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  Flanagan, Michael Patrick
CANDIDATE DETAILS
AffiliationRepublican  
 
NameMichael Patrick Flanagan
Address
Chicago, Illinois , United States
EmailNone
WebsiteNone
Born November 09, 1962 (61 years)
Contributor*crickets chirp*
Last ModifedRBH
Nov 03, 2017 01:03am
Tags Army - Catholic -
InfoMichael Patrick Flanagan, the first Republican Congressman from Chicago in more than thirty years, was one of the 73 GOP first-term Representatives who had given the Republican Party control of Congress for the first time since Dwight Eisenhower was in the White House. As the only Chicagoan in the House majority, Congressman Flanagan's importance representing his constituents' interests is evident. Congressman Flanagan is proud of what he was able to do for Chicago during the 104th Congress.

Congressman Flanagan, a Chicago native, was born in 1962. A graduate of St. Gregory Grammar School and Lane Tech High School, he attended Loyola University in Chicago under a United States Army Academic Scholarship. After earning his Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science, he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the United States Army Field Artillery. Congressman Flanagan was selected to study Greek at the Defense Language Institute in Monterey, California, and was then assigned to Greece as a Combat Arms Officer, specializing in atomic weapons. During his four years of active duty, he was promoted to First Lieutenant and was on the list of those selected for promotion to Captain when he left active duty to attend law school.

Congressman Flanagan returned to civilian life and to Loyola University in 1989. Upon completion of his course work, Congressman Flanagan passed the bar exam, notably on the first sitting. Before he began practicing law, he volunteered to return to active duty, assigned to Headquarters, U.S. Armed Forces Central Command, at Fort McPherson, Georgia. He continued to serve as a Captain in the U. S. Army Reserves.

Returning from military service a second time, Flanagan was ready to begin his career in earnest. In 1993, while in the private practice of law, he decided to devote all his time and energy to what became his successful 1994 election campaign.

Congressman Flanagan served on the Committees on Judiciary, Government Reform and Oversight, and Veterans' Affairs. He also sat on a number of subcommittees and was Vice Chairman of the Judiciary's Subcommittee on the Constitution and Vice Chairman of the Government Reform and Oversight's Subcommittee on Government Management, Information and Technology.

His leadership among the freshman class has been recognized in several instances. He was co-chairman of the House Republican Urban Caucus and was appointed to the House-Senate conference committee for the Telecommunications Act of 1996. Congressman Flanagan was one of only 18 freshman House members given the distinction of "True Blue Reformer" for his consistent votes in favor of strong gift and lobbying reform measures. Additionally, the Illinois State Society elected him its Vice President for 1996-97.

Congressman Flanagan was instrumental in restoring to a transportation appropriations bill since passed by the House funds for the local mass transit agency, the Chicago Transit Authority (June 1996). His interest in the Immigration Bill passed by the House (March 1996) was predicated primarily on the fact that more than a quarter of the people living in the 5th Congressional District (26%, 1990 US Census) are foreign-born. He spoke out for the family unity provisions of the bill and vigorously worked against the proposed requirement for a national data base of all persons (commonly known as the National Identity Card) -- citizen and non-citizen alike -- legally qualified to work.

The Public Housing Act President Clinton signed (March, 1996) contained key portions of an earlier-approved House bill co-sponsored by Congressman Flanagan. The legislation allows public housing agencies to screen applicants more narrowly and provides greater latitude in evicting those who are known drug- or alcohol-abusers.

Interesting in 1996, Congressman Flanagan received the prestigious "Friend Of Agriculture" award from the Illinois Farm Bureau because of his outstanding voting record on agriculture -- the first such honor for a Chicagoan in living memory.

Flanagan succeeded (July, 1996) in including in House-passed legislation funds for rebuilding eight miles of Lake Michigan shoreline. He has strongly supported effective crime-fighting bills and legislation to protect and increase the local job base. Congressman Michael Patrick Flanagan stressed dedication to constituents through the services his district office provided and through truly reflective and responsive representation in Washington.

In 1996, Congressman Flanagan was not returned to office in an overwhelming year of success for the opposition party. Since that time, Congressman Flanagan has been involved in a variety of activities including a book about his experiences in the historic 104th Congress.


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RACES
  11/05/1996 IL District 5 Lost 35.87% (-28.24%)
  03/19/1996 IL District 5 - R Primary Won 69.24% (+50.89%)
  11/08/1994 IL District 05 Won 54.43% (+8.86%)
  03/15/1994 IL District 5 - R Primary Won 38.48% (+17.16%)
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