To the Editor:
In a recent letter to the editor, a state legislator referred to Yankee Institute as “far-right.” That label is not only inaccurate; it is unfair to the thousands of Connecticut residents across the political spectrum who share our goals for a more affordable, transparent, and accountable state government.
For more than four decades, Yankee Institute has been a nonpartisan, nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to advancing policies that improve life for everyone in Connecticut, not one party or ideology. Our work centers on facts, accountability, and equipping citizens with information to make informed choices about how their government operates.
That philosophy has guided everything we do, and it continues to define our efforts on the issues that matter most to Connecticut families.
When proposals for highway tolls threatened to raise costs for working families and small businesses, we provided data, public outreach, and amplified the voices of commuters and employers who said “enough.” Opposition to tolls wasn’t partisan; it was broad and deeply felt. Across urban, suburban, and rural communities, the message was clear: Connecticut already pays enough to drive its roads.
We remain steadfast in defending Connecticut’s fiscal guardrails — the spending cap, volatility cap, and rainy-day fund rules that rescued the state from years of budget chaos. These bipartisan reforms have protected our finances and restored confidence in government. We continue to warn against efforts to weaken them because the results are clear: balanced budgets, record reserves, and stronger credit ratings. Fiscal responsibility is not ideological; it is good governance.
Our commitment to transparency extends to state labor agreements and union contracts, which too often are approved without sufficient public scrutiny. Taxpayers and workers deserve to see the terms of billion-dollar commitments before they are finalized. We continue to advocate for open, accountable processes that strengthen public trust and ensure that government serves both employees and citizens fairly.
We are also focused on making energy affordable for families and businesses. Connecticut residents pay some of the highest electric rates in the nation, and every additional charge hits household budgets and small employers hard. We have long called for full transparency in every charge on a consumer’s bill and for a practical, all-of-the-above approach to clean energy that includes nuclear, natural gas, and emerging carbon-neutral technologies alongside renewables. Our ongoing work is grounded in a simple principle: everyone deserves reliable and affordable power.
And when it comes to housing and local control, we continue to stand up for the ability of cities and towns to shape their own growth. Connecticut’s communities are diverse, and so are their needs. The path to greater housing affordability lies not in one-size-fits-all mandates from Hartford, but in providing municipalities with flexibility and tools to address local challenges. Respecting local decision-making isn’t an ideological stance; it’s a defense of home rule and the self-governance that defines our state’s character.
These positions reflect mainstream Connecticut values, grounded in the belief that citizens should have a voice in how they’re governed, that public money should be spent wisely, and that government should serve the people who fund it. Polling and public testimony consistently show that residents of all political affiliations support these goals.
At Yankee Institute, our work is guided by data, not dogma. We research, testify before legislative committees, and engage directly with citizens so that every Connecticut resident — regardless of party — has access to clear, factual information about how state policy affects their daily lives.
We welcome honest debate. But that debate should begin with an accurate understanding of who we are and what we stand for. Dismissing serious policy with political labels may score political points, but it avoids the real conversation Connecticut deserves.
Facts matter — in classrooms, in legislatures, and in public discourse. They remind us that government must remain responsible, transparent, and accountable to the people it serves. That’s the Connecticut we’re proud to defend.
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Jack DeOliveira is Policy Director at Yankee Institute