Michael R. McNulty
Encyclopedia
Michael Robert "Mike" McNulty (born September 16, 1947) is a politician
from the U.S. state
of New York
. He served in the United States House of Representatives
from 1989 to 2009, initially representing New York's 23rd congressional district
and then, after redistricting, New York's 21st congressional district
. He is a Democrat
, and was chairman of the House Subcommittee on Social Security in the 110th Congress.
and attended public schools, and La Salle Institute. He graduated from the College of the Holy Cross
in Worcester, MA. He worked as an insurance broker prior to entering politics.
from 1977 to 1982. McNulty was elected to the New York State Assembly in 1982.
announced his withdrawal from the race due to health issues. McNulty was selected to replace him on the ballot and was easily elected in what was then a heavily Democratic district, one of the few reliably Democratic areas in Upstate New York. He was reelected nine more times without serious difficulty. The district was renumbered as the 21st District after the 1990 census.
In 2004, he was challenged by Republican
/Libertarian
Warren Redlich
, who would later run for governor in 2010. McNulty faced Redlich again in 2006, and was reelected with 78% of the vote - his widest margin. http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2006/pages/results/states/NY/. He also had a primary challenge in 1996 by Lee H. Wasserman, in which he won by a closer margin than he ever had in the general election.
's Contract with America
than any other Northeastern Democrat. He was considered moderate on social issues (for instance, he is pro-life
on abortion), but very liberal on economic issues.
McNulty voted for the War in Iraq, but since changed his stance and cosponsored Representative John Murtha
's resolution for a phased withdrawal from the region.
McNulty was known for being one of the less prolific members of the House; he has said he does not plan to run for any higher offices or leadership posts within the House. Additionally, he was known for being relatively quiet and not saying much on the floor. Roll Call
once jokingly named him Chair of the Obscure Caucus.
However, he was a vocal critic of President George W. Bush
's Social Security
reform plan.
apologized on the floor the next morning for prematurely gaveling down the vote. As of May 2008, a bi-partisan investigation panel including Bill Delahunt
and Mike Pence
is working to determine whether or not the bill must be recommitted. A year later, the panel found that the Democrats did indeed improperly tally the vote.
and the Working Families Party
, third parties in New York.
McNulty received an "A" on the Drum Major Institute
's 2005 Scorecard on middle-class issues.
, who had served alongside McNulty in the State Assembly from 1983 to 1989, won the Democratic party's nomination to replace McNulty, and subsequently won the general election in November. Despite being an open seat, this was not considered a competitive election, as the 21st is considered the most Democratic district in the state outside of the New York City
-based districts and Western New York
. Both Congressional Quarterly
and the Cook Political Report
rated the race for the 21st's open seat as "Safe Democratic."
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
from the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. He served in the United States 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...
from 1989 to 2009, initially representing New York's 23rd congressional district
New York's 23rd congressional district
The 23rd Congressional District of New York is New York's northernmost congressional district for the United States House of Representatives. The district includes all or parts of Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Fulton, Hamilton, Jefferson, Lewis, Madison, Oneida, Oswego and St. Lawrence counties. It...
and then, after redistricting, New York's 21st congressional district
New York's 21st congressional district
The 21st Congressional District of New York is a congressional district for the United States House of Representatives that contains most of the Capital District of New York. It includes all or parts of Albany, Fulton, Montgomery, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady, and Schoharie counties...
. He is a 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...
, and was chairman of the House Subcommittee on Social Security in the 110th Congress.
Early life
McNulty was born in Troy, New YorkTroy, New York
Troy is a city in the US State of New York and the seat of Rensselaer County. Troy is located on the western edge of Rensselaer County and on the eastern bank of the Hudson River. Troy has close ties to the nearby cities of Albany and Schenectady, forming a region popularly called the Capital...
and attended public schools, and La Salle Institute. He graduated from the College of the Holy Cross
College of the Holy Cross
The College of the Holy Cross is an undergraduate Roman Catholic liberal arts college located in Worcester, Massachusetts, USA...
in Worcester, MA. He worked as an insurance broker prior to entering politics.
Early political career
McNulty was mayor of Green Island, New YorkGreen Island, New York
Green Island is a coterminous town and village in Albany County, New York, USA some 8 miles north of Albany, New York. Green Island is one of only five such town-village amalgams in New York. The population was 2,620 at the 2010 census...
from 1977 to 1982. McNulty was elected to the New York State Assembly in 1982.
