Baird Welch-Collins

Civil Rights

I support the equal rights of ALL Connecticut residents and will remain a vocal ally of the LGBTQIA+ community. I will introduce legislation to mandate science-based, medically-accurate sexual health education in all of CT's schools. Learn more

I am a strong supporter of permanently bringing the mail-in voting option to Connecticut. Learn more

I will prioritize updating Connecticut's out-of-date accessibility legislation to ensure that all of CT's residents have equal opportunities and protection from discrimination. Learn more

Criminal Justice / Public Safety

I will not bend on my belief that Black Lives Matter. Learn more

Drug Policy

I support the immediate legalization of recreational cannabis in CT along with the pardoning of all nonviolent cannabis-related offenses. We would be able to invest the significant tax revenue from legal cannabis sales into public services and tax relief. Learn more

I support state funding for programs that practice a harm-reduction model of support for people with Opioid Use Disorder such as Drug Free CT and Ledge Light Health District. Learn more

Economy

I support the development of a Connecticut Public Bank as a realistic plan to lower taxes, invest in our communities, and keep our tax dollars here in CT. Public banking is no longer optional, it is necessary. No better solution has been proposed to protect CT's taxpayers from the consequences of the most recent economic recession. I support investing taxpayer dollars back into small businesses, especially to help them recover from the COVID-19 health crisis. Learn more

Education

I support expanding opportunities like the Eastern CT Manufacturing Pipeline and advanced technical training for CT youth to prepare them for 21st century jobs. I support the expansion of the Education Cost Sharing Grant to provide state funding for Waterford and Montville public schools. I support providing municipalities with the opportunity to reform bus route policy to allow for greater efficiency of bus routes to save tax-dollars and reduce carbon emissions. Learn more

Environment / Energy

I support door-to-door composting in CT to ease the burden of our over-stressed waste management system by lowering the amount of organic waste that goes into our solid waste system. Learn more

I support increased accessibility to renewable energy investment and installation opportunities, such as virtual net metering. I will continue to support the CT Green Bank and incentives for municipal and private solar and wind generation. I will push for the installation of a state-wide network of electric vehicle DC fast-charging stations. Learn more

I will push for the development of an open-spaces acquisition plan. I will seek to ban or eliminate the most dangerous and long-lasting pesticides which are causing permanent damage to our waterways. I will push for policies that support local farmers and incentivize urban and suburban agriculture. Learn more

Guns

I support protecting CT's current gun laws. Learn more

Healthcare

I support universal healthcare. Learn more

Infrastructure / Transportation

I support enacting a state-wide set of sustainable purchasing policies that would help guide towns toward more environmentally-friendly purchases as they spend state tax dollars on responsibly sourced goods and services. Increase support for the program Town Aid Road, a program that helps to fund municipal infrastructure projects. Support maintenance of state roads such as Rt. 1, Rt. 85, and Rt. 32. Learn more

Funding for our roads comes from one of two sources: CT-based gas taxes or from tolls. By joining every other state on the I-95 corridor in collecting tolls, we can shift the cost burden from CT residents to the many out of state drivers who pass through without stopping for gas. Learn more

Taxes / Budget

I support establishing an incentive program that would put a slight tax increase on developed lots that haven't been listed for sale or haven't been sold in 5 years. Learn more

I will seek to reform Connecticut's tax system by providing towns the freedom of choice to diversify their sources of revenue to ease the regressive property tax burden on CT residents. I will work to provide an emergency tax relief program for CT working families, similar to policies proposed by the CT Voices for Children (link to plan). Wherever possible, I will seek to eliminate waste and ineffective budgets in the pursuit of lowering cost to the public. Learn more

Wages / Job Benefits

I support protecting defined-benefit pension programs in our state as a way to keep the best and brightest workers in CT and to ensure retirement security for our aging state workforce. Learn more

I support the continued operation of Millstone Power Plant given the job opportunities that it has provided in our region and its significant contribution to Waterford's tax base. Learn more

I will support a smooth transition for employees of Millstone who are looking for employment opportunities in our state. Learn more