Republican Candidate

Hot Button Issues

Democrat Candidate

Amanda Veneziano

https://amandavforthe55th.com

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.

Core Issues

Voting History

In 2019, Amanda was elected to the Hebron Board of Education.

Issues

  • Property Rights: 
  • Individual Rights: 
  • Government Growth: 

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. More detail of this can be found here.

Steve Weir (Incumbent)

https://www.cthousegop.com/Weir

Steve is the Ranking Member of the Labor committee and serves on the Housing and Higher Education committees

Steve is a self-made businessman who has created jobs for hundreds of Connecticut families. Through his passion, integrity and hard work, he continues to expand and grow.

As State Representative, Steve has focused on legislation that reduces regulation, lowers taxes, promotes personal freedom, and creates opportunities for job growth.

Platform

We met with Steve to discuss his policy positions, and this is a summary of what he supports.

Government Growth 

Steve believes that the government frequently exceeds its scope and authority, expanding unnecessarily and imposing additional costs on daily life. He is critical of efforts to increase government departments, regulations, and budgets, arguing that these expansions infringe on individual freedoms and are often not beneficial to taxpayers.  Steve can make a direct correlation with the increased size and cost of government and associated programs to increased taxes and financial pressure on all residents, especially those on a fixed income.

Affordable Housing 

Steve acknowledges Connecticut’s housing shortage, estimating a need for 80,000 to 100,000 additional units. He believes government regulations, such as building codes, have made construction more expensive, limiting the development of affordable housing. Steve supports reducing these regulations and promoting local control to create more affordable housing options, but he is skeptical of heavily subsidized housing projects, viewing them as a burden on others.

Abortion

Steve respects body autonomy, and he wishes abortion were a last resort and he advocates for more education on how to prevent unwanted pregnancies. He disagrees with Connecticut’s current law that does not require parental notification for minors seeking an abortion, arguing that neighboring Rhode Island and Massachusetts both require parental notification for a minor seeking an abortion.  Abortion access is codified in Connecticut law, and the majority of people believe in reasonable access to abortion.

Rent Control 

Steve opposes rent control, considering it a failed policy that reduces the availability of apartments in cities where it has been implemented, such as Boston. He argues that rent control distorts the housing market and worsens availability rather than solving affordability issues.  Steve believes that anyone in favor of rent control does not have a grasp of basic economics.

LGBTQ+ Rights 

Steve supports equal treatment for everyone, including same-sex marriage. He sees no difference with a gay teacher displaying a picture of his/her spouse at work, as long as it is treated the same as a heterosexual teacher doing the same.

School Libraries 

Steve believes books in school libraries should be age-appropriate but acknowledges that this is a sensitive topic. He emphasizes the importance of considering what is appropriate for students at different ages, and believes the books in the school library should be consistent with, and in support of the courses offered in school.

Voting

Steve supports requiring some form of identification for voting to ensure the integrity of elections. He believes incarcerated felons should not be able to vote but supports restoring voting rights to those who have served their time. He is open to early voting but feels Connecticut rushed its implementation without the proper security measures in place. On the issue of making voting day a national holiday, Steve believes this is a decision best left to individual states.

Minimum Wage 

Steve is concerned that setting a mandatory wage could suppress wages and lead to automation, such as kiosks replacing workers, as we’ve seen in many industries. He supports policies that allow people to earn as much as possible without unintended consequences forced by legislative intervention.

Energy

Steve is a strong proponent of Connecticut pursuing diverse, reliable and affordable sources of energy. Steve believes we should be investing more in nuclear energy, believing it to be safer, cheaper, and more efficient than other forms of energy. While he sees a role for wind and solar in the overall energy portfolio, he believes that both are unreliable and expensive compared to nuclear, natural gas and hydro-power, and shouldn’t be at the forefront of energy policy.  Steve believes that we should first focus on energy sources that are reliable and affordable, then consider alternative energy sources.

Capital Punishment 

Steve believes that capital punishment is warranted in certain situations but stresses the importance of ensuring that there is no risk of a wrongful conviction. He argues that the standard of proof in such cases should be extremely high.

Assisted Suicide 

Steve opposes assisted suicide, expressing concern that society doesn’t place enough value on life. He believes that the natural process of dying should be respected and that more should be done to provide care for those at the end of life.  Additionally this causes a conflict for any doctor who took the Hippocratic oath to “first do no harm.”

Gun Control 

As a gun owner, Steve supports responsible gun ownership, which includes background checks, education, safe use, and safe storage. He believes that if these standards are met, society should encourage responsible ownership without imposing additional restrictions.  Additionally, Steve believes that the penalties for illegal gun ownership are not strict enough to deter illegal gun ownership.

Small Business 

Steve advocates for reducing regulations to support small businesses and believes that allowing the entrepreneurial spirit to thrive is key to economic growth. He shares from his own experience that government regulations often pose the biggest obstacle to small business success.  Small business and business in general provide the majority of employment.  Steve points out that private sector Capitalism is responsible for nearly all innovation and creation of wealth across our economy.

Elderly Protection 

Steve supports programs that educate the elderly about fraud and scams, believing that education is the most effective way to protect them from exploitation.

Artificial Intelligence 

Steve expresses concern that AI could discourage critical thinking and reliance on human intellect, although he acknowledges its growing role in society. 

Voting History

The names of bills do not necessarily reflect what’s inside them. Someone might be for Mandatory Childhood Vaccines but vote against the bill due the way that they believe it was implemented. If you are curious about why your representative voted a specific way, contact them and ask.

Government

Education

Environment

Business

Healthcare

Law and Order

Marriage

Other

About Steve

Steve has chosen to live, work and raise his family in Connecticut. He believes in Connecticut’s opportunity and promise. He is grounded by family, has hard working values and will protect and defend the rights of your families as well.

Steve was born and raised in Connecticut, and currently resides in Hebron with his wife, Allegra and their three daughters. As an Eagle Scout – he lives by Scout motto: “Be prepared”.

In order to come together and understand, we’re going to have to have a two way conversation that does not start and end with shouting, demonizing one another, or destroying property.

– Steve Weir 2020

Hot Button Issues

A list of definitions for each issue can be found here.

Reproductive RightsGun RightsEarly VotingLaw and OrderHealth CareTown Zoning 8-30g
Wes SkorskiPro ChoiceSome RegulationSupportsPolice AccountabilityNo ReplyNeeds Amendments 
Steve WeirPro ChoiceCommon Sense
Regulations		QuestionsIncreased Police ProtectionProviders Connecting
with Patients		Supports Repeal
55th House District