Bob Brady
Encyclopedia
Robert A. "Bob" Brady is the U.S. Representative
for , 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 are a county chairman.
. His father was an Irish American
police officer
and his mother was Italian American
. He graduated from St. Thomas More High School and didn't go to college. Brady went to work as a carpenter
and became a part of the leadership of the Carpenters’ union. He is still a member of the Carpenters' and Teachers' unions.
Brady was elected a precinct committeeman
for the Democratic Party
in 1968. When his wardleader, 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. Since June 1986, Brady has been the Chairman of the Philadelphia Democratic Party. Brady has also served as a staff aide in the Philadelphia City Council
and a staff aide in the Pennsylvania State Senate
.
Brady co-teaches a course at the University of Pennsylvania
. He was also a member of the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission
from 1991 until his election as a Congressman.
resigned from the House of Representatives
upon being named U.S. Ambassador to Italy
by Billl Clinton, Brady was amazingly 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.
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 to obtain abortions across state lines without parental consent. He voted against the Stupak-Pitts Amendment, proposed by fellow Pennsylvanian Republican representative Joseph Pitts, which prohibits health insurance companies from offering abortion coverage in a plan to any citizen. He also opposed the recent proposal to prohibit federally funded abortion services. 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 have rated him one hundred percent on his pro-choice voting record.
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. 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. His progressive stances on budget, spending, and taxes have earned him high ratings from interest groups like Citizens for Tax Justice, an organization advocating fair taxes for middle and low-income families.
Immigration
U.S. Representative 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. He does continue to support Homeland Security Appropriations for border protection, in addition to the U.S. Visitor and Immigrant Status Technology project. This government program works towards improving the nation's capability to keep track of immigrants and control their entry and exit. Minority rights’ interest groups such as the National Latino Congreso/William C. Velásquez Institute, the American Immigration Lawyers Association, and the Federation for American Immigration Reform consistently rate Brady from fifty to one hundred percent for his strong stance on immigration.
to announce his candidacy for mayor. 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 off the ballot due to not disclosing his pension. Another challenge was brought by a group of voters, and supported by mayoral candidates Tom Knox
and Dwight Evans. On April 13 Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court
ruled that Brady's failure to not list parts of his income should not keep him off the primary ballot.
On 2007 May 15, Brady lost the Democratic Mayoral primary to Michael Nutter.
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
. In 2003, the Pennsylvania Report
said that Brady has "managed effectively to balance his multiracial district and city Democrat party." 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."
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."
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
for , serving since 1998, and the ranking
Ranking member
In United States politics, a ranking member is the second-most senior member of a congressional or state legislative committee from the majority party. Another usage refers to the most senior member of a congressional or state legislative committee from the minority party. This second usage, often...
Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
on the United States House Committee on House Administration
United States House Committee on House Administration
The United States House Committee on House Administration deals with the general administration matters of the United States House of Representatives.-Jurisdiction:...
since 2007. He has been the Chairman to the Philadelphia Democratic Party since 1986, and is one of the few members of congress who are a county chairman.
Early life, education, and pre-congressional career
Brady was born in Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaPennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
. His father was an Irish American
Irish American
Irish Americans are citizens of the United States who can trace their ancestry to Ireland. A total of 36,278,332 Americans—estimated at 11.9% of the total population—reported Irish ancestry in the 2008 American Community Survey conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau...
police officer
Police officer
A police officer is a warranted employee of a police force...
and his mother was Italian American
Italian American
An Italian American , is an American of Italian ancestry. The designation may also refer to someone possessing Italian and American dual citizenship...
. He graduated from St. Thomas More High School and didn't go to college. Brady went to work as a carpenter
Carpentry
A carpenter is a skilled craftsperson who works with timber to construct, install and maintain buildings, furniture, and other objects. The work, known as carpentry, may involve manual labor and work outdoors....
and became a part of the leadership of the Carpenters’ union. He is still a member of the Carpenters' and Teachers' unions.
