One of our mantras is “Thank’em when they do right and spank’em when they do wrong so, step right up, (my) District 1 Executive Councilor Joe Kenney. And no, this isn’t a thank you letter so you only have one choice left as to why I’m writing this.
You actually VOLUNTEERED for this with your Letter to the Editor (“LtE”) to the Laconia Daily Sun. How moronic can THAT be?
And you’ve also warranted this by blowing off invites to appear at Belknap County Republican Committee (“BCRC”) meeting as the guest speaker for two straight months – why are you avoiding one of the biggest Committees in District 2?
Even as your emailed calendar (by your assistant) says that Wednesday nights are free – but there’s always something that pops up, right Joe? They even offered to do Zoom meetings with you, at a time of your convenience, with just the BCRC Executive Committee?
Or do you not wish to address the Resolution that the BCRC, as well as other Republican Committees, have passed asking you to look into the arrests that happened at your meeting concerning taking the Fed WuFlu monies (with the “Sovereign strings attached” as I have pointed out here on GraniteGrok on multiple occasions)?
Why the blowoff, Joe? Your constituents are asking for answers. Time to man up and face the music, sir. Not a good look at riling up your constituents with elections coming up soon – unless you are planning on retiring?
But I digress. That’s just a light tap on the backside. Here’s the spanking…
Seriously, are you REALLY supporting President Asterisk’s Infrastructure Bill in saying how you and your fellow Executive Councilors are all set to spend it on kinds of stuff? While the entire LTE is below, a few things for me to ask or say. First, let me re-emphasize what I said in my earlier post:
From the NH GOP Platform:
We believe that the New Hampshire and United States Constitutions were written by our forefathers to limit our government, not our freedom.
We believe that economies flourish when all people retain as much of their hard-earned income as possible, to spend and invest as they see fit.
We believe that low taxes are the result of low spending; that government has a moral obligation to the people to be as cost-effective as possible, to always limit spending and growth of government, and to cut spending and cost of government at every possible turn.
…That the people justly view with alarm the reckless extravagance which pervades every department of the Federal Government; that a return to rigid economy and accountability is indispensable to arrest the systematic plunder of the public treasury by favored partisans…(and)
And don’t get me started on the “Taxes and Spending” part of the “Application of Principles” – if the NH GOP / RNC actually read the above and that section of their own Platform. What else am I to expect when they refuse to live up to their own Rulebook (and see if they get that reference).
And lastly, let’s see if any of the “high powered” officials on Water Street know which the Enumerated Power for the Federal Government is with respect to “infrastructure”, especially as the Biden Administration and our Democrat Federal Witches Coven has, yet again, redefined “infrastructure” to be anything they want.
Why is it that an ordinary schlub like me has to keep reminding you folks of what it is you signed up for when you ran for office as a Republican?? You were a Lt. Col, US Marines – wasn’t it the other way around? That you told your troops what the orders of the day were but the troops were supposed to already have memorized the Standard Orders? Top-down.
Why is it that we on the bottom have to keep correcting you folks at the Top? You SAY you’re a Republican – why aren’t you ACTING like one? A prior Marine is looked upon in having standards – since I’m not seeing them, what are they? And are they yours?
Or has it merely devolved into “Sho me the monEY!”. When I read your LTE, it certainly seems that way.
You even used the same words as what seems to be coming out of every elected Republican who has dollar signs shining brightly in their eyes:
New Hampshire is programmed to receive $1.139 billion for highway programs. This remains the lowest for any state
Why are you all acting like “Gimme Girls”? Stop the whining and grow up, will ya? We’re supposed to be the “Live Free or Die” State – and here you are, groveling for more:
Please, Sir? May I have another?
I dunno which video to pick here: The Charles Dickens “A Christmas Carol” with the boy begging or Animal House’s Kevin Bacon is a better fit?
Yep, that kinda day. There’s Daddy Government with the paddle and the Republicans with the “may I have another?”. Such a poor look as Daddy Biden is enjoying it. But back to the LTE
Sigh:
…Despite that, federal funding will help advance many projects.
One bright funding source will be the bridge program category. This IIJA funding amount is $225 million to address state/town red listed bridges. The strategy is to use 15% to support the municipal bridge aid program ($6.75 million/year). Allocate the remaining $38 million/year to existing state bridge projects to free up funds with greater spending flexibility. The municipal red listed bridges are over 200 and the state red listed bridges are over 100. It is the intent to lower the state red listed bridges from its current amount of 118 to 88 in 10 years.
And I’ve been listening to this crap for 30 years. Every year, its the same thing – more bridges and more excuses as to why it’s taking so long. BUDGETS are PRIORITIES and it’s clear that the bridges have become a talking point. DO SOMETHING ABOUT THEM! Your math sucks – badly.
Total in: $224 million
Town Bridges: $6.75 million
State Bridges: $38 million
So, where’s the other part of that $224 million gonna be spent? Old school math says there’s $179 MILLION left over (I have no idea what the Critical Race Theory / Decolonized / Anti-Whiteness / SJW / Common Core would be but we’d never find out where they whisked it to, would we?). Again, YOUR words, Joe Kenny.
