News Articles
Keene Sentinel May 7, 2008 David P. Greisman
With an apparently clear path to New Hampshire's general election, gubernatorial candidate Joseph D. Kenney is taking aim at the one man blocking his way to the corner office in Concord - Gov. John H. Lynch. "Quite frankly, I don't believe that he's providing strong leadership for the state," Kenney, a Republican from Wakefield serving his third state Senate term, said Tuesday in a meeting with Sentinel editors. "Nice guy. We call him Jimmy Carter. He's the guy that was a weak leader everybody liked in the '70s." Kenney is a former state representative and longtime Marine who now works as a special projects officer for them.
Clothed in a dark suit and a blue tie with an American flag pattern, and with a flag pin affixed to his lapel, he explained why he believes he is a better captain for the Granite State. "We can see the course of the state shifting," Kenney said. "The spending in Concord has increased dramatically. The prioritization in state government is no longer there. We basically see a state that's drifting away and really becoming, truly, northern Massachusetts. "We want to get New Hampshire back on track," he said. "We want to keep New Hampshire New Hampshire." Kenney's strategy, which faces current projections of a $250 million state budget deficit next year, involves lowering costs while finding fresh ways of raising money. "Cuts can be made in state government," Kenney said. "The spending priorities would be on the necessities. For instance, I would go to (the Department of Transportation) and say, 'Listen, the trucks and cars that you all drive around, you're not going to have them. When it comes to cell phone usage, you're going to be very limited.' "We have to cut back on expenses within our departments," he said. "I would go into the bowels of each agency and say there have to be cuts. You're going to need to use your resources wisely." And residents who feel overburdened by government spending are responding in their approaches to local projects, Kenney said. "I saw a fire station in Milton - basically, the building was condemned. You have to build a public-safety building or else you can't use the one that you currently have. And they voted it down by eight votes," he said. "You go to Dover, there is a tax cap. It's here. It's everywhere. There is a revolt." Along with cutting spending, Kenney said he would expand the state's sources of revenue, such as selling advertisements on the state's turnpike system that he said could raise upwards of $2 million, and leasing out Cannon Mountain in Franconia. "The more and more we get into state government and see things we can identify as bringing revenue, we can do that," Kenney said. "What I would like to do is create a commission that would look at innovative approaches to bring revenue into the state. I think we do a poor job of marketing the state of New Hampshire. We could do a far better job." Kenney also wants the state Supreme Court not to have a say on how funds are directed to schools. The court has told the state government to pay the full cost of an adequate education to all communities. "Let's not have judicial activism where they're dictating policy in the New Hampshire Legislature when it comes to education funding," he said. "I've always supported a constitutional amendment. I've always supported the idea of targeting aid into the poor communities that need it." Money will also be an important facet of Kenney's run at the governor's office. He currently faces no competition for the GOP nomination. His funding strategy for the campaign is grass-roots. "I'd rather have 5,000 people give me $50 contributions than have 50 people give me $5,000," he said. "Because that means they're bought and sold on my campaign." Nevertheless, Kenney said he's not at a competitive disadvantage. "I'm not running from an unknown, single-district House seat. I'm running as a state senator," Kenney said. "In that part of the state, two counties (Carroll and Strafford) know me very well. It is my launching pad. I am a University of New Hampshire grad. I've worked in the state. I served in the military, in Manchester for six years as a reservist. "I connect to the store owner," he said. "I connect to the guy who fixes our cars. It's all about interacting at that level and saying, 'I want to represent you.' " Kenney is scheduled to appear Saturday, May 24, from noon to 2 p.m. at the Keene Senior Center, 70 Court St. David P. Greisman can be reached at 352-1234, extension 1439, or dgreisman@keenesentinel.com
March 17, 2008 UNION LEADER ANOTHER VIEW:
I recently attended a State of the State address hosted by the Manchester Chamber of Commerce and listened to what could only be called a complete whitewash of our current situation. The Governor’s State of the State is not based in reality. I often feel listening to John Lynch that there are two New Hampshires the one I grew up in and have tried to help preserve during my 14 years in the legislature verses the one that is turning into Massachusetts with Governor Lynch asleep at the wheel. His speeches contain no clear plan to better market the New Hampshire advantage or suggestions of any innovative approaches to bring in revenue. For instance, the privatization of Cannon Mountain which co uld bring in m uch needed revenue to the park system. We need a vision for our state that includes planning, decisive leadership, innovation and clear priorities. What I heard was political double talk and excuses.
