Voter Turnout Crucial to Secure Democratic Rights

Far from being a solution, the newly issued Republican Contract with Connecticut and the national Republican Commitment to America would be a huge step backward for working class families and communities.

The Contract with Connecticut endangers the quality of life for the majority in our state. It does not tax wealth, does not tax giant corporations, does not take the big steps needed to change the fact that we are the most economically and racially unequal state in the country.

Instead it calls for local control. It fuels attempts to limit public school curriculum and exclude teaching about racism.

Instead of making voting easier, it opens the door to more restrictions, even though Connecticut ranks fourth in restrictive voting measures.

It would undo the long sought police accountability legislation negotiated by Judiciary Chair Sen Gary Winfield, adopted by the General Assembly and signed into law by the Governor, that holds police accountable and increases safety for communities. Despite claims to the contrary, crime rates have gone down.

The national agenda jeopardizes Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, requiring that these earned benefits be renewed every five years. It jeopardizes the right of workers to unionize by eliminating the National Labor Relations Board.

The Contract with America that Newt Gingrich and the Republicans put forward in 1994 turned out to be a nightmare for low and middle income families and a gift to billionaires and corporate America.. It slashed funding for people helping programs, gave big tax cuts to the super rich, and eliminated regulations on giant corporations.

It has taken many years of organizing, still underway, to reject the divisive “trickle down” agenda that only benefits the top few. Now, in an attempt to attract votes for the 2022 elections, the same false promises have reappeared.

The Contract with Connecticut would undo the progress toward equity being made in our state as a result of grass roots organizing for living wages, racial equity, climate justice, reproductive health for women, and to reverse Connecticut's upside down tax system.

This election is about preserving and expanding all democratic rights. The results will be determined by voter turnout on November 8.

As Liz Shuler, AFL-CIO president, said “We are up against MAGA Republicans who are poised to strip our rights. The time to rise up is now.”