Elections
In 1988, Congressman Samuel S. Stratton of New York's 23rd congressional districtNew York's 23rd congressional district
The 23rd Congressional District of New York is New York's northernmost congressional district for the United States House of Representatives. The district includes all or parts of Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Fulton, Hamilton, Jefferson, Lewis, Madison, Oneida, Oswego and St. Lawrence counties. It...
announced his withdrawal from the race due to health issues. McNulty was selected to replace him on the ballot and was easily elected in what was then a heavily Democratic district, one of the few reliably Democratic areas in Upstate New York. He was reelected nine more times without serious difficulty. The district was renumbered as the 21st District after the 1990 census.
In 2004, he was challenged by Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
/Libertarian
Libertarian Party of New York
The Libertarian Party of New York is a political party in the United States active in the state of New York. It is the recognized affiliate of the national Libertarian Party....
Warren Redlich
Warren Redlich
Warren Redlich is a lawyer and politician from Guilderland, New York. In 2004 and 2006, Redlich ran for US Congress for the 21st District of New York State as a Republican. In 2005, he briefly served as the Political Director of the Libertarian Party of New York. He is currently a town councilman...
, who would later run for governor in 2010. McNulty faced Redlich again in 2006, and was reelected with 78% of the vote - his widest margin. http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2006/pages/results/states/NY/. He also had a primary challenge in 1996 by Lee H. Wasserman, in which he won by a closer margin than he ever had in the general election.
Committees
- Ways & Means Committee
- Subcommittee on Social Security (Chairman)
- Subcommittee on Income Security and Family Support
- At-Large Whip
Positions
McNulty was more moderate since his earlier days in the House, when he favored more of Newt GingrichNewt Gingrich
Newton Leroy "Newt" Gingrich is a U.S. Republican Party politician who served as the House Minority Whip from 1989 to 1995 and as the 58th Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives from 1995 to 1999....
's Contract with America
Contract with America
The Contract with America was a document released by the United States Republican Party during the 1994 Congressional election campaign. Written by Larry Hunter, who was aided by Newt Gingrich, Robert Walker, Richard Armey, Bill Paxon, Tom DeLay, John Boehner and Jim Nussle, and in part using text...
than any other Northeastern Democrat. He was considered moderate on social issues (for instance, he is pro-life
Pro-life
Opposition to the legalization of abortion is centered around the pro-life, or anti-abortion, movement, a social and political movement opposing elective abortion on moral grounds and supporting its legal prohibition or restriction...
on abortion), but very liberal on economic issues.
McNulty voted for the War in Iraq, but since changed his stance and cosponsored Representative John Murtha
John Murtha
John Patrick "Jack" Murtha, Jr. was an American politician from the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. Murtha, a Democrat, represented Pennsylvania's 12th congressional district in the United States House of Representatives from 1974 until his death in 2010....
's resolution for a phased withdrawal from the region.
McNulty was known for being one of the less prolific members of the House; he has said he does not plan to run for any higher offices or leadership posts within the House. Additionally, he was known for being relatively quiet and not saying much on the floor. Roll Call
Roll Call
Roll Call is a newspaper published in Washington, D.C., United States, from Monday to Thursday when the United States Congress is in session and on Mondays only during recess. Roll Call reports news of legislative and political maneuverings on Capitol Hill, as well as political coverage of...
once jokingly named him Chair of the Obscure Caucus.
However, he was a vocal critic of President George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
's Social Security
Social Security (United States)
In the United States, Social Security refers to the federal Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance program.The original Social Security Act and the current version of the Act, as amended encompass several social welfare and social insurance programs...
reform plan.
Controversies
McNulty presided over a vote to recommit an agricultural appropriations bill on the night of August 2, 2007 that would have prevented illegal immigrants from receiving food stamps. McNulty claimed the vote tied 214-214 with members changing their votes after time had expired, McNulty gaveled down a vote and tallied it 212-216 against the motion, while Republicans argued the House screen tally vote was 215-213 in favor to recommit. Republicans chanted "Shame" and later walked out of the House in protest. McNulty and Steny HoyerSteny Hoyer
Steny Hamilton Hoyer is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1981. The district includes a large swath of rural and suburban territory southeast of Washington, D.C.. He is a member of the Democratic Party....
