Penny Bacchiochi
Encyclopedia
Penny Bacchiochi is an American
Republican
politician
, currently serving as a state representative
in Connecticut
. She was first elected to the House in 2002 and was reelected in 2004 and 2006.
As representative of the 52nd House District, Bacchiochi serves the rural northeastern towns of Stafford
, Somers
, and Union
, each of which is located in Tolland County
. She maintains her residence in Somers.
, where she majored
in social work
, and the University of Connecticut
, where she majored in public relations
and marketing
. She also completed some graduate
-level work in education
at Saint Joseph College.
Aside from being a state representative, Bacchiochi has worked in the housing
field for more than 25 years. She owns a real estate
and property management
company based in Stafford.
Before becoming a state legislator, Bacchiochi served on several town committees in Stafford, including the Planning and Zoning Committee. She was also active with the Republican Town Committees in Stafford and Somers, including serving as chair of the Somers RTC.
A widow
, Bacchiochi is a single mother to two young sons. She is also the daughter of Allen Bacchiochi, first selectman of Stafford.
, or leader of the Republican delegation, on the Connecticut General Assembly
's Planning and Development Committee. She is also the ranking member of the Internship Committee, which she previously chaired, and oversees the Connecticut Legislative Internship Program for the House Republican Office. In addition, she is a member of the Public Safety and Security Committee and participates in bill screening
for the House Republicans.
She previously served on the Select Committee for Housing and the Commerce Committee.
, Bacchiochi is noted for being one of the more liberal
members of her caucus. She is best known in Connecticut for her stance on medical marijuana. The primary supporter of pro-medical marijuana legalization in Connecticut, Bacchiochi has worked closely with groups like the Drug Policy Alliance
and the Marijuana Policy Project
to push legislation through the system. She has reintroduced a bill to approve medical marijuana during the 2007 session, after previously introducing such legislation in 2003, 2004, and 2005.
Bacchiochi has also been endorsed by NARAL Pro-Choice America
and The Wish List
for her pro-choice
stance on reproductive rights
, and has voted in favor of pro-Plan B
legislation.
Regarding more conservative stances, Bacchiochi is a member of the National Rifle Association
, voted against civil union
s, and voted against the state contracting reform legislation put forth by Democrats
. She supports a no-tax
-increase state budget and has cosponsored legislation to make English
the official language of Connecticut.
Along with former State Rep. Don Murphy of Maryland
, Bacchiochi is a leader of Republicans for Compassionate Access, a lobbying
group that advocates for the passage of pro-medical marijuana legislation by state legislatures. She is active with the American Legislative Exchange Council
, Council of State Governments
, Women in Government, and the National Conference of State Legislatures
, and as of September 2007 is serving as the Connecticut State Co-Chair of the Rudy Giuliani
Presidential Committee.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
, currently serving as a state representative
Connecticut House of Representatives
The Connecticut House of Representatives is the lower house in the Connecticut General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Connecticut. The house is composed of 151 members representing an equal number of districts, with each constituency containing nearly 22,600 residents...
in Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
. She was first elected to the House in 2002 and was reelected in 2004 and 2006.
As representative of the 52nd House District, Bacchiochi serves the rural northeastern towns of Stafford
Stafford, Connecticut
Stafford is a town in Tolland County, Connecticut, United States, settled in 1719. The population was 11,307 at the 2000 census.-History:The Colonial Town of Stafford began as a rural agricultural community...
, Somers
Somers, Connecticut
Somers is a town in Tolland County, Connecticut, USA. The population was 10,417 at the 2000 census. The town center is listed by the U.S. Census Bureau as a census-designated place...
, and Union
Union, Connecticut
Union is a town in Tolland County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 854 at the 2010 census, making it the least populous town in Connecticut and the second-least populous municipality in Connecticut; only the Borough of Fenwick has fewer people...
, each of which is located in Tolland County
Tolland County, Connecticut
Tolland County is a county located in the northeastern part of Connecticut. As of 2010, the population was 152,691.Counties in Connecticut have no governmental function: all legal power is vested in the state, city, and town governments...
. She maintains her residence in Somers.
Personal background
Raised in Stafford, Bacchiochi graduated from Stafford High School in 1979 and later received degrees from Becker Junior CollegeBecker College
Becker College is a college in Massachusetts, United States with campuses in Worcester and Leicester. Established in 1887, Becker College is home to two distinct campuses located in Worcester and Leicester, Massachusetts...
