[Hac-announce] Monthly Meeting this Monday: A Conversation with Openly Secular State Rep Joshua Elliott

[Carol Ritter]

Our next monthly meeting will be a joint meeting with the Hartford Area Humanists at the Unitarian Society of New Haven in Hamden, CT. Our guest speaker witll be State Representative Josh Elliott, one of the few openly secular legislators in the United States.

SInce his election, Rep. Elliott has consistently been a strong advocate for progressive policies in our state. He has also supported the Secular Coaltion of Connecticut's legislative initiatives and priorities. The biography from his legislative website is copied below.

Refreshments will be served; you are welcome (but you are in no way required) to bring something to share.

BIOGRAPHY:

Since winning the 88th District House seat in the Connecticut General Assembly in 2016, State Representative Josh Elliott has advocated for implementing progressive policies that will help improve Connecticut’s economy and allow it to remain competitive with surrounding states.

Elliott, who grew up in Connecticut and attended high school in Hamden, graduated with a B.A. in Sociology from Ithaca College. He later went on to obtain his J.D. at Quinnipiac School of Law. As co-owner of Shelton’s The Common Bond Market and Thyme & Season in Hamden, which he also manages– two family-run natural food stores – Elliott recognizes the importance of investing in working families and businesses, both large and small.

As a member of the Progressive Caucus, Elliott continues to support efforts to establish a paid family and medical leave system that would be funded by employees at a 0.5 percent payroll tax. He is also fighting to increase Connecticut’s minimum wage.

Elliott is working to ensure that Connecticut employs quality public health standards by pushing for a requirement that all children in the public education system receive proper immunizations. Elliott is also dedicated to improving the treatment of Connecticut's incarcerated population. He is an active advocate of banning the use of solitary confinement and has independently championed a bill that would provide certain telecommunication services to incarcerated people at no cost.

Elliott deeply believes the right to vote is a fundamental feature of government and has resultantly sponsored several bills aimed at efficiently reforming Connecticut’s electoral system. Among these are a bill that would restore voting privileges of formerly incarcerated individuals on parole and a bill that would implement a ranked-choice voting system, which would allow a voter to rank candidates by their preference.

He has spearheaded efforts to legalize the use of recreational marijuana, sought to equalize property tax rates, and consistently supported establishing a more equitable tax structure.

Elliott currently serves as Assistant Majority Leader and vice chair of the Commerce Committee. He is also a member of the Finance, Revenue & Bonding Committee and Energy & Technology Committee.

[cid:98a2dc32-6454-48d6-ac1f-f85b687b6331]
 November 18 - 7:00 PM / USNH
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