In recent campaign ads, my opponent has misrepresented my record and tarnished my reputation.

Voters deserve better. I will remain focused on the issues that matter to you and continue fighting for a better, brighter future for our state.

While I appreciate the Star Wars theme, he has it backwards. I am not Senator “Vader.” I am on the rebel side fighting the Evil empire.

Here is my response to each of his claims with documentation and facts for each – review and judge for yourself.

CLAIM #1:  The only no vote for healthcare for children and infants

SB1004 – passed in 2021.  This bill requires insurers to allow children and stepchildren to stay on parents dental and vision insurance until AGE 26.  I was not the only no vote. There were also 16 no votes in the House.  This is another costly mandate that drives up premiums.

SB377 – did not pass.  This bill would have increased the time a policyholder has to report to their insurance company that they have a newborn from 60 to 120 days.  This bill would have allowed those who fail to report to avoid premium payments that would fall to every other policyholder to pay.

My opponent may disagree on these two bills but to claim that I voted against healthcare for children and infants is patently false and a clear attempt to damage my reputation.  I have supported countless policies to benefit the health of children.

CLAIM #3: No for access to absentee voting

HB5262 Passed in 2022. This bill redefined the term “illness” as an acceptable reason to vote by absentee so it could be exploited by Democrats, one of many bills that will contribute to less election integrity.   I support our current absentee system and want to improve it with signature verification and VOTER ID.  The Democrats refuse both.  There were many NO votes in both chambers.  I am well known to support policy that balances access and integrity in voting. 

Please watch my remarks on the Senate Floor here – https://youtu.be/28eOCWwBU38

My opponent can disagree with me on election policy, but it is dishonest to say I oppose absentee voting.

CLAIM #4:  No for cash refunds for gift card balances

SB179 Didn’t become a law – the bill died on house calendar in 2022 Killed by Speaker of the House. 24 Yes 9 No. 

SUMMARY – Under current law, anyone accepting a gift card as payment must give the purchaser cash for the remaining balance on the card after the purchase if the (1) balance is under $3 and (2) purchaser requests it and provides the proof of purchase or a gift receipt for the gift card. This bill would have increased the balance limit from $3 to $5 and eliminated the requirement to provide the proof of purchase or a gift receipt.

CLAIM #5:  No for protecting domestic violence victims

SB1091 This was the domestic violence bill from 2021 that I worked on in the Judiciary committee for months.  Unfortunately, the majority Democrats spoiled this proposal at the last minute by inserting language requiring landlords to change locks within six hours of tenant’s request and not provide keys to others, even if they might be on the lease.  The problem with all this is that it makes the landlord an employee of both the tenant and the state – a dangerous proposition.  A landlord’s obligations are merely what is in the lease.   I supported this bill and helped it get passed into law.  I cast my no vote after attempting to remove this additional language and debating at length on the floor.  They acted in bad faith, and it showed.  You can watch my floor speech here – https://youtu.be/fyzlw-t20ZA

I am certain my opponent knows my involvement with this legislation but that didn’t stop him from attempting to paint a different picture. 

CLAIM #6: Lone no for $25 cap on insulin

HB6003 Passed in 2020. I was not the only NO – 4 no votes in the House. 

• Price caps don’t work despite being implemented many times, e.g., rent control, etc. Ultimately, these restrictions create a short supply and drive prices even higher.  Socialist economics do not work.
• Also, the Democrats were thoroughly annoyed that President Trump was getting credit for fighting prescription drug prices and they wanted to make a political statement – not good policy.
• You can watch my floor speech here – https://youtu.be/uaOXVAm1tO4

This is a rate hike for MOST consumers. The uninsured get no help at all in this bill. In fact, they pay more.
I have helped pass numerous policies to fight rising prescription prices. I even predicted this would be used unfairly by Democrats in a campaign attack ad.

CLAIM #7:  No for paid family leave

SB1 Passed in 2019 – 21 to 15 in the senate, 79 to 69 in the House

Of course, I voted NO.  This is bad policy, not a freedom like my opponent claims.

