born february american politician massachusetts 1st congressional district member democratic_party city mayor springfield massachusetts currently dean massachusetts delegation house_of_representatives springfield native graduated received master degree graduating involved politics working assistant mayor springfield served president teaching high school history courses local colleges served mayor springfield overseeing period economic growth political influence head start contributions nearly ran election house_of_representatives member chairman influential figure house economic policy dedicated career ireland relations maintaining american involvement northern_ireland peace process won generally liberal voting record considered moderate issues abortion trade early life education academic career born february worcester massachusetts oldest children younger sisters raised springfield mother housewife father maternal grandparents northern_ireland paternal grandparents ireland mother died heart attack attending father alcoholic died younger sisters moved grandmother later aunt forced rely checks grew graduating high school springfield assistance survivor benefits graduated bachelor_of_arts political science attended graduating master arts public administration early career taught history local government began political career chairman democratic presidential candidate election campaign assistant springfield mayor elected named president city_council following year named delegate presidential candidate city taught history gave lectures plans challenge democratic incumbent mayor springfield pressure led retire elected mayor elected mayor oversaw period significant economic growth million development investment city surplus city budget worked strengthen springfield appearance pushing revive preserve city historic homes initiating influential reduce litter elections ran united_states house_of_representatives massachusetts 2nd congressional district term democratic incumbent retired alerted impending retirement allowing mayor head start campaign raised campaign contributions collected signatures district retirement formally announced unopposed democratic primary general election opponent communist_party candidate defeated percent vote won election term springfield mayor reflecting sentiments unfair advantage previous election ran challenger democratic primary campaign false rumor spread financial situation won primary easily unopposed general election winning percent vote popularity threatened house banking scandal dozens narrowly defeating democratic opponents challenged republican independent won percent vote poll taken mid october ahead percentage points went spend nearly weeks election defeat general election featured party candidate received vote actually received vote little electoral opposition challenged easily dispatched percent vote ran unopposed won democratic primary challenged positions anti choice anti gun unopposed general election faced republican opponent elections won margin terms congress represented district centered springfield stretching far east southern western suburbs worcester massachusetts lost congressional district census bulk territory including home springfield merged 1st district held fellow democrat prospect incumbent incumbent contest retired new 1st democratic old 2nd reelected difficulty tenure generally liberal political record given percent liberal americans voting record organization named year heroes given percent lifetime rating based votes united states voted democratic_party leadership percent bills united states congress voted democratic party leadership time member congress large whip house democrats chair group aiming advance regional interests new_england economy budget influential committee posts economic policy focus career success mixed served terms served banking reform law drafted cautioned president proposal negatively affect small businesses minority owned businesses introduced amendment require reports lending businesses adopted moved currently serves chairman member previously served oversight late 2000s analysts considered likely chairman wake departure began actively seeking post june pursuing invited campaign contributors person weekend fundraiser drew fire boston_globe criticized capital money culture according politics america long standing legislative priorities tax code long advocated alternative minimum tax believing effects reached low income led unsuccessful movement reform successfully pushed exempt child tax credit affected congress exemption permanent urging voted tax cuts saying force millions priority eliminate tax favor higher income individuals lead proponent bill require federal contractors pay federal taxes workers hired offshore shell headquarters bill passed houses congress unanimously signed law trade policy moderate record supporting lower trade barriers voted voted fast track bills gave president authority negotiate trade deals amendments congress voted favor united_states peru trade promotion agreement despite democratic opposition strong supporter program moved trade challenge president attempts partially pushed proposal automatically employees individual retirement accounts successfully lobbied president barack_obama include proposed budget outline foreign policy descended irish nationalist grandparents sides advocate irish concerns congressional career pushing united_states involved northern_ireland peace process chair hoc chairman considered candidate united_states ambassador ireland september group met action ensure lasting peace reached invited president inauguration barack_obama january named irish americans magazine received international leadership award opponent iraq war saying war based false intelligence voted original invasion opposed president bush request send additional troops cited veterans affairs priority domestic policy longtime advocate health care reform involved major health care reform efforts working unsuccessful clinton health care plan balanced desire health care reform interests major health insurance medical companies district achieving compromise allowing insurance companies charge small businesses higher later involved writing house health care reform bill chairman hand developing bill financing plan explained priorities address pre existing conditions pocket expenses making sure people don lose health care lose job despite support act spoke preference approach health care reform saying allow reasonable debate coming relatively catholic district conservative record issue abortion massachusetts representatives said opposed funding abortion wade restrict thought abortion restrictions late term abortion given voting pattern sides mixed guess american people voted ban act intact extraction abortion procedure illegal cases debate house health care reform bill voted favor amendment restricting government funding abortion social issues moderate record supports proposed constitutional amendment ban flag twice voted amendment ban sex marriage personal life roman catholic lives springfield wife née conway children addition duties congressman teaches journalism course called politician journalist
Richard Neal