John Kennedy (Louisiana politician) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John Kennedy
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Official portrait, 2017
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| United States Senator from Louisiana |
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| Assumed office January 3, 2017 Serving with Bill Cassidy
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| Preceded by | David Vitter |
| Treasurer of Louisiana | |
| In office January 10, 2000 – January 3, 2017 |
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| Governor | Mike Foster Kathleen Blanco Bobby Jindal John Bel Edwards |
| Preceded by | Ken Duncan |
| Succeeded by | John Schroder |
| Secretary of the Louisiana Department of Revenue | |
| In office January 8, 1996 – April 30, 1999 |
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| Governor | Mike Foster |
| Succeeded by | Brett Crawford |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
John Neely Kennedy
November 21, 1951 Centreville, Mississippi, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican (since 2007) |
| Other political affiliations |
Democratic (before 2007) |
| Spouse |
Rebecca Stulb
(m. 1990) |
| Children | 1 |
| Education | Vanderbilt University (BA) University of Virginia (JD) Magdalen College, Oxford (BCL) |
John Neely Kennedy was born on November 21, 1951. He is an American politician and lawyer. Since 2017, he has been a United States senator for Louisiana. Before becoming a senator, he served as the Louisiana State Treasurer from 2000 to 2017. He was also the Secretary of the Louisiana Department of Revenue from 1996 to 1999. He is a member of the Republican Party.
Kennedy was born in Centreville, Mississippi. He studied at Vanderbilt University and the University of Virginia School of Law. He also attended Oxford University. In 1988, he started working for Governor Buddy Roemer. He became the state treasurer in 1999. He was reelected treasurer four times. In 2007, he changed from the Democratic Party to the Republican Party. He ran for the U.S. Senate in 2004 and 2008 but did not win. In 2016, he ran again and was elected. He was reelected to the Senate in 2022.
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Early Life and Education
John Kennedy was born in Centreville, Mississippi. He grew up in Zachary, Louisiana. He finished Zachary High School in 1969. He was one of the top students in his class.
He then went to Vanderbilt University. He studied political science, philosophy, and economics. He graduated with high honors in 1973. In 1977, he earned a law degree from the University of Virginia School of Law. He also studied at Oxford University in England. He earned another law degree there in 1979.
Before his political career, Kennedy worked as a lawyer. He was a partner at a law firm in New Orleans and Baton Rouge. He also taught law at Louisiana State University for many years.
Early Political Career
Helping Governor Roemer
In 1988, Governor Buddy Roemer chose Kennedy to be his special legal advisor. He later made Kennedy a member of his cabinet. Kennedy worked to help the governor pass new laws. These laws aimed to make product liability rules clearer. They also worked to limit how much money people could donate to political campaigns.
Kennedy helped create the Louisiana Products Liability Act. This law made it easier for businesses and buyers to understand their rights. He also helped set a $5,000 limit on donations to statewide candidates. This was a big change for Louisiana.
Kennedy also tried to combine Louisiana's four higher education boards into one. He believed this would improve universities. This effort almost passed but fell short by one vote.
Secretary of Revenue
In 1996, Governor Mike Foster appointed Kennedy as the Secretary of the state Department of Revenue. In this role, Kennedy worked to make tax rules fairer and easier to understand.
He started a program to return unclaimed money to people in Louisiana. This included old bank accounts and forgotten money. He held events and launched a website to help people find their money. He helped return millions of dollars to Louisianians.
Kennedy also helped pass the Taxpayer's Bill of Rights in 1998. This law made sure taxpayers were treated with respect. It also made sure they received clear instructions. He also worked to allow people to file taxes by phone. This made the process faster and simpler.
Treasurer of Louisiana (2000–2017)
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In 1999, Kennedy was elected Louisiana State Treasurer. He won against the person who was already in office. He was reelected without anyone running against him in 2003, 2007, and 2011. In 2015, he won again with 80% of the votes.
As treasurer, Kennedy continued his work on unclaimed property. He helped return over $400 million to people in Louisiana. He also worked to refinance the state's debt. This saved Louisiana hundreds of millions of dollars.
Kennedy also pushed for stricter rules against corruption. He investigated problems with state contracts and retirement benefits. He also looked into food stamp fraud. He wanted to make sure public money was used correctly.
He helped expand the START college savings plan. This program helps families save money for their children's education. He added new investment choices for parents.
Changing Political Parties
In 2007, Kennedy decided to leave the Democratic Party. He joined the Republican Party. He explained his reasons in a letter to the people he represented.
Campaigns for U.S. Senate
Kennedy ran for the U.S. Senate three times. His first two attempts were not successful.