Let’s be real – all the bridge talk for the last 3 decades has just been that. Talking points. The fact that there are STILL so many bridges to be fixed tells me you haven’t made them a priority. And now, you can’t even let someone else pay for them!!! ‘Splain that one to us, will ya? Just get them done NOW because as we all know, the longer the span of time, that $$ will simply evaporate to other stuff.
Not to mention that if Live Free or Die means anything, it means self-reliance and self-governance. So where HAVE those two attributes gone to? If WE have the problems, why doesn’t NH Government OWN them – and then pay for it ourselves? Why always the on-our-knees supplication instead of “let’s just get this done ourselves”. Rejigger the priorities.
And be that prior Marine – stand up and say THESE take precedence, drop all the lower priority stuff to pay for it, and get it done.
But wait, I’m not done:
Additional transportation IIJA categories include electric vehicle charging stations ($17.3 million), public transportation ($131 million), and airports ($45.6 million). Other infrastructure items include broadband ($100 million), wildfires ($5.6 million), cyber security ($12.4 million) and water ($418 million).
OK, I’m a constituent – WHY IS GOVERNMENT PAYING FOR ELECTRIC CAR “gas stations”? Isn’t this a function of the Private Sector (see Platform snippets, above)? WHY are you touting new places for NH Government to pay for the rich people to park their cars to “fill up” with ever-increasing electrical costs (for the rest of us) FOR FREE?
Is this the New Deal Socialism you’re advancing – yet another Government subsidy for a real small subset of the electorate? Sure looks like it, doesn’t it?
So why should I, and other Republicans who believe in the Private Sector and Capitalism here in the Northern part of the State, vote for you?
And of course, why is Government meddling in broadband, how the HECK are you classifying “wildfires” as infrastructure,
Sidenote: and how many wildfires do we have here in NH, Joe? What’s the number and what’s the percentage area of NH affected by them? Far as I can see, it ain’t a big problem here in NH. Change my mind.
All the other stuff, same as before – if they are really important, WHY isn’t NH taking care of ourselves? Our responsibility should mean that WE should pay for it ourselves, right Joe Kenney?
And I conclude, at least for this post, with this:
I will always do my best to advocate for District 1 and I look forward to hearing from you.
So, when are you coming to the Belknap County Republican Committee so that you WILL be able to hear me? And others?
Saying “I got lost in the woods” doesn’t cut it.
Just take the call, mark the calendar, and then SHOW UP. Marines run to the sound of gunfire – why are you running away???
Joseph D. Kenney: Infrastructure funding will support bridge repair among other projects
To The Daily Sun,
The Governor’s Advisory Commission on Intermodal Transportation has five executive councilors and the Department of Transportation commissioner. GACIT along with regional planning commissions provide input into the Ten-Year Highway Improvement Plan. Also, the Executive Council votes to accept and expend federal transportation funds.
GACIT conducted 22 statewide public hearings to receive input on the plan. In December, GACIT will provide recommendations to the governor who will assign it to the state legislature for input and review. After the House and Senate passes the plan, the governor will sign it into law by June 2022.
There has been lots of news surrounding the federal infrastructure five-year plan, the Infrastructure Investment Jobs Act. New Hampshire is programmed to receive $1.139 billion for highway programs. This remains the lowest for any state. Moreover, NH will be confronted with a revenue shortfall in road tolls, Betterment and SB 367 programs. Despite that, federal funding will help advance many projects.
One bright funding source will be the bridge program category. This IIJA funding amount is $225 million to address state/town red-listed bridges. The strategy is to use 15% to support the municipal bridge aid program ($6.75 million/year). Allocate the remaining $38 million/year to existing state bridge projects to free up funds with greater spending flexibility. The municipal red-listed bridges are over 200 and the state red-listed bridges are over 100. It is the intent to lower the state red-listed bridges from their current amount of 118 to 88 in 10 years.
One of the other strategies is to increase the following mandated programs by 24%: HSIP, TAP, CMAQ, Rec Trails, etc. ($8.3 million). These are popular programs that each district councilor has a say in. It is the intent to alternate the TAP and CMAQ from year to year. Other funds for these programs will support administrative project changes, project increases, and recommended changes.
Additional transportation IIJA categories include electric vehicle charging stations ($17.3 million), public transportation ($131 million), and airports ($45.6 million). Other infrastructure items include broadband ($100 million), wildfires ($5.6 million), cyber security ($12.4 million), and water ($418 million).
GACIT public hearing comments brought out the need to expand travel options, improve safety, maintenance of the present system, congestion reduction, and enhance system resiliency. In these hearings, it has become clear there is going to be a reduction in state revenue for unrestricted road tolls, Betterment, and SB 367 funds in the coming years. TIFIA financing for I-93 will take out $23.4 million a year starting in 2026 for nine years.
The NH Legislature will be forced to look at future gas tax revenues and how they will support our paving and maintenance programs.
Additionally, the NH Legislature will be looking at policy issues such as how the state taxes electric vehicles on roadways, the reduction in gas tax revenue (due to more workers working from home), state workforce issues, material costs, contracted labor, safety, and transit issues.
I will always do my best to advocate for District 1 and I look forward to hearing from you.
Joseph D. Kenney
Executive Councilor District 1
