Joe Kennedy III in 2020 MA Senatorial race
On Government Reform:
Supports People's Pledge: no outside PAC spending
Markey and Kennedy sparred over a "People's Pledge," which would limit outside money spent in the race. Kennedy supports it, while Markey only limits negative advertisements. Markey has been endorsed by Environment Massachusetts, which plans to put
together a $5 million campaign to support his candidacy."We should welcome positive voices, disclosed voices," like those from "environmental groups," Markey said.
"Who gets to say these are voices we like?" Kennedy replied.
Source: CNN coverage of 2020 Massachusetts Senate debate
Feb 18, 2020
On Principles & Values:
Legislating is about which causes we care about first
Markey spent much of the night highlighting a record that includes filing the Green New Deal and passing laws related to pollution, Alzheimer's research and gun control."Yes, filing the right legislation and voting the right way is a critical part
of this job, but if there's one lesson from today's Washington, D.C., it's that this is about power and if we're serious about putting the people and the causes that we care about first, you have to go out there and you have to take it," Kennedy said.
Source: Fall River Herald News on 2020 Massachusetts Senate debate
Feb 18, 2020
On War & Peace:
Opposed 2003 Iraq war; opposed 2013 Syria war
Kennedy was particularly critical of Markey's votes to authorize the use of military force in Iraq in 2003 and his present vote in committee a decade later in 2013 on a resolution authorizing military action in Syria. Markey said he voted present on
Syria because the Obama administration had not provided all the information he needed to make a decision. He called the ultimate release of the information by the administration a "disinfectant" that led to the withdrawal of the resolution.
"A present vote is not a disinfectant. It's hard for me to understand when a present vote is going to be a profile in courage," Kennedy said.
Markey said that he regretted his Iraq war vote, which he blamed on being lied to by President George W. Bush. "It was a mistake," Markey said, noting the support his campaign has received from groups like Mass Peace Action.
Source: Fall River Herald News on 2020 Massachusetts Senate debate
Feb 18, 2020
On Government Reform:
Proposed pledge to limit spending from outside groups
The three-way Democratic primary for incumbent Massachusetts Sen. Ed Markey's seat may see the candidates sign the so-called People's Pledge to limit outside campaign financing. Politico reported that U.S. Rep. Joe Kennedy's campaign had recently
reached out to Markey and labor attorney Shannon Liss-Riordan with proposed language to limit spending from outside groups and plans for a pledge signing ceremony. Kennedy had already called on his opponents to sign a pledge after he entered the
race in September, the Boston Globe reported.Politico reported that the campaigns were finalizing details and could sign an agreement within the next two weeks. Liss-Riordan and Kennedy had confirmed plans to sign the pledge, but the pair postponed
while the Senate was in session, with the Markey campaign telling Politico that the senator was "actively looking at" a pledge agreement.
Source: Springfield Republican on 2020 Massachusetts Senate race
Nov 7, 2019
On Principles & Values:
Co-sponsored Do No Harm Act: keep church and state separate
The Do No Harm Act, a bill that's designed to ensure that the federal Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) continues to provide important protections for religious exercise while clarifying that RFRA may not be used to discriminate against or
otherwise harm others, was co-introduced in the House by Joseph Kennedy, and now has over 100 House co-sponsorsAmericans United supports the legislation. AU's President said that "the Do No Harm Act will ensure that we honor two core
American values: religious freedom and the promise of equal protection under the law."
Congress enacted the federal RFRA in 1993 with the goal of protecting religious freedom, especially for religious minorities. At that time, a broad coalition of
progressive & conservative groups supported the law. But since then, the federal RFRA has been misinterpreted by some courts and has become a vehicle for those who want to use religion to undermine protections for civil rights and access to health care.
Source: Church & State Magazine on 2020 Massachusetts Senate race
Aug 8, 2018
On Drugs:
Concerns with marijuana legalization: take a deep breath
Massachusetts has been at the forefront of the pro-marijuana movement. But "this one is a tough one for me, because my views do not exactly line up with my own state, and it's something that I'm struggling with," Kennedy said.Kennedy says it's his
job to "take a deep breath". "One of my main focuses in Congress is on mental health and addiction and there are a number of voices in that community that do pose serious questions about either the decriminalization or legalization efforts,"
Source: Boston Globe on 2020 Massachusetts Senate race
Mar 8, 2018
On Immigration:
Kennedy promises to fight for DACA recipients
On DACA: "For the DREAMers seated at the table with us today, pursuing our shared American dream has required immense struggle and sacrifice that few understand," said Rep. Kennedy. "Bravely embracing the only home they have ever known, these students
and young professionals represent the very best our country has to offer and are deeply committed to their communities. My colleagues & I will fight even harder to protect them and their 800,000 fellow Dreamers from President Trump's dangerous policies."
Source: MIRA Coalition on 2020 Massachusetts Senate race
Oct 16, 2017
On Health Care:
ACA has done good things for people in need
Joe Kennedy has been unhesitant to defend the Affordable Care Act amid recent Republican efforts to replace the law. "That hearing for 28 hours that I was in last week, while you heard story after story from my Republican colleagues saying how
disastrous this was, there was also an intern in there for a lot of it from my office whose life was saved--twice--by the Affordable Care Act," Kennedy said. "You cannot deny that this law has done some really good things to some people in need."
Source: Boston Globe on 2020 Massachusetts Senate race
Mar 14, 2017
On Civil Rights:
Kennedy leads task force for transgender equality
Joe Kennedy III was introduced as the leader of a task force devoted to protecting the transgender community.Kennedy's appointment comes after President Trump's administration rescinded protections that allowed transgender public school students to
use the restroom.
"I was disheartened and that was one of the first actions of the attorney general and this administration. It shows a fundamental lack of understanding of the challenges many students of the transgender community face."
Source: The Metrowest Daily News on 2020 Massachusetts Senate race
Mar 2, 2017
On Government Reform:
Necessary regulations costs are crippling
On federal compliance: "Back home in my district just outside Boston, the 4th District, I hear concerns about the cost of compliance from those regulations in almost all the cities and towns that I visit," said Kennedy. "They don't disagree with the
importance of these regulations, but as they struggle to get back on their feet post recession and deal with an already crippling loss of state and federal dollars due to our budget situation here, that cost of compliance can seem almost impossible."
Source: Taunton Gazette on 2020 Massachusetts Senate race
Nov 15, 2013
Page last updated: Sep 17, 2022