Brady was elected a precinct committeeman
Precinct committeeman
A Precinct Committeemen, or PC, is the name for a office and the name of the official that organizes a voting precinct for a political party.There are state, ward and township party organizations, but the basic unit of U.S...
for the Democratic Party
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
in 1968. When his wardleader, City Council President George X. Schwartz was convicted and imprisoned in the Abscam
Abscam
Abscam was a United States Federal Bureau of Investigation sting operation run from the FBI's Hauppauge, Long Island, office in the late 1970s and early 1980s...
scandal, Brady was elected to succeed him as Democratic Leader of the 34th Ward, a position that he still holds today. Since June 1986, Brady has been the Chairman of the Philadelphia Democratic Party. Brady has also served as a staff aide in the Philadelphia City Council
Philadelphia City Council
The Philadelphia City Council, the legislative body of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, consists of ten members elected by district and seven members elected at-large. The council president is elected by the members from among their number...
and a staff aide in the Pennsylvania State Senate
Pennsylvania State Senate
The Pennsylvania State Senate has been meeting since 1791. It is the upper house of the Pennsylvania General Assembly, the Pennsylvania state legislature. The State Senate meets in the State Capitol building in Harrisburg. Senators are elected for four year terms, staggered every two years such...
.
Brady co-teaches a course at the University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
. He was also a member of the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission
Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission
The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission was created in 1937 to construct, finance, operate and maintain the Pennsylvania Turnpike. The commission consists of five members. Four members are appointed by the Governor of Pennsylvania. The fifth member is the Pennsylvania Secretary of Transportation.In...
from 1991 until his election as a Congressman.
Elections
When 17-year U.S. Congressman Thomas M. FogliettaThomas M. Foglietta
Thomas Michael "Tom" Foglietta was United States Ambassador to Italy and anAmerican politician from the state of Pennsylvania, most notable for his time in the House of Representatives from 1981 to 1997....
resigned from the House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
upon being named U.S. Ambassador to Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
by Billl Clinton, Brady was amazingly 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
Brady is considered one of the most Progressive members of the House of Representatives.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 to obtain abortions across state lines without parental consent. He voted against the Stupak-Pitts Amendment, proposed by fellow Pennsylvanian Republican representative Joseph Pitts, which prohibits health insurance companies from offering abortion coverage in a plan to any citizen. He also opposed the recent proposal to prohibit federally funded abortion services. 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 have rated him one hundred percent on his pro-choice voting record.
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. 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. His progressive stances on budget, spending, and taxes have earned him high ratings from interest groups like Citizens for Tax Justice, an organization advocating fair taxes for middle and low-income families.
Immigration
U.S. Representative 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. He does continue to support Homeland Security Appropriations for border protection, in addition to the U.S. Visitor and Immigrant Status Technology project. This government program works towards improving the nation's capability to keep track of immigrants and control their entry and exit. Minority rights’ interest groups such as the National Latino Congreso/William C. Velásquez Institute, the American Immigration Lawyers Association, and the Federation for American Immigration Reform consistently rate Brady from fifty to one hundred percent for his strong stance on immigration.
Committee assignments
- Committee on Armed ServicesUnited States House Committee on Armed Servicesthumb|United States House Committee on Armed Services emblemThe U.S. House Committee on Armed Services, commonly known as the House Armed Services Committee, is a standing committee of the United States House of Representatives...
- Subcommittee on Military Personnel
- Committee on House AdministrationUnited States House Committee on House AdministrationThe United States House Committee on House Administration deals with the general administration matters of the United States House of Representatives.-Jurisdiction:...
(Ranking Member)- Subcommittee on ElectionsUnited States House Administration Subcommittee on ElectionsThe House Administration Subcommittee on Elections is a subcommittee within the House Committee on House Administration. The subcommittee was created for the 110th Congress, along with the Subcommittee on Capitol Security at the urging of the late Rep. Juanita Millender-McDonald, then the...
