People in the news

Michael E. Capuano (D-Mass.)

U.S. Representative (since January 1999)

(Capuano Facebook page)

Why He Matters

Capuano's 8th district in Massachusetts is a starmaker: It was once held by former President and ex-Rep. John F. Kennedy (D) and later by former House Speaker Tip O'Neill (D).

A former tax attorney, Capuano is a reliable liberal vote. He co-founded and co-chairs the Congressional Caucus on Sudan. In 2006, he traveled to Darfur and urged ambassadors and United Nations leaders to send peacekeeping troops to the region.

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Background

At a Glance

Career History: Mayor of Somerville, Mass. (1989-1998); Practicing attorney (1984-1990); Somerville Alderman-At-Large (1985-1989)
Birthday: January 9, 1952
Hometown: Somerville, Mass.
Alma Mater: Dartmouth College, B.A. 1973; Boston College, J.D. 1977
Spouse: Barbara
Religion: Catholic

Committees: Transportation and Infrastructure , Financial Services
DC Office: 1414 Longworth House Office Building, Washington, DC 20515, Phone: 202-225-5111
District Offices: 110 First Street, Cambridge, MA 02141, Phone: 617-621-6208
Email
Website

Path to Power

The grandson of an Italian immigrant and son of a Somerville mayor, Michael E. Capuano was born in Somerville, Mass., on January 9, 1952. He attended Somerville High School, and went on to earn a bachelor's degree from Dartmouth College in 1973 and a law degree from Boston College in 1977.

Capuano was a tax attorney and local politician for almost two decades before joining Congress in 1999. As a lawyer, he worked for the taxation committee in the Massachusetts legislature and for the Boston law firm Joyce and Joyce.

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In 1977, Capuano was elected alderman of Somerville's 5th ward, like his father before him. From 1985 to 1989, he acted as alderman-at-large for Somerville, and from 1990 to 1998, he served as Somerville's mayor, a position his father had also held.

Capuano and his wife Barbara Teebagy live in Somerville, Mass. The couple has two sons, Michael and Joseph.

1998 Election

Capuano was elected to Congress in November 1998. When incumbent Rep. Joseph Kennedy (D-Mass.) announced his retirement earlier that year, Capuano was one of ten Democrats to throw his hat in the ring. In an extremely close race, Capuano secured the Democratic nomination with 23 percent of the vote.

He went on to easily win the general election in Massachusetts' 8th district with 82 percent of the vote. The 8th district, which includes Somerville, Cambridge and about 70 percent of Boston, is a reliable Democratic seat and he shold have no trouble holding it.

U.S. House

Capuano has earned a reputation as an outspoken liberal. He's served on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee since he joined Congress in 1999. The position has allowed him to procure more than $5 billion for Massachusetts projects, including the Silver Line and the Longfellow Bridge.

In 2006, Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) placed Capuano in charge of rewriting House Caucus rules. The appointment came not long after The Boston Globe reported that Capuano's 2005 corporate-sponsored trip to Brazil was one of the most expensive of that year.

Capuano put that task on hold in November 2006 when Pelosi chose him to head the transition team to install the Democratic House majority. The transition proved rocky as several of Capuano's rules changes needed revamping, and he and Pelosi backed then-Rep. John Murtha's (D-Pa.) (D-Md.) failed challenge for House majority leader over winner Steny Hoyer.

Despite earlier rough spots, Pelosi once again demonstrated her faith in Capuano the following January when she tapped him to chair the Special Task Force on Ethics Enforcement. In March 2008, a permanent Office of Congressional Ethics was established outside of Congress.

In 2009, Capuano made an unsuccessful bid to succeed late Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass). Voter turnout in the special Democratic primary was especially low. Less than one-in-five registered voters cast ballots, and Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley secured the Democratic nomination.

Capuano has not faced any serious reelection challenges for his House seat and has often run unopposed.

The Issues

Known for his outspoken and often humorous style, Capuano is a reliable liberal who voted along party lines 98 percent of the time in the 111th Congress. He supports abortion rights and same-sex marriage and is against the death penalty.

As a member of the House Financial Services Committee, Capuano has frequently taken on banking and auto executives, chastising them for their roles in the 2008-2009 economic crisis. In February 2009, he compared bank executives to bank robbers and suggested they should be thrown in jail.

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"All or most of you engaged in all or some of the activities that created this crisis," Capuano said. "You come here today on your bicycles after buying Girl Scout cookies and helping out Mother Teresa. You're saying, 'We're sorry. We didn't mean it. We won't do it again. Trust us.' America doesn't trust you any more."

Capuano voted for the February 2009 stimulus plan and fall 2008 bailout funding. He doesn't support Bush tax cuts and voted against President Obama's 2010 tax plan, saying it didn't help the middle class.

In 2007, Capuano sponsored a bill that would expand federal terrorism risk insurance coverage to include group life insurance.

Foreign Affairs

Capuano co-founded and co-chairs the Congressional Caucus on Sudan. He traveled to the region in February 2006 and urged the House to intervene in the alleged genocide in Darfur. Capuano convinced the House to approve $50 million in peacekeeping aid.

"I believe American troops should be on the ground in Sudan, not because we want to be there, but somebody's got to do it," Capuano said.

Capuano has been an outspoken critic of the Iraq war since it began. He opposed authorizing force in the country and against funding American operations there. In 2007, Capuano co-sponsored legislation banning permanent bases in Iraq.

While he initially favored an American military presence in Afghanistan after 9/11, Capuano's support for the war there has wavered. He wants the Obama administration to outline and explain its goals in the country and provide an exit strategy.

Energy and the Environment

Capuano supports legislation that reduces greenhouse gas emissions and creates a greener economy. He co-sponsored the 2007 Energy Act, which required better fuel efficiency in new automobiles. He also voted for loans for energy efficiency, expanded offshore drilling regulations, June 2009 cap-and-trade legislation that passed the House and the "cash-for-clunkers" program that allowed people to exchange older cars for more fuel efficient vehicles..

Health Care

A proponent of universal health coverage, Capuano voted for President Obama's 2010 health-care overhaul. He also supported 9/11 health-care compensation legislation, and he co-sponsored a bill that gives mental health parity with physical health.

The Network

Capuano co-founded and co-chairs the Congressional Sudan Caucus. In the 112th Congress, his co-chairs are Rep. Donald Payne (D-N.J.), Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas) and Rep. Frank Wolf (R-Va.). Capuano also co-chairs the Congressional Former Mayors Caucus alongside Rep. Michael Turner (R-Ohio).

Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Capuano have a close working relationship. Pelosi tapped Capuano in 2006 to head the Democrat House transition team and in 2007 to chair the Special Task Force on Ethics Enforcement. She also endorsed Capuano in his short-lived 2009 senatorial run.

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Additional Resources