, where she majored
Academic major
In the United States and Canada, an academic major or major concentration is the academic discipline to which an undergraduate student formally commits....
in social work
Social work
Social Work is a professional and academic discipline that seeks to improve the quality of life and wellbeing of an individual, group, or community by intervening through research, policy, community organizing, direct practice, and teaching on behalf of those afflicted with poverty or any real or...
, and the University of Connecticut
University of Connecticut
The admission rate to the University of Connecticut is about 50% and has been steadily decreasing, with about 28,000 prospective students applying for admission to the freshman class in recent years. Approximately 40,000 prospective students tour the main campus in Storrs annually...
, where she majored in public relations
Public relations
Public relations is the actions of a corporation, store, government, individual, etc., in promoting goodwill between itself and the public, the community, employees, customers, etc....
and marketing
Marketing
Marketing is the process used to determine what products or services may be of interest to customers, and the strategy to use in sales, communications and business development. It generates the strategy that underlies sales techniques, business communication, and business developments...
. She also completed some graduate
Graduate school
A graduate school is a school that awards advanced academic degrees with the general requirement that students must have earned a previous undergraduate degree...
-level work in education
Education
Education in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...
at Saint Joseph College.
Aside from being a state representative, Bacchiochi has worked in the housing
House
A house is a building or structure that has the ability to be occupied for dwelling by human beings or other creatures. The term house includes many kinds of different dwellings ranging from rudimentary huts of nomadic tribes to free standing individual structures...
field for more than 25 years. She owns a real estate
Real estate
In general use, esp. North American, 'real estate' is taken to mean "Property consisting of land and the buildings on it, along with its natural resources such as crops, minerals, or water; immovable property of this nature; an interest vested in this; an item of real property; buildings or...
and property management
Property management
Property management is the operation, control of ususally on behalf of an owner, and oversight of commercial, industrial or residential real estate as used in its most broad terms. Management indicates a need to be cared for, monitored and accountability given for its usable life and condition...
company based in Stafford.
Before becoming a state legislator, Bacchiochi served on several town committees in Stafford, including the Planning and Zoning Committee. She was also active with the Republican Town Committees in Stafford and Somers, including serving as chair of the Somers RTC.
A widow
Widow
A widow is a woman whose spouse has died, while a widower is a man whose spouse has died. The state of having lost one's spouse to death is termed widowhood or occasionally viduity. The adjective form is widowed...
, Bacchiochi is a single mother to two young sons. She is also the daughter of Allen Bacchiochi, first selectman of Stafford.
Role at legislature
Bacchiochi is the House's ranking memberRanking member
In United States politics, a ranking member is the second-most senior member of a congressional or state legislative committee from the majority party. Another usage refers to the most senior member of a congressional or state legislative committee from the minority party. This second usage, often...
, or leader of the Republican delegation, on the Connecticut General Assembly
Connecticut General Assembly
The Connecticut General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Connecticut. It is a bicameral body composed of the 151-member House of Representatives and the 36-member Senate. It meets in the state capital, Hartford. There are no term limits for either chamber.During...
's Planning and Development Committee. She is also the ranking member of the Internship Committee, which she previously chaired, and oversees the Connecticut Legislative Internship Program for the House Republican Office. In addition, she is a member of the Public Safety and Security Committee and participates in bill screening
Bill (proposed law)
A bill is a proposed law under consideration by a legislature. A bill does not become law until it is passed by the legislature and, in most cases, approved by the executive. Once a bill has been enacted into law, it is called an act or a statute....
for the House Republicans.
She previously served on the Select Committee for Housing and the Commerce Committee.
Political stances
A moderateModerate
In politics and religion, a moderate is an individual who is not extreme, partisan or radical. In recent years, political moderates has gained traction as a buzzword....
