| Revision as of 15:54, 27 January 2013 editDesignate (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users, Pending changes reviewers, Rollbackers4,594 editsm Typos← Previous edit | Revision as of 01:13, 28 January 2013 edit undoGrammarxxx (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users4,771 edits Clean up/dead link removalNext edit → | ||
| Line 74: | Line 74: | ||
| *] | *] | ||
| *] | *] | ||
| *] | |||
| |} | |} | ||
| Capuano is a member of three congressional committees and three party committees. He has co-founded five congressional caucuses while serving in the House. After the ] that created a Democratic majority in the House, he was appointed Chairman of the Speaker's Task Force on Ethics Enforcement by Speaker ], with whom he has a close relationship. Along with being a member of the House Committee of Transportation and Infrastructure and the House Committee of Financial Services, Capuano also serves on the House Democratic Leadership team as a member of the Democratic Steering and Policy Committee. | Capuano is a member of three congressional committees and three party committees. He has co-founded five congressional caucuses while serving in the House. After the ] that created a Democratic majority in the House, he was appointed Chairman of the Speaker's Task Force on Ethics Enforcement by Speaker ], with whom he has a close relationship. Along with being a member of the House Committee of Transportation and Infrastructure and the House Committee of Financial Services, Capuano also serves on the House Democratic Leadership team as a member of the Democratic Steering and Policy Committee. | ||
| Line 83: | Line 82: | ||
| Mike Capuano has also supported animal rights and wildlife management bills. Recent bills he has supported include the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009, the Consolidated Natural Resources Act of 2008, and the Horse Slaughter Prohibition Bill.<ref>, Project Vote Smart.</ref> He has not supported the Endangered Species Reauthorization Bill, which decreased the power of the Secretary of the Interior in wildlife management decisions.<ref>, Project Vote Smart.</ref> | Mike Capuano has also supported animal rights and wildlife management bills. Recent bills he has supported include the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009, the Consolidated Natural Resources Act of 2008, and the Horse Slaughter Prohibition Bill.<ref>, Project Vote Smart.</ref> He has not supported the Endangered Species Reauthorization Bill, which decreased the power of the Secretary of the Interior in wildlife management decisions.<ref>, Project Vote Smart.</ref> | ||
| Mike Capuano strongly supports labor rights. On labor health issues he has supported the Requiring OSHA to Establish Combustible Dust Safety Standards bill. On labor pay issues he has supported the Lilly Ledbetter Pay Act, the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, the ], the Emergency Extended Unemployment Compensation bill, and the Unequal Pay Bill.<ref>, Project Vote Smart.</ref> In February 2011, during a rally at ] in support of the ], Capuano told the pro-union crowd, "I’m proud to be here with people who understand that it’s more than just sending an email to get you going. Every once and awhile you need to get out on the streets and get a little bloody when necessary". After receiving criticism for "over-the-top and inflammatory rhetoric", Capuano expressed regret for his choice of words. |
Mike Capuano strongly supports labor rights. On labor health issues he has supported the Requiring OSHA to Establish Combustible Dust Safety Standards bill. On labor pay issues he has supported the Lilly Ledbetter Pay Act, the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, the ], the Emergency Extended Unemployment Compensation bill, and the Unequal Pay Bill.<ref>, Project Vote Smart.</ref> In February 2011, during a rally at ] in support of the ], Capuano told the pro-union crowd, "I’m proud to be here with people who understand that it’s more than just sending an email to get you going. Every once and awhile you need to get out on the streets and get a little bloody when necessary". After receiving criticism for "over-the-top and inflammatory rhetoric", Capuano expressed regret for his choice of words. | ||
| ====Foreign policy==== | ====Foreign policy==== | ||
