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Michael Capuano on Principles & Values

Democratic Representative (MA-8)


Proud to say I'm a liberal

"I'm running because, and I'm very proud to say it, even with the cameras here, I'm a liberal," Capuano said to applause, his blue eyes flashing, as he stood above the crowd.

Coakley did not call herself a liberal in her speech, but she told reporters outside that she considers herself a liberal. Then she qualified it. "I think that these labels in Massachusetts particularly don't mean as much as they might," she said. "I think you have to look at people's records."

Source: Boston Globe coverage of 2009 MA Senate race Oct 13, 2009

Heritage is Italian and Irish; born & raised in Somerville

Michael Capuano was born in Somerville, Massachusetts in 1952. One grandfather was an orphan born in Italy; the other was the son of Irish immigrants.

Mike graduated from Somerville High School in 1969, received a Bachelor of Arts from Dartmouth College in 1973 and a law degree from Boston College Law School in 1977. He passed the Massachusetts Bar in 1977. Mike met his wife, Barbara Teebagy Capuano in a Somerville High School chemistry class. Mike and Barbara have two sons, Michael and Joseph.

Source: Campaign website, www.mikecapuano.com, "About" Oct 1, 2009

Served as mayor of Somerville; led MA Mayors' Association

Mike is currently serving his sixth term as a Member of Congress from the 8th Congressional District. Prior to his election in 1998, Mike was Mayor of Somerville for five terms. He was elected Mayor in 1990. In 1998, he served as President of the Massachusetts Municipal Association, a statewide organization that represents the interests of the Commonwealth's 351 communities. He is also past President of the Massachusetts Mayors' Association
Source: Campaign website, www.mikecapuano.com, "About" Oct 1, 2009

Religious affiliation: Catholic.

Capuano : religious affiliation:

The Adherents.com website is an independent project and is not supported by or affiliated with any organization (academic, religious, or otherwise).

What’s an adherent?

The most common definition used in broad compilations of statistical data is somebody who claims to belong to or worship in a religion. This is the self-identification method of determining who is an adherent of what religion, and it is the method used in most national surveys and polls.

Such factors as religious service attendance, belief, practice, familiarity with doctrine, belief in certain creeds, etc., may be important to sociologists, religious leaders, and others. But these are measures of religiosity and are usually not used academically to define a person’s membership in a particular religion. It is important to recognize there are various levels of adherence, or membership within religious traditions or religious bodies. There’s no single definition, and sources of adherent statistics do not always make it clear what definition they are using.

Source: Adherents.com web site 00-ADH11 on Nov 7, 2000

Member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus.

Capuano adopted of the Congressional Progressive Caucus:

The members of the Progressive Caucus share a common belief in the principles of social and economic justice, non-discrimination, and tolerance in America and in our relationships with other countries. We also seek to embody and give voice to national priorities which reflect the interests and needs of all the American people, not just the wealthy and the powerful. Our purpose is to present thoughtful, positive, practical solutions to the problems confronting America and the world. In the post-Cold War era, we believe our nation’s priorities must change with the times and reflect new realities. Accordingly, we support curbs on wasteful, inefficient government spending at the Pentagon and elsewhere, a more progressive tax system in which wealthier taxpayers and corporations pay their fair share, adequate funding for social programs that are designed to extend help to low and middle-income Americans in need, and trade policies that increase the exports of more American products and encourage the creation of jobs and investment in America.

Source: Congressional Progressive Caucus website 01-CPC0 on Oct 9, 2001

Rated 83% by the AU, indicating support of church-state separation.

Capuano scores 83% by the AU on church-state separation

OnTheIssues.org interprets the 2006 AU scores as follows:

About the AU (from their website, www.au.org):

Americans United for Separation of Church and State (AU) is a religious liberty watchdog group based in Washington, D.C. Founded in 1947, the organization educates Americans about the importance of church-state separation in safeguarding religious freedom. AU is a nonpartisan organization dedicated to preserving the constitutional principle of church-state separation as the only way to ensure religious freedom for all Americans.

Americans United is a national organization with members in all 50 states. We are headquartered in Washington, D.C., and led by the Rev. Barry W. Lynn, executive director. AU has more than 75,000 members from all over the country. They include people from all walks of life and from various faith communities, as well as those who profess no particular faith. We are funded by donations from our members and others who support church-state separation. We do not seek, nor would we accept, government funding.

Source: AU website 06n-AU on Dec 31, 2006

Member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus.

Capuano is a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus:

The members of the Progressive Caucus share a common belief in the principles of social and economic justice, non-discrimination, and tolerance in America and in our relationships with other countries. We also seek to embody and give voice to national priorities which reflect the interests and needs of all the American people, not just the wealthy and the powerful. Our purpose is to present thoughtful, positive, practical solutions to the problems confronting America and the world. In the post-Cold War era, we believe our nation’s priorities must change with the times and reflect new realities. Accordingly, we support curbs on wasteful, inefficient government spending at the Pentagon and elsewhere, a more progressive tax system in which wealthier taxpayers and corporations pay their fair share, adequate funding for social programs that are designed to extend help to low and middle-income Americans in need, and trade policies that increase the exports of more American products and encourage the creation of jobs and investment in America.

Source: Congressional Progressive Caucus website 07-CPC0 on Nov 6, 2007

Other candidates on Principles & Values: Michael Capuano on other issues:
MA Gubernatorial:
Deval Patrick
MA Senatorial:
Joe L. Kennedy
John Kerry
Martha Coakley
Scott Brown

Newly elected in 2008 & seated in 2009:
AK:Begich (D)
CO:Udall (D)
ID:Risch (R)
MN:Franken (D)
NC:Hagan (D)
NE:Johanns (R)
NH:Shaheen (D)
NM:Udall (D)
OR:Merkley (D)
VA:Warner (D)

Newly appointed in 2009;
special election in 2010:

DE:Kaufman (D)
CO:Bennet (D)
IL:Burris (D)
MA:Brown (R)
NY:Gillibrand (D)

Announced retirement as of 2010:
DE:Kaufman (D)
FL:Martinez (R)
KS:Brownback (R)
MO:Bond (R)
OH:Voinovich (R)


Up for 6-year term in 2010:
(13 Democrats; 15 Republicans)
AK:Murkowski (R)
AL:Shelby (R)
AR:Lincoln (D)
AZ:McCain (R)
CA:Boxer (D)
CT:Dodd (D)
GA:Isakson (R)
HI:Inouye (D)
IA:Grassley (R)
ID:Crapo (R)
IN:Bayh (D)
KY:Bunning (R)
LA:Vitter (R)
MD:Mikulski (D)
NC:Burr (R)
ND:Dorgan (D)
NH:Gregg (R)
NV:Reid (D)
NY:Schumer (D)
OK:Coburn (R)
OR:Wyden (D)
PA:Specter (R)
SC:DeMint (R)
SD:Thune (R)
UT:Bennett (R)
VT:Leahy (D)
WA:Murray (D)
WI:Feingold (D)
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Energy/Oil
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Foreign Policy
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Health Care
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Page last updated: Jan 28, 2010