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HARTFORD- State Representatives Mitch Bolinsky (R-106) and Martin Foncello (R-107), along with State Senator Tony Hwang (R-28) testified before the legislature’s Veteran’s’ Committee opposing a proposed bill that would privatize the Governor’s Horse Guard, essentially leaving the two Horse Guards unfunded to wither on the financial vine.

The legislation, House Bill 6440 An Act Concerning the Organized Militia and The Governor’s Guards have the CT Military Department defund and abandon our state’s two historic Horse Guard units, and its two historic Foot Guard units, five months from today.

Rep. Bolinsky, in the past, has testified before committee, and successfully defended the storied, historic cavalry units from state budget ‘end-arounds’ but this year’s proposal, he insists, is “different”, continuing, “It’s very one-sided – a year in the making – with little transparency.  Considering how close we are to the end of this fiscal year, I have been very frank in conveying to folks that, if HB-6440 is to pass as-is, it could very well be a death knell to the Guards’ more than two-centuries of service, pride, history & awe.  It’s shortsighted, one-sided, and does not provide the necessary time to consider, analyze, plan and implement the transition of any of these units, their volunteer militia members who so proudly serve our state and communities, nor the state properties the occupy.”

As Newtown’s Representative Bolinsky has worked closely with his hometown’s Second Company Governor’s Horse Guard (2GHG) for many years.  He knows the command staff, troopers, and horses; attends their public events, and finds peace in the occasional ‘quiet moments’ one can experience there.  His appreciation of the 217-year-old unit is ‘second’ to none.

“Thursday, I testify on behalf of my constituents, many of whom are militia members. I also testify as a retired business executive, with the understanding that the Military Department’s core missions are combat and emergency response readiness.  The management of cavalry units may no longer be a competency they possess. Therefore I ask the committee to defer action on HB-6440, and consider HB-5797 – An Act Concerning Funding for the Governor’s Horse Guards, and request we all revisit the issue in the 2026 legislative session, affording a respectful timeline with which to develop plans & processes necessary to privatize; invite proposals; or be adopted as a state and community asset by another state agency as a historical or therapeutic treasure,” continued Rep. Bolinsky.

Rep. Foncello said, “I testified in opposition to this proposal and urged the committee to reject the proposal to defund the group. The volunteers in this unit will continue to train and be available to the state when needed. Not only are the volunteers trained and stand at the ready when called on by the state, they also play an important ceremonial role, as was seen with the mounted funeral detail for the late Gov. M. Jodi Rell.”

It should be noted that Newtown’s 1808 Second Company Governor’s Horse Guard is unique among state militia units. In 2016, Public Act 16-52 – An Act Concerning the Leasing of Military Facilities was signed into law; the concept coming from 2GHG, to relieve budgetary pressures during Connecticut’s 2016 budget crisis. The Public Act positioned 2GHG, through its operations, and those of its 501c3 “Friends of 2GHG”, to generate sustainable revenues by leasing surplus stalls to nonprofits; by parade contributions; special, and benefit events, as prescribed in Section 1, Paragraph (e) of PA-16-52: ‘Proceeds from the lease of such military facilities in Avon and Newtown shall be paid to the Adjutant General, who shall promptly transmit such proceeds to the State Treasurer for deposit in the Governor’s Guards horse account established under section 27-19e.’

Furthermore, Rep. Bolinsky pointedly mentioned in his testimony that neither Newtown’s 1808 Second Company Governor’s Horse Guard unit nor he have been able to obtain copies of the Newtown unit’s financial statements, despite repeated requests, asserting a lack of transparency as an impediment to their ability to prepare the proforma analysis needed to develop business plans, citing this issue as one reason a FY2025 termination is inappropriate.

The Second Company Governor’s Horse Guard (2GHG) is an all-volunteer, organized state militia unit, originally formed to escort and protect the Governor.  As active Cavalry units, Connecticut’s Guards saw action in Revolutionary and Civil War battles, and even the two World Wars; mounted during WWI; and repurposed to artillery roles during WWII.  ‘The First’ and ‘The Second’ continue to serve the Governor and the State of Connecticut at the direction of the Connecticut Army National Guard, under the command of the Adjutant General. Their main duties today ceremonial, partaking in parades and public educational service to schools, scouting groups, special needs, as well as leasing stalls and facility-space to therapeutic nonprofits at their Newtown facility.

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