| Line 93: | Line 92: | ||
| {{wikinews|Brown, Coakley win Massachusetts Senate seat primaries amid low voter turnout}} | {{wikinews|Brown, Coakley win Massachusetts Senate seat primaries amid low voter turnout}} | ||
| {{Main|United States Senate special election in Massachusetts, 2010}} | {{Main|United States Senate special election in Massachusetts, 2010}} | ||
| On September 8, 2009, Capuano collected nomination papers to run for the seat formerly held by Senator ]<ref name="herald-2009-09-08">{{cite web|url=http://bostonherald.com/news/us_politics/view.bg?articleid=1196192&pos=breaking|title=Capuano takes out papers for Ted K’s Senate seat|date=September 8, 2009|accessdate=September 8, 2009|publisher=]|first1=Edward|last1=Mason|first2=Joe|last2=Dwinell}}</ref> and on September 18, he announced his candidacy. On December 8, 2009, he lost the Democratic primary to ], the Attorney General of Massachusetts. Capuano secured 28% of the vote to Coakley's 47% amongst a field of four candidates. |
On September 8, 2009, Capuano collected nomination papers to run for the seat formerly held by Senator ]<ref name="herald-2009-09-08">{{cite web|url=http://bostonherald.com/news/us_politics/view.bg?articleid=1196192&pos=breaking|title=Capuano takes out papers for Ted K’s Senate seat|date=September 8, 2009|accessdate=September 8, 2009|publisher=]|first1=Edward|last1=Mason|first2=Joe|last2=Dwinell}}</ref> and on September 18, he announced his candidacy. On December 8, 2009, he lost the Democratic primary to ], the Attorney General of Massachusetts. Capuano secured 28% of the vote to Coakley's 47% amongst a field of four candidates. | ||
| ==Personal life== | ==Personal life== | ||
| Capuano was named after his two grandfathers,<ref name="post-bio" /> and has seven siblings, one of whom died in childbirth and another died of ] at the age of 5.<ref name="rita-2010" /> Capuano married Barbara Teebagy in 1974,<ref name="directory-2009" /> and |
Capuano was named after his two grandfathers,<ref name="post-bio" /> and has seven siblings, one of whom died in childbirth and another died of ] at the age of 5.<ref name="rita-2010" /> Capuano married Barbara Teebagy in 1974, and together they have two boys, Michael and Joseph.<ref name="directory-2009" /> He is the uncle of actors ] of the '']'' and '']'' film series, and ] of the soap opera '']''.<ref>{{cite web|author= |url=http://www.wickedlocal.com/somerville/town_info/government/x1156078852/Capuano-to-be-joined-by-actor-nephew-at-Open-Mike-Nov-9 |title=Capuano to be joined by actor nephew at "Open Mike" Nov. 9 |publisher=Somerville Journal |date=November 6, 2009 |accessdate=August 23, 2010}}</ref> | ||
| He is the uncle of actors ] of the '']'' and '']'' film series and ] of the soap opera '']''.<ref>{{cite web|author= |url=http://www.wickedlocal.com/somerville/town_info/government/x1156078852/Capuano-to-be-joined-by-actor-nephew-at-Open-Mike-Nov-9 |title=Capuano to be joined by actor nephew at "Open Mike" Nov. 9 |publisher=Somerville Journal |date=November 6, 2009 |accessdate=2010-08-23}}</ref> | |||
| ==References== | ==References== | ||
Revision as of 01:13, 28 January 2013
| Mike Capuano | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Massachusetts's 7th district | |
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office January 3, 2013 | |
| Preceded by | Ed Markey |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Massachusetts's 8th district | |
| In office January 3, 1999 – January 3, 2013 | |
| Preceded by | Joseph P. Kennedy II |
| Succeeded by | Stephen Lynch |
| Mayor of Somerville | |
| In office January 1, 1990 – January 3, 1999 | |
| Preceded by | Eugene Brune |
| Succeeded by | Dorothy Gay |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Michael Everett Capuano (1952-01-09) January 9, 1952 (age 72) Somerville, Massachusetts |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Alma mater | Dartmouth College Boston College Law School |
| Website | www |
Michael Everett "Mike" Capuano (/ˌkæpjuːˈɑːnoʊ/; born January 9, 1952) is an American politician who serves as the U.S. Representative for Massachusetts's 7th congressional district. He is a member of the Democratic Party and his district includes north Boston, as well as Somerville and Cambridge. Prior to being elected to Congress he served as an alderman and later mayor of Somerville.
