order and directed the Justice Department to create an AI Litigation Task Force specifically to challenge state AI laws. Connecticut nevertheless passed SB 5, a law that enacted substantial state AI regulation. But Fazio and Courpas voted NO.
We need backbone, not Trump sycophants
Fazio’s and Courpas’ votes reveal a clear pattern.Whenever the state passed bills to shield residents from the actions of the Trump administration, Ryan Fazio and Tina Courpas voted NO. Connecticut does not need enablers of the destructive Trump agenda. If our state legislators don’t stand up for us against Trump’s reckless and vindictive decisions, who will?
What we can learn from other towns saving on energy costs
As energy costs continue to rise, other Connecticut towns are finding ways to cut their bills — and Greenwich could do the same.
That’s the focus of a roundtable at Town Hall on Thursday, Oct. 8, featuring leaders from communities that have used solar power, energy-efficient buildings and other renewable-energy strategies to reduce energy costs and save taxpayer dollars. The nontechnical discussion, “How Other Towns Are Saving Money on Renewables,” will look at what these communities have done, how they financed their projects and what they have saved.
Here’s what three of those towns have accomplished:
- New Canaan: Former First Selectman Kevin Moynihan will discuss solar arrays on town buildings and schools that save about $1 million a year. Mark Robbins, founder and president of MHR Development, will discuss the projects he consulted on. The town’s heat plant also generates revenue.
- Ridgefield: Director of Public Works Jake Mueller will discuss an electricity program that required no upfront investment and cut the town’s rate to about 6 cents per kilowatt-hour, roughly 40% below potential costs of 10 cents.
- Manchester: Jess Farber, PE, vice president of CMTA, will discuss the town’s net-zero facilities, including a 75,000-square-foot library and Buckley Elementary School, the first net-zero-energy elementary school in New England.
Beth Evans, Greenwich’s director of Environmental Affairs, will moderate. The roundtable takes place at 7 p.m. in the Town Hall Meeting Room. Register here. GCTV will broadcast the event, and residents can also watch on Zoom.
What we’re reading
Connecticut is still waiting for $53 million in federal energy grants awarded to 12 state recipients despite court rulings that found the Trump administration’s cancellation of the grants illegal. The Connecticut Mirror reports that the grants were among $7.6 billion in clean-energy funding terminated nationwide, with court documents stating that the cancellations were tied to the political identity of the recipients’ states. Gov. Ned Lamont and Sen. Richard Blumenthal are pressing the administration to release the money. Read the full story.
Action Calendar
October 2. Get your absentee ballot.
Absentee ballots will be mailed to those who submitted applications. Starting Oct. 2, registered Greenwich voters may also visit the Town Clerk’s office at 101 Field Point Road,Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., to apply for – and receive – an absentee ballot in person. You can complete and return your ballot on the spot!
October 6. Help us win.
Volunteers needed, no experience necessary. Join us in our campaign headquarters to help elect our Democratic team. Make calls, knock doors, write postcards and more. Click here to RSVP. Same time and the same place every Tuesday: 4-7 p.m. at Campaign Headquarters, Venture X, 200 Pemberwick Road, 2nd Floor, Room 229.
October 6. Learn.
Reproductive Equity Now and Greenwich YWCA are hosting an important discussion about threats to reproductive health care and our state’s efforts to protect patients and providers. Special guests: Attorney General William Tong and Ob Gyn Dr. Shieva Ghofrany. The program starts at 7 p.m., Town Hall, 101 Field Point Road. RSVP here.
October 7. Debate.
Candidates for state representative and state senator will debate before the Round Hill Association at 7 p.m. Arrive at 6:30 p.m. for refreshments and social time. Round Hill Community House, 395 Round Hill Road.
October 8. Be aware.
Board of Selectmen meetings offer residents a firsthand look at the issues before the town, the questions officials are asking, and the decisions that can affect town services and taxpayer dollars. Attend in person or watch on Zoom to see your local government in action. 10:30 a.m., Town Hall Meeting Room, 101 Field Point Road.
October 8. Celebrate.
Attend a 30-year anniversary reception in Darien for The Campaign School at Yale, featuring Greenwich native and Stamford Mayor Caroline Simmons. 7-9 p.m. Info.
October 14. Debate again.
The League of Women Voters hosts state representative and state senator candidate debates at 7 p.m., First Congregational Church, 108 Sound Beach Ave., Old Greenwich. RSVP here.
| Volume 5, Number 14 • October 1, 2026 |
| Paid for by the Greenwich Democratic Town Committee. |
| Greenwich Democratic Town Committee P.O. Box 126 Greenwich, CT 06836 |