AG Tong Hosts Lunar New Year Event At Great Taste

Democrats Gather As Attorney General Pushes Back On Trump’s Unconstitutional Actions

By John McNamara

NEW BRITAIN – Attorney General William Tong (D-CT) kicked off a series of Lunar New Year celebrations at Great Taste Restaurant on January 28th as he and 22 other state Attorneys General challenge the Trump White House on federal fund impoundments, birthright citizenship and other executive orders.

Democrats and elected officials from New Britain and central Connecticut joined Tong and Lt. Governor Susan Bysiewicz at the gathering, one of five events that Attorney General Tong’s Firewall Fund committee is holding throughout the state. Tong, a former state representative serving his second term as AG, is the eldest son of immigrant parents who worked in their family’s Chinese restaurant.

The Lunar New Year celebration occurred shortly after Tong, Governor Lamont and other officials held a news conference on actions the state will take to prevent a cut off of Congressionally appropriated federal funds. Shortly after the White House order to freeze all federal funds in violation of a 1974 Impoundment law and Congress’ authority, a federal judge stayed the order until a court hearing next week. By mid-day Wednesday (January 29) the Trump White House rescinded its across the board freeze on federal funding.

Before the freeze was rescinded New Britain’s legislative delegation demanded the order be reversed. “This isn’t just about numbers on a budget sheet—this is about real people who depend on these services every day,” said Sen. Rick Lopes (D-6). “Freezing these funds is nothing more than playing political games with people’s lives, and we refuse to stand by while our community suffers.” The funding freeze is affecting hospitals, community health organizations, food banks, and nonprofits that provide housing assistance, mental health services, and early childhood education—services that thousands of New Britain residents rely on.

“Nonprofits and hospitals serve as a lifeline for so many in our community, and yet they are being forced to make impossible decisions because of political posturing,” said Rep. Bobby Sanchez (d-25) “This funding is not optional—it is essential. Every day it remains frozen, more families, seniors, and children face uncertainty and hardship.” The legislators stressed that this crisis disproportionately impacts low-income families, seniors, and individuals with disabilities, further widening the gap between those who have access to care and those left behind.

In brief remarks at the New Britain event Tong said states’ pushbacks on the White House’s unconstitutional actions will be successful. In response to a judge halting a Trump order to end the 14th amendment birthright clause last week Tong said “this judge got it right—this was a blatantly unconstitutional order. The 14th Amendment could not be more clear—if you are born on American soil, you are an American. There is just zero legitimate legal debate on this question. The facts and the law are clearly on our side, but this fight is far from over. We are ready to keep fighting for American families and the essential character of our nation.”

On January 23rd Tong issued a statement with 12 other attorneys general saying Trump administration efforts “to commandeer” local law enforcement on immigration enforcement is unconstitutional: “Despite what he may say to the contrary, the President cannot unilaterally re-write the Constitution. The President has made troubling threats to weaponize the U.S. Department of Justice’s prosecutorial authority and resources to attack public servants acting in compliance with their state laws, interfering with their ability to build trust with the communities they serve and protect. Right now, these vague threats are just that: empty words on paper. But rest assured, our states will not hesitate to respond if these words become illegal actions.”

In February Attorney General Tong and the Firewall Fund Political Committee will bring his Lunar New Year celebrations to Stamford, New Haven, Hartford and New London.

John McNamara is an alderman from New Britain’s Ward 4 and the Common Council Majority Leader.