Bob Brady
Bob Brady | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania's 1st district | |
| Assumed office May 19, 1998 | |
| Preceded by | Tom Foglietta |
| Chairman of the House Administration Committee | |
| In office May 3, 2007 – January 3, 2011 | |
| Preceded by | Juanita Millender-McDonald |
| Succeeded by | Dan Lungren |
| Chairman of the Philadelphia Democratic City Committee | |
| Assumed office June 16, 1986[1] | |
| Preceded by | Joseph Smith |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Robert A. Brady April 7, 1945 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Debra Brady |
| Residence | Philadelphia |
| Alma mater | HS diploma |
| Occupation | Carpenter, union activist |
Robert A. "Bob" Brady (born April 7, 1945) is the U.S. Representative for Pennsylvania's 1st congressional district, serving since 1998, and the ranking Democrat on the United States House Committee on House Administration since 2007. He has been the Chairman to the Philadelphia Democratic Party since 1986, and is one of the few members of Congress who is also a county chairman (Philadelphia Democratic City Committee).
Early life, education, and pre-congressional career
Brady was born in Philadelphia, the son of Enez (née Caterini) and Robert G. Brady, a police officer. His father was of Irish descent, and his maternal grandparents were immigrants from Italy.[2] [3] He graduated from St. Thomas More High School, but did not attend college, but went to work as a carpenter, becoming a part of the leadership of the union, and remains a member of several unions.[4]
He was elected a precinct committeeman for the Democratic Party in 1968. When wardleader and then-City Council President George X. Schwartz was convicted and imprisoned in the Abscam scandal, Brady was elected to succeed him as Democratic Leader of the 34th Ward, a position that he still holds today.[5] Since June 1986, Brady has been the Chairman of the Philadelphia Democratic Party. He served as a staff aide in the Philadelphia City Council and a staff aide in the Pennsylvania State Senate. Brady has been an instructor at the University of Pennsylvania. He was also a member of the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission from 1991 until his election as a Congressman.
U.S. House of Representatives
Elections
When 17-year U.S. Congressman Tom Foglietta resigned from the House of Representatives upon being named U.S. Ambassador to Italy by Bill Clinton, Brady was unopposed in the primary and won the general election with 74% of the vote. Brady was sworn in on May 19, 1998. He has won re-election since, with at least 81% of the vote.
Tenure
- Abortion
Brady is pro-choice and voted against President Bush's restrictions on funding to family planning groups in 2001. Over the years, he has supported minors’ abortion rights, voting in 2005 for the right for those under 18 years of age to obtain abortions across state lines without parental consent.[6] He voted against the Stupak-Pitts Amendment, which prohibits health insurance companies from offering abortion coverage in a plan to any citizen. He opposed a proposal to prohibit federally funded abortion services.[7] Over the past fifteen years, organizations such as the National Association for the Repeal of Abortion Laws (NARAL), the National Family Planning & Reproductive Health Association, and Planned Parenthood rated him 100%.[8]
- Budget and Spending
Brady supports the growth of small businesses and voted in favor of the Small Business Lending Fund and Tax Law Amendment. The recent amendment, passed in September 2010, provides loans to small business through financial institutions.[8] He, along with the House, passed the Small Business Jobs Bill in October 2010 to provide millions of small businesses with the tax relief and access to credit that they need to expand, grow, and hire workers.[8]
- Immigration
Brady supports a liberal stance on immigration as well. He voted against the Secure Fence Act (2006), which authorized the construction of additional fencing along the U.S.-Mexico border, as well as the Immigration Law Enforcement Act of 2006.[8] He does continue to support Homeland Security Appropriations for border protection, in addition to the U.S. Visitor and Immigrant Status Technology project.[8] The program works towards improving the nation's capability to keep track of immigrants and control their entry and exit.[9] Groups such as the National Latino Congreso/William C. Velásquez Institute, the American Immigration Lawyers Association, and the Federation for American Immigration Reform have rated Brady between 50% and 100% for his pro-immigration political stances.[8]
Committee assignments
- Committee on Armed Services
- Committee on House Administration (Ranking Member)
- Subcommittee on Elections (Ranking Member)
Caucus memberships
- Congressional Arts Caucus
2007 Mayoral campaign
On January 25, 2007 Brady announced that he would seek the Democratic Party nomination for mayor of Philadelphia. He was the second sitting U.S. Congressman after Chaka Fattah to announce his candidacy for mayor.[10] On March 6, Brady failed to list his city pension on the financial-interests statement he filed with his nominating petitions. Within a week Milton Street filed a petition challenge to remove Brady from the ballot for failing to disclose his pension income. Another challenge was brought by a group of voters, and supported by mayoral candidates Tom Knox and Dwight Evans. On April 13, 2007, the Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court ruled that Brady's failure to not list part of his income would not keep him off the primary ballot.[11] On May 15, 2007, Brady lost the Democratic mayoral primary to Michael Nutter.