Capuano was born and raised in Somerville, Massachusetts. After graduating from Dartmouth College and Boston College Law School he worked as an attorney and Somerville alderman. He lost two elections for mayor in 1979 and 1981, at which point he went to work as legal counsel for the Massachusetts General Court. He ran for a mayor a third time in 1989 and won, serving from 1990 to 1999. While he harbored aspirations to become governor, he instead launched a failed bid to be Secretary of the Commonwealth in 1994.
He navigated a crowded Democratic primary to replace Joseph Kennedy II as U.S. Representative from Massachusetts in 1998. He won the election and has since been re-elected six times with no Republican opposition. In Congress he is a staunch liberal and member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus. His focuses have included international human rights, transportation, and financial services. Capuano ran in the 2010 special election to fill the seat in the United States Senate made vacant by the death of Senator Ted Kennedy, his predecessor's uncle, but lost the Democratic primary to Martha Coakley, who in turn lost the general election to Republican Scott Brown.
Early life and education
Capuano was born January 9, 1952 in the Spring Hill neighborhood of Somerville, Massachusetts to Rita Marie (née Garvey) and Andrew Capuano. His father left to serve in World War II shortly getting married, and after returning ran for the Somerville Board of Aldermen, and became the first Italian American elected to the board.
Capuano graduated from Somerville High School in 1969, and later attended Dartmouth College, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in 1973. Capuano later went on to earn his Juris Doctor in 1977 from Boston College Law School, specializing in tax law.
Early political career
Somerville politics
In 1976, Capuano was elected to the Somerville Board of Aldermen representing Ward 5, the seat once held by his father. Capuano served only one term, stepping down in 1979 to run for Mayor of Somerville. In the 1979 mayoral election he faced Eugene Brune, Paul Haley, and incumbent, Thomas August. He lost the nomination to Brune, who defeated August. Capuano ran again in 1981 to challenge Brune, placing second in a three-person runoff election. Capuano promoted his opposition to Proposition 2½ and criticized Brune for expanding the mayoral staff in the face of tight city budgets, while Brune touted his prevention of service cuts after Proposition 2½ passed. Capuano lost in the general election with 40 percent of the vote.
From 1978 to 1984 Capuano served as chief legal counsel for the Massachusetts General Court's Joint Committee on Taxation. Capuano left the committee in 1984 to join the Beacon Hill law firm and lobbying group Joyce & Joyce. In 1985 he returned to the Somerville Board of Aldermen as an at-large member.
Capuano ran for Mayor a third time in 1989 and won the election. He served as Mayor from 1990 to 1999, where he earned a reputation as a hands-on administrator. One of his priorities was to lower the city's population density, the highest of any New England municipality, by using state grants to demolish several buildings and replace them with playgrounds and parking spaces. He also oversaw a reduction in class size to 19 students.
Seeking higher office
Capuano ran for Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth in the 1994 election. Capuano was seen as a conservative-leaning party outsider, running against former state representatives Augusto Grace and William F. Galvin for the Democratic nomination, and struggled to obtain support among party leaders. During the race he framed himself as an advocate for the poor and urban communities. He criticized state aid formulas which, he argued, left poorer municipalities such as Somerville and Boston with less per-capita revenue than wealthier communities such as Cambridge and Brookline. To appear on the Democratic primary ballot required the support of at least 15 percent of delegates in the June state party convention. In what the Boston Globe deemed "an embarrassing defeat", he was pushed out of the race with only 13 percent of delegate votes. When asked why he staged the difficult race to begin with, he responded, "Because I wasn't ready to run for governor."
U.S. House of Representatives
Elections
Capuano was elected to Congress in 1998, succeeding fellow Democrat Joseph Kennedy II. In the Democratic primary, he faced nine opponents, including former Boston Mayor and US Vatican Ambassador Raymond Flynn, who had been an early front-runner. Capuano benefited from strong voter turnout in Somerville and an effective television campaign. Capuano won the crowded primary with 23% and easily won the general election. Capuano has consistently been re-elected by high margins, usually facing no Republican opponent, with his lowest amount won being 81% in his inaugural election.
