Penny Bacchiochi

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Penny Bacchiochi
Connecticut State Representative from the 52nd District
In office
2003 – present
Constituency Stafford, Somers, and Union
Political party Republican
Spouse Widow
Children Two sons
Residence Somers, Connecticut

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.

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[edit] Personal background

Raised in Stafford, Bacchiochi graduated from Stafford High School in 1979 and later received degrees from Becker Junior College, 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.

[edit] Role at legislature

Bacchiochi is the House's ranking member, 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.

[edit] Political stances

A moderate, 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 unions, 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.

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