Patrick J. Kennedy

:"This article is about the current member of the United States House of Representatives.
For his great-grandfather, Patrick J. Kennedy, see P. J. Kennedy.
For other persons named Patrick Kennedy, see Patrick Kennedy (disambiguation)."Infobox_Congressman
name = Patrick Kennedy


imagesize = 220px
date of birth = birth date and age|1967|07|14
place of birth = Brighton, Massachusetts
state = Rhode Island
district = 1st
term_start = January 3, 1995
preceded = Ronald Machtley
succeeded = Incumbent
party = Democrat
residence = Portsmouth, Rhode Island
spouse = none
religion = Roman Catholic
residence= Portsmouth, Rhode Island
alma_mater= Providence College
occupation= Congressman
website = [http://patrickkennedy.house.gov/ Patrick Kennedy]

Patrick Joseph Kennedy II (born July 14, 1967 in Brighton, Massachusetts) is the son of Senator Ted Kennedy and Joan Bennett Kennedy, as well as the nephew of both former President John F. Kennedy and Senator Robert F. Kennedy. A Democrat, he serves in the United States House of Representatives, representing the first district of Rhode Island [http://nationalatlas.gov/printable/images/preview/congdist/ri01_109.gif(map)] .

Career

Patrick J. Kennedy became the youngest member of the Kennedy political family to hold elected office in 1988, when he won election to the Rhode Island State Assembly at age 21.

In November 1994, Patrick defeated Republican Kevin Vigilante for the first district in the United States House of Representatives, and continues to hold this office. He was one of four Democrats in the 1994 election to take a congressional seat that had just been held by a Republican, while Republicans gained dozens of seats to take over the House. Kennedy currently serves on the House Appropriations Committee's Subcommittees on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education; and on Science, State, Justice and Commerce. From 1999 to 2001, he served as Chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.

Kennedy twice considered running against Republican Senator Lincoln Chafee, in 2000 and 2006. In the 2000 Senate recruiting phase, Dick Gephardt moved Kennedy to the House Appropriations Committee, a high profile assignment that led Kennedy to pass up the Senate opportunity for 2000.

On his House web page, Kennedy denied that he would make a bid for the Senate in the mid-term elections, but on March 28, 2005 it was reported that he was considering running again. The speculation ended March 30 with Kennedy's announcement that he would not run for the US Senate, but would seek reelection to the House.

Should Kennedy be elected to the Senate while his father remains representing Massachusetts, the two would become the second father and son to serve concurrently, after Henry Dodge (Wisconsin) and Augustus C. Dodge (Iowa).

Personal life

He is unmarried and resides in Portsmouth, Rhode Island.

He graduated from Phillips Andover and earned a B.S. from Providence College in 1991. [cite web
title = KENNEDY, Patrick Joseph - Biographical Information
publisher = bioguide.congress.gov
url = http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=K000113
accessdate = 2008-02-28 ]

In 2005 Kennedy and LL Cool J made a surprise visit to Shea High School in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. They made a speech about the future and academics, and later signed autographs for students and faculty.

Issues and accomplishments

The main issue for which Kennedy advocates is more efficient and better health care coverage. He is a strong proponent of adding a comprehensive prescription drug benefit to Medicare and has consistently opposed attempts to privatize the Medicare program. Kennedy has also made numerous speeches advocating the reorientation of the American health care system to preventative care. He has received numerous awards for his health care advocacy, including being named the recipient of the Lymphoma Research Foundation’s Paul E. Tsongas Memorial Award as well as the Leukemia and Lymphoma Foundation Congressional Honors Award.

Controversies

Capitol Hill impaired driving accident

publisher=Boston Herald| url=http://news.bostonherald.com/localRegional/view.bg?articleid=137995] [cite news | last=Wedge | first=Dave | title=Cops told Pat K was at watering hole before crash
date=12 May, 2006 | publisher=Boston Herald| url=http://news.bostonherald.com/politics/view.bg?articleid=138953] Kennedy also stated to officers that he was "late for a vote." However, the last vote of the night had occurred almost six hours earlier. The standard field sobriety test was not administered. Kennedy was driven home by an officer.