Power and influence
- The Philadelphia Inquirer described him as "the longtime boss of the Democratic City Committee, one of the few old-fashioned big-city political machines left. Running against him could equal career suicide."[12]
- In 2001, the political website PoliticsPA described him as a "consummate 'backroom politician' (and we say that with respect!)" and said that he might be the best county party chair in Pennsylvania.[13] In 2003, the Pennsylvania Report said that Brady has "managed effectively to balance his multiracial district and city Democrat party."[14][15]
- In 2009, the Pennsylvania Report noted that "[w]hile he still would like to be Mayor, Brady's influence and power in Philadelphia remains strong."[16]
- Pennsylvania State Senator Anthony Williams said he is "probably one of the most politically astute politicians in the last 20 years, and that's rarefied air." J. Whyatt Mondesire, head of the Philadelphia chapter of the NAACP, said no one can match "Brady's relationships with politicians across the Democratic landscape."[17]
Electoral History
- 2012 Election to the US House[18]
- Bob Brady (D) (inc.), 85%
- John Featherman (R), 15.1%
- 2010 Election to the US House[19]
- Bob Brady (D) (inc.), unopposed
- 2008 Election to US House[19]
- Bob Brady (D) (inc.), 91%
- Mike Muhammad (R), 9%
- 2006 Election to the US House[19]
- Bob Brady (D) (inc.), unopposed
- 2004 Election to the US House[19]
- Bob Brady (D) (inc.), 86%
- Deborah Williams (R), 13%
- 2002 Election to the US House[19]
- Bob Brady (D) (inc.), 86%
- Marie Delaney (R), 12%
- 2000 Election to US House[19]
- Bob Brady (D) (inc.), 88%
- Steve Kush (R), 12%
- 1998 Election to US House[19]
- Bob Brady (D) (inc.), 81%
- William Harrison (R), 17%
- 1998 Special Election to US House[19]
- Bob Brady (D), 74%
- William Harrison (R), 13%
- Juanita Norwood (Reform), 11%
References
- ^ "Mayor's Choice Elected City Democratic Chief". The Philadelphia Inquirer. June 17, 1986. Retrieved January 16, 2012.
- ^ Robert Brady profile
- ^ Freepages profile at ancestry.com
- ^ Robert Brady House of Representatives website
- ^ Committee of Seventy (2009-12-21). "2009 Citizen's Guide" (PDF). 2009 Citizen's Guide. The Committee of Seventy, Philadelphia, PA 19103. Retrieved 2009-12-21.
- ^ [1], Robert Brady on Abortion. Retrieved November 23, 2010.
- ^ [2], Representative Robert Brady. Retrieved November 23, 2010.
- ^ a b c d e f [3], Interest Group Ratings. Retrieved November 23, 2010. Cite error: The named reference "projectvotesmart" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
- ^ [4], U.S. VISIT. Retrieved November 24, 2010.
- ^ Lucey, Catherine (January 25, 2007). "Starting Today, he's in the race". Philadelphia Daily News. Archived from the original on September 27, 2007. Retrieved 2007-04-13.
- ^ "Court Ruling Keeps Brady On Mayoral Primary Ballot". Associated Press. April 13, 2007. Archived from the original on February 9, 2008. Retrieved 2007-04-13.
- ^ Brady profile, Phialdelphia Inquirer
- ^ "PA's Best and Worst County Chairs". PoliticsPA. The Publius Group. 2001. Archived from the original on 2003-02-12.
- ^ "The PA Report "Power 75" List" (PDF). Pennsylvania Report. Capital Growth, Inc. January 31, 2003. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2006-09-02.
{{cite web}}:|archive-date=/|archive-url=timestamp mismatch; 2006-09-20 suggested (help) - ^ Roarty, Alex; Sean Coit (January 2010). "Pennsylvania Influencers". Politics Magazine. pp. 44–49. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2010-02-07.
- ^ "PA Report 100". Pennsylvania Report. Capital Growth, Inc. January 23, 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2009-08-14.
- ^ Anthony Williams quote re Brady
- ^ "2012 General Election Official Returns". November 6, 2012. Retrieved December 19, 2012.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Pennsylvania House District 1". Chicago Sun-Times. Associated Press. Retrieved 2008-04-07.
External links
Media related to Bob Brady at Wikimedia Commons
- Congressman Robert A. Brady official U.S. House site
- Robert A. Brady for Congress
- Robert Brady at Curlie
- Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
- Financial information (federal office) at the Federal Election Commission
- Legislation sponsored at the Library of Congress
- Profile at Vote Smart
- Entry at The Political Graveyard