Robert A. Brady (born April 7, 1945) is an American politician who served as the U.S. representative for from 1998 to 2019. He was the ranking Democrat and Chairman of the United States House Committee on House Administration from 2007 to 2019. He has served as Chairman of the Philadelphia Democratic Party since 1986 and is a registered lobbyist for NBC Universal and Independence Blue Cross.
Early life, education, and pre-congressional career Brady was born in Philadelphia, the son of Enez (née Caterini) and Robert G. Brady, a police officer. His father was of Irish descent, and his maternal grandparents were immigrants from Italy. His mother Enez was also a Democratic committee member. He graduated from St. Thomas More High School and Martin Technical School but did not attend college, instead going to work as a carpenter and member of Carpenters Local 8."December 22, 1983 (Page 20 of 183)." Philadelphia Inquirer (1969-2001), Dec 22, 1983. . He became a part of the leadership of the union and remains a member of several unions.
He was elected a division committeeman for the Democratic Party in 1968. In 1974, his mentor and ward leader George X. Schwartz got him a job as a sergeant-at-arms in Philadelphia City Council. When Schwartz stepped down as ward leader in 1982 and eventually went to jail in the wake of the Abscam scandal, Brady was elected to succeed him as Democratic Leader of west Philadelphia's 34th Ward, a position that he still holds today.
In 1983 Brady ran for an at-large seat on Philadelphia City Council. He was endorsed by Frank Rizzo and lost in the primary election. After Wilson Goode won the 1983 Philadelphia mayoral election, Brady joined Goode's staff as liaison with organized labor.Acker, Carolyn. "Goode Appoints 6 to Personal Staff." Philadelphia Daily News (PA), December 21, 1983: 32. NewsBank: Access World News – Historical and Current. https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&docref=news/0EB29615E3101E1F . In 1986 he worked as an economic consultant on City Council's Economic Development Committee."December 5, 1986 (Page 42 of 161)." Philadelphia Inquirer (1969-2001), Dec 05, 1986. .
Since June 1986, Brady has been the Chairman of the Philadelphia Democratic Party.
Brady has been a professor at the University of Pennsylvania where he instructs graduate students in management and political science. In April 1991 he was appointed to the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission by Governor Bob Casey Sr., a position he held until his election to United States Congress in 1998.
In 1999 he married Debra Savarese, a former Philadelphia Eagles cheerleader.
U.S. House of Representatives
Elections
In November 1997, 17-year U.S. Congressman Tom Foglietta resigned from his seat in the House of Representatives after being named U.S. Ambassador to Italy by Bill Clinton.Mondics, Chris. "`Humbled' Bob Brady Is Sworn In \ The First District's New Cognressman Takes Over for Thomas Foglietta." Philadelphia Inquirer, The (PA), May 22, 1998: B01. NewsBank: Access World News – Historical and Current. https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&docref=news/0EB330014DD9F8DE . After a 1992 redistricting, the First District was becoming a majority Black district. Foglietta had defeated Black candidates in Democratic primaries in 1994 and 1996 and political observers assumed that his successor would be Black.Infield, Tom. "Old-Fashioned Politics Propels Victory by Brady \ He Didn't Need Slick Ads. He Has People Skills, Powerful Supporters, Money and Organization." Philadelphia Inquirer, The (PA), May 21, 1998: B01. NewsBank: Access World News – Historical and Current. https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&docref=news/0EB32FFF73565810 . In February 1998, Brady announced he would be running in the special election for Foglietta's vacated seat, despite not living within the district.Bunch, William. "Brady Eyeing Foglietta's Seat \ Incumbent Expected to Be Named Ambassador." Philadelphia Daily News (PA), January 27, 1997: 14. NewsBank: Access World News – Historical and Current. https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&docref=news/0EB2A3BAE5ED4730 . When asked his position on NAFTA, Brady said "I don't know what that was about." When asked his position on abortion Brady said he had no position.Bunch, William. "Brady Leads the Bunch \ Dem Chief An Early Favorite For Congress ." Philadelphia Daily News (PA), February 5, 1998: 12. NewsBank: Access World News – Historical and Current. https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&docref=news/0EB2A4AA0F4B6B14 . On May 11, Brady left a debate between the congressional candidates early to attend a ward meeting.and Russ Eshleman, Tom Infield. "Congress Candidates Debate." Philadelphia Inquirer, The (PA), May 12, 1998: B01. NewsBank: Access World News – Historical and Current. https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&docref=news/0EB32FF5F4472CC5 .
The special election and primary election were held on May 19, 1998, with Brady running in both elections. He faced three opponents in the special election and three in the primary election. Brady won the special election with 74% of the vote and the primary election with 59% of the vote. His closest challenger in the Democratic primary was State Representative Andrew Carn, who received 21% of the vote.Bunch, William. "Brady Is D.C.-Bound \ Double Win in 1st District." Philadelphia Daily News (PA), May 20, 1998: 09. NewsBank: Access World News – Historical and Current. https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&docref=news/0EB2A4F1169ED6B9 . Brady was sworn in by Newt Gingrich on May 21, 1998.