(Ranking Member)
- Subcommittee on Elections
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 FattahChaka Fattah
Chaka Fattah is the U.S. representative for , serving since 1995. He is a member of the Democratic Party...
to announce his candidacy for mayor. On March 6, Brady failed to list his city pension
Pension
In general, a pension is an arrangement to provide people with an income when they are no longer earning a regular income from employment. Pensions should not be confused with severance pay; the former is paid in regular installments, while the latter is paid in one lump sum.The terms retirement...
on the financial-interests statement he filed with his nominating petitions. Within a week Milton Street
Milton Street
Thomas Milton Street, Sr. is an entrepreneur, former State Senator, and convicted felon from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and the brother of former Philadelphia mayor John Street...
filed a petition challenge to remove Brady off the ballot due to not disclosing his pension. Another challenge was brought by a group of voters, and supported by mayoral candidates Tom Knox
Tom Knox
Tom Knox is an American businessman and politician. He was second in the Democratic nomination for Mayor of Philadelphia on May 15, 2007. He is notable for his pledge to spend up to fifteen million dollars of his own money in the race. After considering a run in 2008 for state treasurer, Knox...
and Dwight Evans. On April 13 Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court
Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania is one of two Pennsylvania intermediate appellate courts. The Commonwealth Court's headquarters is in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The Superior Court of Pennsylvania is the other intermediate appellate court in the Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System...
ruled that Brady's failure to not list parts of his income should not keep him off the primary ballot.
On 2007 May 15, Brady lost the Democratic Mayoral primary to Michael Nutter.
Power and influence
When he ran for congress in a special election in 1998, he was unopposed in the Democratic primary despite the fact that the district was a Democratic stronghold. 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."In 2001, the political website PoliticsPA
PoliticsPA
- Content :The website focuses on news aggregation, linking to major political news making headlines across the state. The editors write occasional features, like the weekly "Up & Down" scorecard and one-off lists like "Harrisburg's Smartest Staffer" and "Best Dressed Lobbyist" lists...
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
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
. In 2003, the Pennsylvania Report
Pennsylvania Report
The Pennsylvania Report is an independent bi-weekly subscription-based political newspaper published in Pennsylvania. It is "widely read by the state's political junkies." It was founded in 1985 by David Buffington, a former public relations worker for the Pennsylvania Government.It provides...
said that Brady has "managed effectively to balance his multiracial district and city Democrat party." In 2009, the Pennsylvania Report
Pennsylvania Report
The Pennsylvania Report is an independent bi-weekly subscription-based political newspaper published in Pennsylvania. It is "widely read by the state's political junkies." It was founded in 1985 by David Buffington, a former public relations worker for the Pennsylvania Government.It provides...
noted that "[w]hile he still would like to be Mayor, Brady’s influence and power in Philadelphia remains strong."
State Senator Anthony Williams
Anthony H. Williams
Anthony Hardy Williams is a Democratic member of the Pennsylvania State Senate, representing the 8th District since 1998...
said he is "probably one of the most politically astute politicians in the last 20 years, and that's rarefied air." J. Whyatt Mondesire
J. Whyatt Mondesire
J. Whyatt Mondesire was a reporter at The Philadelphia Inquirer during the early years. He now owns the Philadelphia Sun newspaper, and is president of the Philadelphia chapter of the NAACP....
, head of the Philadelphia chapter of the NAACP, said no one can match "Brady's relationships with politicians across the Democratic landscape."
Electoral history
- 2006 Election to the US House
- Bob Brady (D) (inc.), unopposed
- 2004 Election to the US House
- Bob Brady (D) (inc.), 86%
- Deborah Williams (R), 13%
- 2002 Election to the US House
- Bob Brady (D) (inc.), 86%
- Marie Delaney (R), 12%
- 2000 Election to US House
- Bob Brady (D) (inc.), 88%
- Steve Kush (R), 12%
- 1998 Election to US House
- Bob Brady (D) (inc.), 81%
- William Harrison (R), 17%
- 1998 Special Election to US House
- Bob Brady (D), 74%
- William Harrison (R), 13%
- Juanita Norwood (Reform), 11%
External links
- Congressman Robert A. Brady official U.S. House site
- Re-Elect Robert A. Brady official campaign site
- Profile at SourceWatchSourceWatchSourceWatch is an internet wiki site that is a collaborative project of the liberal Center for Media and Democracy...
- Entry at The Political GraveyardThe Political GraveyardThe Political Graveyard is a website and database that catalogues information on more than 224,000 American political figures and political families, along with other information.-History:...