, Bacchiochi is noted for being one of the more liberal
Liberalism
Liberalism is the belief in the importance of liberty and equal rights. Liberals espouse a wide array of views depending on their understanding of these principles, but generally, liberals support ideas such as constitutionalism, liberal democracy, free and fair elections, human rights,...
members of her caucus. She is best known in Connecticut for her stance on medical marijuana. The primary supporter of pro-medical marijuana legalization in Connecticut, Bacchiochi has worked closely with groups like the Drug Policy Alliance
Drug Policy Alliance
The Drug Policy Alliance is a New York City-based non-profit organization, led by executive director Ethan Nadelmann, with the principal goal of ending the American "War on Drugs"...
and the Marijuana Policy Project
Marijuana Policy Project
The Marijuana Policy Project, or MPP, is the largest organization working solely on marijuana policy reform in the United States in terms of its budget, number of members, and staff...
to push legislation through the system. She has reintroduced a bill to approve medical marijuana during the 2007 session, after previously introducing such legislation in 2003, 2004, and 2005.
Bacchiochi has also been endorsed by NARAL Pro-Choice America
NARAL Pro-Choice America
NARAL Pro-Choice America , formerly the National Association for the Repeal of Abortion Laws, then National Abortion Rights Action League, and later National Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League, is an organization in the United States that engages in political action to oppose...
and The Wish List
The Wish List (political organization)
The Wish List is a political action committee devoted to electing pro-choice Republican women to the House of Representatives and Senate. The Wish List was founded in 1992. The acronym "WISH" stands for Women In the Senate and House. It can be considered a counterpart to another organization:...
for her pro-choice
Pro-choice
Support for the legalization of abortion is centered around the pro-choice movement, a sociopolitical movement supporting the ethical view that a woman should have the legal right to elective abortion, meaning the right to terminate her pregnancy....
stance on reproductive rights
Reproductive rights
Reproductive rights are legal rights and freedoms relating to reproduction and reproductive health. The World Health Organization defines reproductive rights as follows:...
, and has voted in favor of pro-Plan B
Emergency contraception
Emergency contraception , or emergency postcoital contraception, refers to birth control measures that, if taken after sexual intercourse, may prevent pregnancy.Forms of EC include:...
legislation.
Regarding more conservative stances, Bacchiochi is a member of the National Rifle Association
National Rifle Association
The National Rifle Association of America is an American non-profit 501 civil rights organization which advocates for the protection of the Second Amendment of the United States Bill of Rights and the promotion of firearm ownership rights as well as marksmanship, firearm safety, and the protection...
, voted against civil union
Civil union
A civil union, also referred to as a civil partnership, is a legally recognized form of partnership similar to marriage. Beginning with Denmark in 1989, civil unions under one name or another have been established by law in many developed countries in order to provide same-sex couples rights,...
s, and voted against the state contracting reform legislation put forth by Democrats
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
. She supports a no-tax
Tax
To tax is to impose a financial charge or other levy upon a taxpayer by a state or the functional equivalent of a state such that failure to pay is punishable by law. Taxes are also imposed by many subnational entities...
-increase state budget and has cosponsored legislation to make English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
the official language of Connecticut.
Along with former State Rep. Don Murphy of Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
, Bacchiochi is a leader of Republicans for Compassionate Access, a lobbying
Lobbying
Lobbying is the act of attempting to influence decisions made by officials in the government, most often legislators or members of regulatory agencies. Lobbying is done by various people or groups, from private-sector individuals or corporations, fellow legislators or government officials, or...
group that advocates for the passage of pro-medical marijuana legislation by state legislatures. She is active with the American Legislative Exchange Council
American Legislative Exchange Council
The American Legislative Exchange Council is a politically conservative 501 non-profit Policy Organization, consisting of both state legislators and members of the private sector. ALEC's mission statement describes the organization's purpose as the advancement of free-market principles, limited...
, Council of State Governments
Council of State Governments
The Council of State Governments is a nonpartisan non-profit organization in the United States serving the state governments. It serves state legislatures, state courts, and executive branch officials and agencies, and is the only multi-branch organization of state governments in the United...
, Women in Government, and the National Conference of State Legislatures
National Conference of State Legislatures
The National Conference of State Legislatures is a bipartisan non-governmental organization established in 1975 to serve the members and staff of state legislatures of the United States...
, and as of September 2007 is serving as the Connecticut State Co-Chair of the Rudy Giuliani
Rudy Giuliani
Rudolph William Louis "Rudy" Giuliani KBE is an American lawyer, businessman, and politician from New York. He served as Mayor of New York City from 1994 to 2001....
Presidential Committee.
External links
- State Representative Penny Bacchiochi - official website
- Penny Bacchiochi for State Representative - campaign website
- Project Vote Smart: Penny Bacchiochi
- Republicans for Compassionate Access