Governor Lamont and Attorney General Tong Statements on Trump Administration’s Attempt To Undermine State Sovereignty With Tuition Lawsuit

(HARTFORD, CT) - Governor Ned Lamont and Attorney General William Tong released the following statements in response to the lawsuit filed today by the Trump administration attempting to infringe on guidelines for in-state tuition passed by the Connecticut General Assembly:

Governor Lamont said, "A bipartisan majority of legislators in Connecticut agreed that kids who grow up in Connecticut and graduate from Connecticut public schools should be able to afford to go to college here, including those who have applied for legal status. Connecticut is proud to have one of the best education systems in the nation, and we believe that our economy works best for everyone when more people have access to education opportunities. The Trump administration's priorities remain completely out of touch with working families and the middle class. The only things President Trump has accomplished while in office are increasing the price of everything and using his position to attack vulnerable communities. With this lawsuit, the president is once again doing both. We are making Connecticut the land of opportunity and education, and we will not accept his attempts to turn back the clock on progress."

Attorney General Tong said, "Note to Trump-stay out of Connecticut. How we run our schools and teach our kids is none of your business and you have no authority to force the sovereign State of Connecticut to deny our kids a future. I fought for this bill as a legislator when it passed in 2011, and I'll fight to defend Connecticut families now from this cruel attack. Connecticut offers in-state tuition and financial aid to all eligible Connecticut students because all kids deserve the opportunity to learn, to advance, and to achieve their dreams. Donald Trump doesn't run UConn or any of our state colleges, and we're not about to let him start."