• This is new required tax on your paycheck, even for some who cannot use the program.
• Competes with private insurance industry, I wrote the GOP amendment to fix this and instead work with existing carriers. The Democrats rejected my proposal in favor of socialism and big government waste.
• This policy has undermined the disability insurance marketplace and hurt thousands of people.
• Waste and fraud are rampant.
• You can watch my remarks in committee here – https://youtu.be/cWg8EaMai98 and on the senate floor here – https://youtu.be/JfMKIgOkS4w

My opponent gets credit for not fibbing on this one, but he should reconsider his support for this bad policy.

CLAIM #8: No for women’s reproductive freedom

HB5414 Passed in 2022. This was a party line vote.

The bill did not make any measurable change to abortion rights (let alone “reproductive freedom.”) The bill was wholly political, partly about refuting the TX law which CT cannot control which will be decided by the courts.  The bill also allows APRN’s to perform abortions. 

My opponent is using a vote loosely related to abortion rights to make a statement about my position on abortion.  He didn’t need to do that.  I am personally Pro-Life and happy to say so.  However, I have only tried to pass two common sense laws in our state.  1) Put an end to late term / 3^rd trimester abortions, and 2) require parental notification for minors.  This is necessary to prevent abusers and rapists from escaping justice. 

CLAIM #9:  The only no for mothers who are breastfeeding

HB5158 Passed in 2021. Again, I was not the only no vote.  There were also 10 no votes in the House.  

This bill does not prevent breastfeeding.  This is a mandate on employers requiring them to provide a space, an outlet, and a refrigerator to employees who are breastfeeding.  This bill is unnecessary.  There is no problem that is being addressed.  There are no complaints on file.  The law already existed, and it has no penalty.  This is a wholly political bill designed for use during elections as a gotcha bill against the few principled Republicans who opposed it.  Watch my remarks on the floor here – https://youtu.be/e2X2BtkOfdQ

My opponent again stretches the truth to falsely damage my reputation.

CLAIM #10:  No for raising the minimum wage to $15

HB5004 Passed in 2019. This was a party line vote.  I led the fight against it on the senate floor as the Ranking Republican on the Labor committee.  This is a ban on jobs that pay less than $15 per hour.  History shows us that entry level employees are hurt by this.  They do not benefit.  The result is less job opportunities, less business, a stifled economy, and higher inflation. I encourage anyone who favors a high minimum wage to watch my remarks here – https://youtu.be/h2wL1CBWW9g

My opponent’s claim is accurate, but he has the wrong position on this policy.

CLAIM #11: The only no for police officers to express their religion on duty

SB133 Passed in 2022. I was indeed the only no vote in either chamber.  I stand by it.   Police officers need to wear a uniform, not promote a political or religious ideology while on duty.  I am disappointed that the many other members who knew this was wrong were scared to say no.

My opponent misrepresents my vote requiring police officers to remain in uniform instead of religious clothing and headgear to imply that I am infringing on their religious freedom.  This is a clear attempt to distort my record.

CLAIM #12: The only no to make Juneteenth a holiday

SB350 Passed in 2022.  I was not the only no vote.  There was another no vote in the House.  This is a completely dishonest interpretation.  This bill did not make Juneteenth a holiday.  It was already a national holiday.  This bill made it a paid holiday for state employees.  You can watch my remarks here – https://youtu.be/m3g5-54CcfA

My opponent again distorts my position to create a false image of my record. 

CLAIM #13: The only no for small business childcare incentives

SB408 – passed in 2022. I was indeed the only no vote, but this bill was just a study (at taxpayer expense) on the issue, and not any new policy or program.   

My opponent knows this was just a study and not an actual policy but that didn’t stop him from claiming I am against small business childcare incentives.

CLAIM #14: No for affordable healthcare

SB416 Did not Pass.  This bill interferes with private contracts between insurance companies and providers.  There were 4 no votes in the Senate.  The bill died on the house calendar.  Apparently, not everyone that it was a good idea.  The Democrat Speaker of the House is more responsible for it not passing than anyone. It’s not the role of government to stick their nose into private contracts.

My opponent makes the ridiculous claim that I am against “affordable healthcare” based on a vote on a bill that did not become law, and that is more likely to raise premiums than lower them. 

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Out of thousands of votes, these are the items my opponent chose as proof that I am a “radical extremist” and clearly felt he still needed to spin them to his advantage. I would prefer to share my positions on the issues that truly matter to you today, now, this election cycle, as well as solutions to problems and plans for a new and better direction for Connecticut. I promise to do so going forward.

Sincerely,

Senator Rob Sampson