In his first general election in November 1998 he defeated Republican William M. Harrison, winning 81% of the vote. In his victory speech he defended President Bill Clinton, saying "We have business to take care of in Washington and it's not this business of embarrassing our President."Blivaiss, Naomi. "Brady 1st in Pa.'s 1st District." Daily Pennsylvanian, The: University of Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, PA), November 4, 1998. NewsBank: Access World News – Historical and Current. https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&docref=news/1376F47CB5075528 .
Brady represented a heavily Democratic district and easily won each of his ten full terms, receiving at least 81% of the vote in each race and twice running unopposed. Republican Deborah Williams ran against Brady twice, in 2004 and 2016.
Tenure
In his 20 years in Congress, Brady was the primary sponsor of 14 pieces of legislation that were enacted into law and co-sponsored 200 bills that became law. Legislation that he co-sponsored mostly covered the areas of government operation, crime and law enforcement and transportation and public works. He voted against free trade deals and against the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002. As a member of the House Armed Services Committee, Brady was one of a select few permitted to view photos of the corpse of Osama bin Laden. "Oh he's dead," said Brady, "It's quite graphic. His brain and everything are coming out."
During the course of his congressional career, Brady estimated he helped bring $15.5 billion in federal funds to Philadelphia.
Corruption case In November 2017, it was revealed that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) was investigating Brady for payments that Brady's campaign made in 2012 to an opponent in order to get the opponent to withdraw from the race. In January 2018, facing multiple declared primary opponents, he announced that he would not seek reelection. He said that his decision had nothing to do with the ongoing corruption probe, but that he instead wanted to spend more time with his family. As a result of these investigations, longtime Brady aides Ken Smuckler and Donald "D.A." Jones were both convicted of violating federal law and each sentenced to over a year in prison for their role in facilitating and covering up the $90,000 payment to a former Brady primary opponent.
Political positions Brady is pro-choice and voted against President Bush's restrictions on funding to family planning groups in 2001.Report Syndicate, Roll Call. "How They Voted." Sunday News (Lancaster, PA), May 20, 2001: P-4. NewsBank: Access World News – Historical and Current. https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&docref=news/0EC2FA208059DD40 . Over the years, he has supported minors' abortion rights, voting in 2005 for the right for those under 18 years of age to obtain abortions across state lines without parental consent., Robert Brady on Abortion. Retrieved November 23, 2010. He voted against the Stupak-Pitts Amendment, which prohibits health insurance companies from offering abortion coverage in a plan to any citizen. He opposed a proposal to prohibit federally funded abortion services., Representative Robert Brady. Retrieved November 23, 2010. 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 rated him 100%., Interest Group Ratings. Retrieved November 23, 2010.
Brady voted in favor of the Small Business Lending Fund and Tax Law Amendment. The September 2010 amendment provides loans to small business through financial institutions., Key Vote: Small Business Lending Fund and Tax Law Amendments. Retrieved November 23, 2010. He supported the Small Business Jobs Bill in October 2010.
Brady 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., Key Vote: Secure Fence Act of 2006. Retrieved November 23, 2010. He supports Homeland Security Appropriations for border protection and The U.S. Visitor and Immigrant Status Technology project, which works towards improving the capability of the government to keep track of immigrants and control their entry and exit., U.S. Visit. Retrieved November 24, 2010. Groups such as the National Latino Congreso/William C. Velásquez Institute, the American Immigration Lawyers Association, and the anti-immigration Federation for American Immigration Reform have rated Brady between 50% and 100% for his pro-immigration political stances.
Attention to constituents
Brady claims to have once refused to receive a phone call from President Bill Clinton because he was busy helping a woman who had called seeking someone to come over and fix her toilet.
Committee assignments Committee on Armed Services Subcommittee on Military Personnel Committee on House Administration (Ranking Member) Subcommittee on Elections (Ranking Member)
Caucus memberships Congressional Arts Caucus House Baltic Caucus
Philadelphia Democratic City Committee
Brady has been chair of the Philadelphia Democratic Party since June 1986, when he replaced previous chair Joseph Smith. In his first bid for chair, Brady had the support of Wilson Goode, Lucien Blackwell, and the majority of Philadelphia's 69 Democratic ward leaders, who felt Philadelphia's Democratic Party was suffering from fragmentation, low-morale and financial trouble after losing the District Attorney race to Republican Ron Castille.Hill, Tommie St. "Dem Leader to Exit Soon." Philadelphia Tribune (1912-2001), Jan 03, 1986. He was elected by a vote of 44–23.
Wilson Goode credited Brady for his victory over Frank Rizzo in the 1987 Philadelphia mayoral election, saying "without Bob Brady being the party chair, it was possible I could have lost the election.""April 17, 1994 (Page 347 of 414)." Philadelphia Inquirer (1969-2001), Apr 17, 1994.