Tenure
| Committee assignments 113th Congress (2013–2015) |
|---|
| Party leadership and caucus memberships |
Capuano is a member of three congressional committees and three party committees. He has co-founded five congressional caucuses while serving in the House. After the United States general elections, 2006 that created a Democratic majority in the House, he was appointed Chairman of the Speaker's Task Force on Ethics Enforcement by Speaker Nancy Pelosi, with whom he has a close relationship. Along with being a member of the House Committee of Transportation and Infrastructure and the House Committee of Financial Services, Capuano also serves on the House Democratic Leadership team as a member of the Democratic Steering and Policy Committee.
Domestic policy
Capuano is pro-choice and supports open access to abortions. During the 2010 Senate Democratic primary Capuano criticized his opponent Martha Coakley, claiming she wouldn't have voted for the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act with Stupak–Pitts Amendment which would have barred federal funding of abortions; which Capuano did, saying he only did "to keep the health care debate alive." Capuano's comments were characterized by WBUR political analyst as "an empty charge against her since he has the same position as she does."
Mike Capuano has also supported animal rights and wildlife management bills. Recent bills he has supported include the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009, the Consolidated Natural Resources Act of 2008, and the Horse Slaughter Prohibition Bill. He has not supported the Endangered Species Reauthorization Bill, which decreased the power of the Secretary of the Interior in wildlife management decisions.
Mike Capuano strongly supports labor rights. On labor health issues he has supported the Requiring OSHA to Establish Combustible Dust Safety Standards bill. On labor pay issues he has supported the Lilly Ledbetter Pay Act, the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, the Paycheck Fairness Act, the Emergency Extended Unemployment Compensation bill, and the Unequal Pay Bill. In February 2011, during a rally at Beacon Hill, Boston in support of the 2011 Wisconsin budget protests, Capuano told the pro-union crowd, "I’m proud to be here with people who understand that it’s more than just sending an email to get you going. Every once and awhile you need to get out on the streets and get a little bloody when necessary". After receiving criticism for "over-the-top and inflammatory rhetoric", Capuano expressed regret for his choice of words.
Foreign policy
Mike Capuano supports leaving the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan through opposing the Funding for Military Operations in Iraq and Afghanistan bill, the Defense Authorizations Bill, and 2008–2009 Supplemental Appropriations. He does however support foreign aid through the Funding to Combat AIDS, Malaria, and Tuberculosis bill, the United States - India Nuclear Agreement, and the China Trade Relations bill.
Capuano is considered to be one of the biggest supporters in Congress for increasing international aid funding. He has become a voice for victims of the crisis in the Sudan and has secured new funding bills aimed at assisting poor African nations. Capuano is a co-founder and co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on Sudan.
2010 Senate campaign
Main article: United States Senate special election in Massachusetts, 2010On September 8, 2009, Capuano collected nomination papers to run for the seat formerly held by Senator Edward Kennedy and on September 18, he announced his candidacy. On December 8, 2009, he lost the Democratic primary to Martha Coakley, the Attorney General of Massachusetts. Capuano secured 28% of the vote to Coakley's 47% amongst a field of four candidates.
Personal life
Capuano was named after his two grandfathers, and has seven siblings, one of whom died in childbirth and another died of polio at the age of 5. Capuano married Barbara Teebagy in 1974, and together they have two boys, Michael and Joseph. He is the uncle of actors Chris Evans of the Fantastic Four and Captain America film series, and Scott Evans of the soap opera One Life to Live.
References
- Capuano, Mike (2009). ""Stand" Commercial". Mike Capuano for US Senate.
- ^ Emma Stickgold (July 21, 2010). "Rita Capuano; campaigned with vigor for husband, son; at 90". The Boston Globe.
- ^ "Biography: Michael Everett Capuano (D)". The Washington Post.
