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Aug
12
2026

PRESS RELEASE

Ryan Fazio Voted Against Elimination of Back-to-School Tax

Donald Trump is Making CT Families Pay More at the Register – Ryan Fazio Voted Against Providing Relief

Donald Trump is making school supplies more expensive. Connecticut Democrats fought to do the opposite. Guess who opposed this bipartisan effort to provide relief?

Ryan Fazio.

New analysis shows Trump’s tariffs and disastrous economic policies will cost families 11% more for classroom supplies and lunchbox essentials. Families will pay close to $400 more per kid to pack lunch this year, and everything from notebooks to index cards has spiked more than 20%. Nearly half of all parents report being forced to cut back on other expenses as a result.

As Governor Ned Lamont announced critical tax relief to combat these price hikes, Connecticut families should know that Republican gubernatorial nominee Ryan Fazio voted against it.

Governor Lamont’s new state budget eliminates the sales tax on basic school supplies year-round and dramatically expands the state’s annual Sales Tax-Free Week, giving families additional savings on hundreds of dollars in back-to-school purchases. 

But Ryan Fazio voted NO on the bipartisan budget that makes those savings possible, remaining an extremist holdout as nearly half of his caucus voted to support the bill.

And just a reminder: Ryan also voted against $193 million in supplemental grants to local schools and more than $100 million in direct municipal aid to help local communities lower property taxes for families.

Statement from CT Dems spokesperson Ian Clarke:

“It’s hard to take Ryan Fazio’s affordability shtick seriously when he voted against bipartisan tax relief for back-to-school shopping. Once again, Ryan’s record shows he’s far more interested in campaigning on rising costs than fighting to lower them for working families.

Donald Trump drove prices up. Ryan Fazio tried to block the relief. Democrats will not allow the Republican Party to mismanage the economy and then stick parents with the bill.”