He previewed the latest political line on the budget, the 17.5% budget increase has become only a “3 % increase” The governor has found an escape hatch, the word “non discretionary”, costs like the retirement account. He claimed the increase is only really 3% if you ignore “costs that we were obligated to fund”. He called it a “reasonable percentage increase”. Nice trick. I’ll bet every public official in this state wishes the public would look at only one part of the budget. Any board of selectman member knows when you are talking about a budget increase you must consider the whole budget going up or down.” Planning means taking into account the monies you have already obligated. Suddenly, Lynch’s bloated budget that included spending to the tune of 12 million dollars for LCHIP is going up only because of “non discretionary” costs. Ever notice the buck never stops at Lynch’s desk. It was the economy or the l egislature or maybe his dog ate it.
The Governor talked about problems with transportation but offered no innovative ways to create revenue. I brought forward a bill to sell advertising at tolls booths and on the backs of receipts that would have brought in 500,000 +. Innovation was shot down by the Democratically controlled Senate as were two other bills to provide a self funding mechanism for LCHIP; one through a voluntary check box for contributions and another by producing an LCHIP plate. If we took some of the 12 million dollars that the Governor gave to LCHIP and gave it to the towns for infrastructure needs many, like Bedford, may not have to consider doing state projects themselves. That money could have also gone to red line bridges or to help eliminate the Developmentally Disabled waiting list. This is just one choice the Governor had complete control over i n his budget. Strong leadership means facing reality. Will we maintain our fiscally responsible attitude, concern for personal responsibility and protection of parental rights? Or lose our unique qualities become like the rest of New England. We need to be honest about the real state of the state. Registry fees are up, residential phone rates will increase, moose permits, wild turkey fees, tobacco tax, motorcycle registration fee increases and this is just the beginning. It is time to stand up and keep New Hampshire, New Hampshire. The truth is, at the rate we are going we are only one broad based tax away from becoming Massachusetts. ...and that is the rest of the story on the state of our state. Senator Joe Kenney (R-Wakefield)
Union Leader Tuesday, Jun. 19, 2007 Sen. Joe Kenney: On school funding, we need better from the governor Commentary THE EDUCATION funding debate has become an issue driven by desperation instead of leadership. The fear of political failure is driving a mentality of "solution at any cost" but that cost is to the taxpayer. First, his own party shut down Gov. John Lynch in the House. Then his lack of leadership brought in no more than 11 Democrat senators. Now he's trying to blame Republicans instead of facing up to how this fell apart. This is pure political spin. The governor should stop blaming Republicans for his failure to lead members of his own majority party. Let's set the record straight so we can move forward with a different approach. Here is what went wrong. The governor avoided taking a position during his first term when a Republican Legislature could have passed it. He was silent while others pushed for taking up the issue up during the House special session last summer. When he finally got on board, instead of crafting an amendment together with Republican and Democrat leaders, Lynch's approach was that of a one man (I have 80 percent popularity) band fatally flawing his first version with an arbitrary number of "50 percent", which leaders of either party could have told him would not fly. The governor has changed when it comes to the other side of the aisle. Last term, Senate Republicans were frequently asked to come in and discuss key areas of difference. Yet on this, clearly the most important issue facing the state, I never received one phone call from John Lynch to discuss his amendments, the language entailed or to ask me to consider voting for them. Three, a bipartisan solution requires respect. Being a leader, means taking the other party's concerns seriously. The governor could have rekindled an opportunity to look at the issue raised in CACR 20 regarding the Republicans' long-standing defense of "local control". Instead, he resorted to name calling, saying Republicans were partisans who "took their ball and went home." Where do we go next? First, drop the name-calling and respect others' opinions. The Republicans who voted against this do not care more about "politics" and less about the "best interest of children" as stated by the governor's news release. This type of inflammatory rhetoric shows how much the governor has changed and will get us nowhere. Second, we examine the sticking point of "local control" and beef up the language to guarantee localities a voice in their own schools. The governor has an opportunity to build a bridge over troubled waters. Even if he finds the one vote he needs tomorrow, I am publicly asking him to stop cherry picking and talk to all 10 Senate Republicans, taking note of our concerns in a respectful manner. I hope he will schedule that meeting. My door is open and my phone available. True leadership includes those with whom you disagree. Sen. Joe Kenney is a Republican from Wakefield.
39-year wait for Purple Heart ends By ROGER AMSDEN Correspondent Monday, August 6, 2007
Granite State residents who have earned the Purple Heart for their service in Iraq and Afghanistan were honored in a special ceremony at the New Hampshire Veterans Cemetery in Boscawen yesterday afternoon. CLICK HERE TO READ THE REST OF THE ARTICLE
Nashua Telegraph
Kenney Forms Task Force to Evaluate Care Provided to Our Nation's Veterans
Republican Sen. Joe Kenney talks politics and war at Rivier College CLICK HERE TO READ THE REST OF THE ARTICLE
B-I-N-G-O for Kenney
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