- ^ Alston, Farnsworth; Carter, Mary Ann; Randolph, Sarah (eds.) (2009). "Michael E. Capuano". Congressional Directory for the 111th Congress (2009–2010). Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office. pp. 127–128. ISBN 978-0-16-083727-2.
{{cite book}}:|first3=has generic name (help); External link in|chapterurl=|chapterurl=ignored (|chapter-url=suggested) (help) - Government Research Corporation (1998). National Journal. Vol. 30. Government Research Corporation. pp. 2589–3044. Retrieved October 10, 2012.
- ^ Anthony Flint (September 17, 1998). "In the long run, persistence wins". The Boston Globe. Retrieved October 11, 2010.
- Meghann Ackerman (March 3, 2010). "Longtime Somerville champion, Haley dies at 60". Wicked Local-Somerville. Retrieved December 17, 2012.
- "Somerville". The Boston Globe. October 1, 1981. Retrieved October 11, 2010.
- Ziegler, Bart (September 27, 1981). "Somerville: Mayor defending his 2½ record against 2 foes". The Boston Globe. Retrieved October 11, 2010.
- "Somerville". The Boston Globe. November 4, 1981. Retrieved October 11, 2010.
- ^ "Capuano, Michael Everett". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved October 11, 2010.
- ^ Goldberg, Carey (September 16, 1998). "Mayor Wins Chance to Take Storied Kennedy House Seat." The New York Times.
- ^ Ferdinand, Pamela (September 17, 1998). "Massachusetts: Ex-Mayor Ray Flynn's Comeback Fizzles; Competitive Race For Governor Set." The Washington Post.
- ^ Kenney, Michael (August 7, 1994). "An upbeat Capuano eyeing the future". The Boston Globe. Retrieved October 16, 2010.
- Jason Zengerle (November 11, 2009). "Mike Capuano's Profile in Courage". The New Republic. Retrieved January 26, 2013.
- Bob Oakes and Kathleen McNerney (November 11, 2009). "Payne: Capuano Has To Explain His Health Care, Abortion Position". WBUR. Retrieved January 26, 2013.
- Animal Rights and Wildlife Management, Project Vote Smart.
- Endangered Species Reauthorization Bill with Mike Capuano's vote, Project Vote Smart.
- Labor Issues, Project Vote Smart.
- Defense, Project Vote Smart.
- Foreign Issues, Project Vote Smart.
- Cillizza, Chris. "Michael E. Capuano (D-Mass.)". Who Runs Gov. The Washington Post. Retrieved June 12, 2012.
- Mason, Edward; Dwinell, Joe (September 8, 2009). "Capuano takes out papers for Ted K's Senate seat". Boston Herald. Retrieved September 8, 2009.
- "Capuano to be joined by actor nephew at "Open Mike" Nov. 9". Somerville Journal. November 6, 2009. Retrieved August 23, 2010.
External links
- Congressman Michael E. Capuano, official U.S. House site
- Committees and Caucuses memberships
- Capuano for Senate, official campaign site
- Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
- Financial information (federal office) at the Federal Election Commission
- Profile at Vote Smart
- Profile at SourceWatch Congresspedia
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded byJoseph Kennedy | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Massachusetts's 8th congressional district 1999–2013 |
Succeeded byStephen Lynch |
| Preceded byEd Markey | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Massachusetts's 7th congressional district 2013–present |
Incumbent |
| U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial) | ||
| Preceded bySteve Chabotas Member of the House of Representatives from Ohio's 1st district | Order of Precedence of the United States | Succeeded byJoseph Crowleyas Member of the House of Representatives from New York's 14th district |
| Massachusetts's current delegation to the United States Congress | |
|---|---|
| Senators |
|
| Representatives (ordered by district) |
|
- 1952 births
- American people of Irish descent
- American people of Italian descent
- Boston College Law School alumni
- Dartmouth College alumni
- Living people
- Massachusetts city council members
- Massachusetts Democrats
- Mayors of Somerville, Massachusetts
- Members of the United States House of Representatives from Massachusetts