On May 5, 2006, Kennedy admitted he has an addiction to prescription medication and announced he would be re-admitting himself to a drug rehabilitation facility at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota where he has sought treatment for prior addictions. [cite news | last=Miga | first=Andrew | title=Rep. Patrick Kennedy to Enter Drug Rehab | date=5 May, 2006 | publisher=Associated Press| url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/05/AR2006050500520.html] He has stated that he has no recollection of the car crash. On May 8, 2006, Kennedy got a show of support when he was endorsed by the Rhode Island Democratic Party. [cite news | last=Mayerowitz | first=Scott | title=Kennedy gets support from Democratic Party|date=9 May, 2006 | publisher=The Providence Journal| url=http://www.projo.com/news/content/projo_20060509_dems9.1292646a.html] On June 5, 2006 Kennedy was released from drug rehab. [cite news | last=Lewis | first=Richard | title=Rep. Kennedy released from drug rehab clinic|date=5 June, 2006 | publisher=Reuters| url=http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060605/us_nm/kennedy_dc]

After being asked if he expected any special treatment from authorities, Kennedy expressed that he hoped they would treat him as if he "were an African-American in Anacostia". [cite news | last= McAuliff | first= Michael | title= Treat me like I'm black, sez Teddy's son| date= 6 June, 2006|publisher= New York Daily News | url= http://www.nydailynews.com/front/story/424089p-357769c.html] On June 13, 2006, Kennedy made a deal with prosecutors and pleaded guilty to a charge of driving under the influence of prescription drugs. [cite news | last= Miga | first= Andrew | title= Patrick Kennedy pleads guilty to DUI | date= 13 June, 2006|publisher= The Associated Press | url= http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060613/ap_on_go_co/patrick_kennedy] He was sentenced to one year probation and a fine of $350. Two of the three charges (reckless driving and failure to exhibit a driving permit) were dismissed. He was also ordered to attend a rehabilitation program that includes weekly urine tests, twice-weekly meetings with a probation officer, near-daily Alcoholics Anonymous meetings and a weekly meeting of recovering addicts [cite news|last = Akers|first = Mary Ann|title = Life After Fender Bender|publisher = Roll Call|date = 2006-06-13|url = http://rollcall.com/issues/52_5/hoh/14255-1.html|accessdate = 2008-02-28 ] .

In an earlier incident, on April 15, 2006, Kennedy was driving a Ford Crown Victoria registered to the "Friends of Pat Kennedy Inc" on Turnpike Avenue in Portsmouth, Rhode Island. As Patrick attempted to turn left into the CVS parking lot, his vehicle was "broadsided" by a Nissan Maxima driven by off duty Coast Guard warrant officer Thomas Guthlein who was attempting to make a right turn into the same parking lot. Portsmouth Rhode Island police did not issue a citation to either driver. [Portsmouth Rhode Island Police [http://rope.wrko-am.fimc.net/bulger/042506_accident.pdf Accident Report #06-157-AC] ] One woman who witnessed the accident has expressed her opinion that Kennedy was impaired. [cite news | last= Saltzman | first= Jonathan | title= Kennedy's behavior, driving is questioned by eyewitness | date= May 6, 2006|publisher= The Boston Globe|url=http://www.boston.com/news/local/rhode_island/articles/2006/05/06/kennedys_behavior_driving_is_questioned_by_eyewitness/] Guthlein is quoted in the New York Daily News as saying 'I never really got that close to him ... It was just a regular traffic accident'.