In 2004, he ran as a Democrat but lost. In 2008, he ran as a Republican but was defeated by the person already in office.
2016 Senate Election
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In 2016, Kennedy ran for Senate again. The current senator was not seeking reelection. Kennedy faced more than 20 other candidates. He received support from many groups and leaders. These included the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and then-President-elect Donald Trump.
Kennedy won the first round of voting. He then faced Democrat Foster Campbell in a runoff election. Kennedy won the runoff with 61% of the votes. He became Louisiana's new U.S. Senator.
2022 Senate Election
Kennedy was reelected to the U.S. Senate in 2022. He won with 62% of the votes in the first round. He defeated 12 other candidates. He won in almost every area of Louisiana.
U.S. Senate (2017–Present)
John Kennedy was sworn in as a U.S. Senator on January 3, 2017. He had resigned as state treasurer earlier that day.
As a senator, Kennedy has focused on several key areas. He is known for his direct way of speaking. He often uses humor and folksy sayings.
Judicial Nominees
Kennedy is a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee. This committee reviews people chosen to be judges. He has voted to confirm several Supreme Court Justices. These include Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, and Amy Coney Barrett. He voted against Ketanji Brown Jackson's nomination.
He often asks judicial nominees basic questions about the U.S. Constitution. Sometimes, the nominees struggle to answer. He believes judges should follow the law, not make new laws.
Helping Businesses and People
Kennedy has worked on bills to help businesses. He helped pass a bill to remove costs for a program that helps businesses in rural areas. He also worked to keep disaster loan limits high for small businesses. This helps them rebuild after natural disasters.
He also helped extend the National Flood Insurance Program. This program helps people get flood insurance. This is very important for states like Louisiana.
Kennedy helped create a law to make foreign companies more accountable. This law makes sure companies listed on American stock exchanges follow rules. It helps protect American investors.
COVID-19 Relief
Kennedy voted for the first COVID-19 relief package, the CARES Act. He said it would help Louisianians by investing in medical services, families, and businesses. He also voted for a second relief package. He said it was important to help people hurt by the economy shutting down.
Natural Disasters and Conservation
Kennedy has worked to get federal aid for Louisiana after hurricanes. He wants to reform the National Flood Insurance Program. He believes flood insurance is too expensive for coastal communities.
He also believes in protecting Louisiana's coast. He worked to make sure money from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill was used for coastal protection.
Health Care
Kennedy supported efforts to change the Affordable Care Act. He has also supported putting a cap on the price of insulin. He worked with another senator to propose a bill to cap the price at $35 per month.
Education
Kennedy has spoken out against student loan forgiveness plans. He believes it is unfair to people who have already paid their debts.
He supports school choice. He thinks parents should be able to choose the best school for their children. He has also volunteered as a substitute teacher in Louisiana schools. He did this to better understand the education system.
Immigration and Border Security
Kennedy supports stronger border security. He believes in legal immigration. He has said that "Legal immigration makes the country better." He has also introduced bills to increase prison sentences for fentanyl dealers. He wants to classify cartels as terrorist organizations.
Environmental Issues
Kennedy introduced a law to reduce certain greenhouse gases called hydrofluorocarbons. These gases are used in refrigerators and air conditioning. This law aims to phase down their use over 15 years.
Gun Rights
Kennedy supports gun ownership for self-defense. He has an "A+" rating from the NRA Political Victory Fund. He has opposed rules that he believes harm gun owners.
Foreign Policy
Kennedy has supported investing state money in Israeli bonds. He believes Israel is an important partner for the U.S. He has also expressed concerns about Russia and China. He wants to make sure they follow international rules.
He criticized the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. He called it "stunning incompetence." He supports sending aid to Ukraine. He also wants a special inspector general to track the money sent to Ukraine.
Personal Life
Kennedy and his wife, Becky, are founding members of their local Methodist church.
John Kennedy is not related to former President John F. Kennedy. His family has been important in Louisiana for a long time.
Images for kids
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Official portrait, 2017
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Kennedy at the Natchitoches Christmas Parade in 2014
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Kennedy speaking to the media, September 2014
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Then-President-elect Donald Trump and Kennedy campaigning in Baton Rouge
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Kennedy being sworn in as Louisiana's junior U.S. senator by outgoing Vice President Joe Biden in the U.S. Capitol's Old Senate Chamber on January 3, 2017
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Kennedy on the senate floor speaking about attempts to slow the ongoing surge in inflation, December 2022
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Kennedy and other congressional Republicans greeting president Trump at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport, January 2019
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Kennedy greeting Vyacheslav Volodin in July 2018
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