apologized on the floor the next morning for prematurely gaveling down the vote. As of May 2008, a bi-partisan investigation panel including Bill Delahunt
Bill Delahunt
William D. Delahunt is a former U.S. Representative for , serving from 1997 to 2011. He is a member of the Democratic Party. Delahunt did not seek re-election in 2010, and left Congress in January 2011. He was replaced by Norfolk County District Attorney Bill Keating...
and Mike Pence
Mike Pence
Michael Richard "Mike" Pence is the U.S. Representative for Indiana's , and previously the , serving since 2001. The 6th district covers much of Eastern Indiana. He is a member of the Republican Party....
is working to determine whether or not the bill must be recommitted. A year later, the panel found that the Democrats did indeed improperly tally the vote.
Rankings/endorsements
He was consistently endorsed by both the Conservative PartyConservative Party of New York
The Conservative Party of New York State is an American political party active in the state of New York. It is not part of any nationwide party, nor is it affiliated with the American Conservative Party, which it predates by over 40 years....
and the Working Families Party
Working Families Party
The Working Families Party is a minor political party in the United States founded in New York in 1998. There are "sister" parties to the New York WFP in Connecticut, Massachusetts, South Carolina, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Vermont and Oregon, but there is as yet no national WFP...
, third parties in New York.
McNulty received an "A" on the Drum Major Institute
Drum Major Institute
The Drum Major Institute for Public Policy is a non-profit American progressive public policy institute founded during the Civil Rights Movement...
's 2005 Scorecard on middle-class issues.
Retirement
In October 2007, McNulty announced that he would not seek an 11th term in Congress. Paul TonkoPaul Tonko
Paul David Tonko is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2009. He is a member of the Democratic Party. The district is located in the heart of the Capital District...
, who had served alongside McNulty in the State Assembly from 1983 to 1989, won the Democratic party's nomination to replace McNulty, and subsequently won the general election in November. Despite being an open seat, this was not considered a competitive election, as the 21st is considered the most Democratic district in the state outside of the New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
-based districts and Western New York
Western New York
Western New York is the westernmost region of the state of New York. It includes the cities of Buffalo, Rochester, Niagara Falls, the surrounding suburbs, as well as the outlying rural areas of the Great Lakes lowlands, the Genesee Valley, and the Southern Tier. Some historians, scholars and others...
. Both Congressional Quarterly
Congressional Quarterly
Congressional Quarterly, Inc., or CQ, is a privately owned publishing company that produces a number of publications reporting primarily on the United States Congress...
and the Cook Political Report
Cook Political Report
The Cook Political Report is an independent, non-partisan online newsletter that analyzes elections and campaigns for the United States House of Representatives, the United States Senate, Governor's offices and the American Presidency. The Cook Political Report is led by a staff of five...
rated the race for the 21st's open seat as "Safe Democratic."
See also
- New York's 21st congressional districtNew York's 21st congressional districtThe 21st Congressional District of New York is a congressional district for the United States House of Representatives that contains most of the Capital District of New York. It includes all or parts of Albany, Fulton, Montgomery, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady, and Schoharie counties...
- United States House of RepresentativesUnited States House of RepresentativesThe 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...
- Green Island, New YorkGreen Island, New YorkGreen Island is a coterminous town and village in Albany County, New York, USA some 8 miles north of Albany, New York. Green Island is one of only five such town-village amalgams in New York. The population was 2,620 at the 2010 census...
- Samuel S. Stratton
- Conservative PartyConservative Party of New YorkThe Conservative Party of New York State is an American political party active in the state of New York. It is not part of any nationwide party, nor is it affiliated with the American Conservative Party, which it predates by over 40 years....
- Working Families PartyWorking Families PartyThe Working Families Party is a minor political party in the United States founded in New York in 1998. There are "sister" parties to the New York WFP in Connecticut, Massachusetts, South Carolina, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Vermont and Oregon, but there is as yet no national WFP...
External links
- U.S. Congressman Michael McNulty official House site
- Profile at SourceWatchSourceWatchSourceWatch is an internet wiki site that is a collaborative project of the liberal Center for Media and Democracy...
CongresspediaCongresspediaCongresspedia was a wiki that ran from April 2006 to March 2009, designed to hold information on the workings of the U.S. Congress. It was fully contained within SourceWatch, a larger wiki meant to document the people, organizations and issues shaping the public agenda. The Congresspedia portion of...