Other controversies

Kennedy has acknowledged being treated for cocaine use during his teenage years [cite news | title=Approval Ratings Fall for Rhode Island Rep. Kennedy|date=2001-04-19|publisher=Fox News|url=http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,11637,00.html] and sought treatment for an OxyContin addiction in 2006. [cite news | title=Rep. Kennedy: I Was Hooked on OxyContin|date=2007-03-16|publisher=San Francisco Chronicle News|url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/object/article?f=/n/a/2007/03/16/national/a063517D16.DTL&o=0]

In 2000, Kennedy was accused of pushing a security guard at LAX. City prosecutors ultimately decided not to bring criminal charges against him and he paid an undisclosed civil settlement to the alleged victim almost two years later. [cite news|title=Approval Ratings Fall for Rhode Island Rep. Kennedy|date=2001-04-19|publisher=Fox News|url=http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,11637,00.html]

In 2000, Atlantic Navigation Company of Mystic, CT, claimed that a boat they rented to Kennedy was found abandoned off Martha's Vineyard and required $28,000 to repair. [cite news|title=Boat woes nothing new for Rep. Kennedy|date=2000-11-15|publisher=WTNH|url=http://www.wtnh.com/Global/story.asp?S=176192]

The same year, the Coast Guard was dispatched to Kennedy's yacht after he and his date became embroiled in an argument on his yacht off Martha's Vineyard. [cite news|last=Miga|first=Andrew | title=`I HAVE NEVER WORKED A (BLEEPIN) DAY IN MY LIFE'; Patrick K patches up comment |date=2003-06-28| publisher=Associated Press|url=http://www.intellisearchnow.com/pwrpub_view.scml?ppa=6iiqx%60ZeinljqrTVgb}GL}bfeiZm]

In 2003, Kennedy was criticised for saying "I have never worked a fucking day in my life," which his staff later claimed was a satirical reference to repeated charges of never having worked. [cite news |title=Washington Wrap |date=2003-06-27|publisher=CBS News|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/06/30/politics/main561032.shtml]

In 2007, the Kennedy camp stated that they will retain $6,600 in donations from fugitive Democratic fundraiser Norman Hsu. Kennedy is one of the few Democrats not to return or donate these contributions. This is a controversial action because of the allegation that Hsu has been using his personal funds to unfairly influence Washington. [cite news | title= Arrest Warrant Issued For Fugitive Fundraiser Hsu|publisher=KTVU News|date=2007-09-04|url=http://www.ktvu.com/news/14046563/detail.html|accessdate = 2008-02-28]

Advocacy

Health care

Kennedy is a vocal advocate for quality health care. He has joined with Senator Pete Domenici (R-New Mexico) in introducing legislation that places mental illness under the umbrella of health insurance. Among the rewards received on behalf of his work include the Society for Neuroscience — Public Service Award (2002), Eli Lilly & Co. 2003 Helping Move Lives Forward Reintegration Awards, American Psychoanalytic Association 2003 President’s Award, American Psychiatric Association Alliance award (2003), and the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance — Paul Wellstone Mental Health Award (2003).

In a March 7, 2008 speech to the Cleveland City Club, Kennedy admitted to having bipolar disorder and being a recovering alcoholic. He and his siblings have legal custody of their mother, Joan Bennett Kennedy, who has long struggled with alcoholism.

2008 Presidential election

On January 28, 2008, Kennedy joined his father Ted Kennedy in endorsing Barack Obama in the 2008 U.S. presidential election, stating that Obama was the "perfect antidote to George Bush." [cite news|title=Patrick Kennedy to join father in endorsing Obama for president|date=2008-01-28|publisher=Boston Globe|url=http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2008/01/28/kennedys_to_endorse_barack_obama_for_president/|accessdate=2008-02-28] Prior to that, Kennedy had joined cousin Tim Shriver in endorsing Connecticut senator Chris Dodd.

ee also

* "30 Something" Working Group

References

External links

* [http://patrickkennedy.house.gov/ U.S. Congressman Patrick Kennedy] , official U.S. House site
* [http://kennedyforri.com/ Patrick J. Kennedy for U.S. Congress] , official campaign site
*imdb name|id=0448270
* [http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Patrick_Kennedy Profile] at SourceWatch Congresspedia