Richard Neal Is the Policy Shaper

Responsibilities: Neal chairs arguably the most powerful committee in the House of Representatives. Ways and Means has control over tax policy, Social Security, Medicare and trade. As chairman, he sets the agenda for his committee and is responsible for shepherding legislation through the panel.

Current priorities: Oppose efforts to privatize Social Security or make big cuts to Medicare. Shore up multiemployer pension plans. Make it easier for people to set aside money for retirement by working on the federal level to build something like the “work-and-save” programs set up by some states.

Background: Neal has appreciated the importance of Social Security since he was in high school. His parents died when he was a teenager, and Social Security survivor benefits allowed him and his two younger sisters to live together with their grandmother and, later, an aunt. Neal has been in politics for most of his career. After briefly teaching high school history and government, at 23 he became an assistant to the mayor of Springfield, Mass. He was elected to the Springfield City Council at 28 and mayor at 34. He has been in Congress since 1989. He still lectures at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

What he says:

On prescription drugs: “The challenge is, how do you stabilize prices and not kill innovation? We all agree that breakthrough medications have been transformative. But innovation won't do you any good if you can't afford it."

On the role of government: “Private sector creates wealth, but government creates opportunity."

On Social Security: “When you look at the efficiency of the system, it's pretty remarkable. I would always oppose any notion of privatizing Social Security. Keeping a good, strong safety net is very, very important."

On Medicaid: “It has quickly evolved from a program for the poor to now what has effectively become long-term care in America."