I grew up in a Republican family-and even served as our local Republican chair-but over the last few years, they’ve moved away from the values of my grandfather’s GOP.
As a mom who still serves on her PTA, when my 15-year old son Samuel asked me how I could support some of these more extreme values, I knew it was time to make a change. I want the values of my party to be values he can be proud of.
Like many of my friends, I became a Connecticut Democrat. Fiscal guardrails are important; I also believe our individual freedoms-especially women’s rights and local control-are the bedrock of our Democracy.
I’ll never lose sight of the needs of our families-because the people of our district deserve someone who will fight for them first and always.
Platform
We met with Amanda to discuss her policy positions, and this is a summary of what she supports.
Affordability
Amanda acknowledges the challenges people face with affordability. She supports rent control, aiming to align rent increases with the rate of inflation or the cost of living. She believes that we should make Connecticut affordable for working class families.
Reproductive Rights
Amanda is pro-choice and believes in an individual’s right to make decisions about their own body. She opposes fetal personhood policies. However, she supports discussions around reasonable limits, such as late-term abortion restrictions under specific circumstances.
Property Rights
Amanda believes in balancing property rights and tenant protection. She supports the idea that landlords should not be forced into situations where tenants are living rent-free, but also advocates for interventions to protect vulnerable tenants from unjust evictions, such as single mothers or senior citizens.
Gun Control
Amanda supports reasonable gun control, highlighting Connecticut’s strict gun laws as a model. She believes in the right to own firearms responsibly but questions the need for assault weapons like AR-15s. While she acknowledges that stricter laws can sometimes lead to people bypassing the system, we do need laws that secure our safety
Government Growth and Regulation
Amanda recognizes that government growth is necessary to meet the increasing needs of communities, particularly in protecting seniors and providing social safety nets. She believes that regulation and government support should adapt as the needs of society evolve.
Affordable Housing
Amanda acknowledges the need for more education around affordable housing, as people confuse it with section 8 housing. She supports efforts to make housing more accessible for those in need but believes there is still much work to be done.
LGBTQ+ Rights
Amanda supports same-sex marriage and affirms that it is acceptable for gay teachers to display pictures of their spouses in the classroom. She believes in equality and protection for the LGBTQ+ community
Immigration
Amanda believes in a balanced approach to immigration. She acknowledges that there is a right way and a wrong way to manage immigration but supports safe and legal pathways for immigrants. She believes children of immigrants, especially those seeking sanctuary, deserve healthcare and that the border should not be overwhelmed.
Voting Rights
Amanda supports voting as a human right and believes people should have access to some form of ID to vote. She supports free IDs for voters and is open to voting day being a national holiday. While she supports early voting, she believes it may not be necessary to have a full two weeks of it, as it can place a burden on small towns. In regards to letting convicted felons vote, she describes that issue as a “Sticky Wicky”
Renewable Energy
Amanda supports renewable energy and recognizes its importance in addressing environmental concerns. She emphasizes the need for waste reduction and notes that while solar panels are helping, the cost-benefit ratio must be carefully considered.
Nuclear Power
While she did not provide a definitive stance on nuclear power, Amanda acknowledges the importance of energy production. She also mentioned her husband’s work at Electric Boat, a company involved in nuclear-powered submarines.
Capital Punishment
Amanda supports capital punishment on a case-by-case basis. She believes there are instances where it is appropriate, but also recognizes cases where it has been wrongly applied, particularly citing recent examples from Missouri
Assisted Suicide
Amanda believes assisted suicide should be considered on a case-by-case basis. Having personal experience with caregiving, she acknowledges that forcing someone to live in suffering can be cruel and that individuals should have the right to make decisions about their end-of-life care.
Protecting the Elderly
Amanda supports efforts to protect the elderly, particularly in preventing scams. She believes education is key to protecting vulnerable populations. She recognizes most scammers are not located in America and not subject to our laws. Therefore, education is the best solution.
Supporting Small Businesses
Amanda advocates for increased support for small businesses. She suggests that the Small Business Administration (SBA) could play a more significant role by providing more funding and better guidelines to help entrepreneurs navigate the process
AI and Technology
Amanda is wary of the potential impacts of AI on society, particularly on children. She recognizes AI’s potential benefits but also expresses concern about its misuse and its influence on the younger generation
EVs (Electric Vehicles)
Amanda is opposed to mandatory electric vehicles (EVs) due to a lack of infrastructure but supports offering state tax credits for those who choose to own them.
Voting History
In 2019, Amanda was elected to the Hebron Board of Education.
- Voted YES to A hybrid transition to full re-opening as early as October 14th 2020
- Voted YES to start an in person model of school attendance on September 18th 2020
- Voted YES to approve the extended leave for Sarah Goncalves for the remainder of the 2020-2021 school year
Campaign Investigation
The State Elections Enforcement Commission (SEEC) is investigating Amanda Veneziano following a complaint from the Connecticut Republican Party alleging she falsified campaign contribution information. Veneziano denies the allegations, calling them politically motivated, and is continuing her campaign while cooperating with the investigation.