Campaign 2008: Questions and Answers for NH Governor

League of Women Voters^®
of the Upper Valley

Campaign 2008: Questions and Answers for NH Governor

Biography. Top 3 Challenges. Global Warming. Property Tax. Infrastructure.

Brief Biography [50 words or less]

Joe Kenney (R): no biography provided
Campaign website: http://www.Kenney08.com
John Lynch (D): no response.
Campaign website: http://www.lynchcommittee.com

1. List the top three challenges facing New Hampshire. Choose one of these, and state how you would help to address this challenge. [100 words or less]

Kenney: Challenges facing New Hampshire
a. Spending in state government
b. Energy Costs
c. Education and job creation
I would cut state government 5 to 10% across the board through an executive order to close the gap on record spending that occurred in last year's two-year budget. I would reduce the use of state cars, cell phones and remove contract "indirects" for official contract overages. I would institute a hiring freeze on consultants not just state workers and look for reasonable revenue approaches such as selling advertisements on the turnpike system and implementing the Enterprise Resource and Planning system to created centralize purchasing to save money. I would place state checks, agency audits and minutes from all state official meetings on line to have the public act as tax watchdogs on over spending.
Lynch: no response.

2. Now that RGGI (Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative) is implemented, what other measures would most efficiently reduce the NH contribution to global warming? Which one would you work to accomplish first? [100 words or less]

Kenney: I would repeal RGGI. It has no real impact on reducing global warming. The only real impact it has is that RGGI will increase electric bills on home and business owners. We already have a fee on the electric bill called the systems benefit charge for alternative energy and weatherization programs. It provides 20 million dollars from the ratepayers for the same purpose. Why do we need another fee? Energy costs are high enough! I will encourage the renewable portfolio energy programs such as biomass, solar, wind and hydro and look for tax incentives to promote new energy businesses.
Lynch: no response.

3. Our state is extremely dependent on the property tax (funding municipal, county and statewide property tax for education). Please comment on this, and address the fairness issue. What do you believe are viable alternatives to reduce this reliance on the property tax? [100 words or less]

Kenney: I believe in targeted aid for the poorer property communities in the state and I want to get the courts out of educational funding debate and pass a constitutional amendment once and for all. The Governor is not strong enough to get this on the ballot and the recent education adequacy bill will cost the state 120 to 180 million dollars without any funding source. We need to stop passing education bills without a funding source. Stop the spending in state government and the education funding burden will be less.
Lynch: no response.

4. The state is having trouble with the costs of maintenance for infrastructure. How would you provide for the increase needed for proper maintenance? [100 words or less]

Kenney: The Governor said stop treating the highway trust fund as though it was an ATM machine in his augural address but never back up his words with action to stop it. I will wean the state agency off the highway trust fund (approx. 60% never sees the roads of NH) and fight for highway dollars at the federal level when reauthorization comes up in 2009. We are an old, cold and tourism infrastructure state and we need our fair share of state and federal monies to support economic development in our state. I will continue to encourage the private sector to create energy efficiencies to reduce the cost of petroleum based products.
Lynch: no response.

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