Michael R. McNulty

Mike McNulty
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York's 21st district
In office January 6, 1989 – January 3, 2009
Preceded by	Samuel S. Stratton
Succeeded by	Paul Tonko
Born	September 16, 1947 (1947-09-16) (age 62) Troy, New York
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Nancy McNulty
Residence	Green Island, New York
Alma mater	Loyola University Rome Center College of the Holy Cross
Occupation	insurance broker
Religion	Roman Catholic
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Michael Robert "Mike" McNulty (born September 16, 1947) is a politician from the U.S. state of New York, formerly 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.

Early life

McNulty was born in Troy, New York and attended public schools, and La Salle Institue. He graduated from the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, MA. He worked as an insurace broker prior to entering politics.

Political career

McNulty was mayor of Green Island, New York from 1977 to 1982. McNulty was elected to the New York State Assembly in 1982. In 1988, Congressman Samuel S. Stratton of New York's 23rd congressional district 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. In 1993, after two terms in congress, a redistricting made McNulty part of New York's 21st congressional district instead. He was re-elected another six timesin that district without much difficulty. In 2004, he was challenged by Republican Warren Redlich. McNulty faced Redlich again in 2006, and was reelected with 78% of the vote - his widest margin. [2]. 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.

Committee assignments

• 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 Gingrich's Contract with America than any other Northeastern Democrat.^{[citation needed]} He was considered moderate on social issues (for instance, he is pro-life on abortion), but very liberal on economic issues.^{[citation needed]}

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^[1].

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^[2].

However, he was a vocal critic of President George W. Bush's Social Security reform plan.^{[citation needed]}

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 Hoyer 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.^[3]

Rankings/endorsements

He was consistently endorsed by both the Conservative Party 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.

Retirement

In October 2007, McNulty announced that he would not seek an 11th term in Congress.^{[4] [5] [6]} Paul Tonko, 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."

See also

• New York's 21st congressional district
• United States House of Representatives
• Green Island, New York
• Samuel S. Stratton
• Conservative Party
• Working Families Party

References

External links

• U.S. Congressman Michael McNulty official House site

• Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• Voting record maintained by The Washington Post
• Campaign finance reports and data at the Federal Election Commission
• Campaign contributions at OpenSecrets.org
• Biography, voting record, and interest group ratings at Project Vote Smart
• Issue positions and quotes at On The Issues
• Staff salaries, trips and personal finance at LegiStorm.com
• Current Bills Sponsored at StateSurge.com
• Congressional profile at GovTrack.us
• Profile at SourceWatch Congresspedia