With Trump meeting today, Richard Neal of Mass. enters tax overhaul fray

U.S. Rep. Richard E. Neal, D-Springfield, center, talks with State Rep. Sean Garballey, D-Arlington, left, and State Rep. John D. Keennan, D-Salem, right, before a public hearing held by the legislative redistricting committee in Springfield, Mass., Saturday, March 26, 2011. The latest census figures were released, causing speculation that western Massachusetts could possibly get squeezed in redistricting because of the population losses. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill) / OUTTAKe 0329 — Representative Richard Neal. –Jessica Hill / Associated Press

By

The Boston Globe

February 2, 2017

He’s known as the insider’s insider, a veteran relationship-builder on Capitol Hill, a quiet dealmaker.

Now the low-key, pragmatic Massachusetts lawmaker, Representative Richard Neal, is facing a challenge that could win him a new title: Miracle-worker.

By virtue of 30 years seniority in the House and the respect he has won among colleagues, the low-key Springfield congressman is the top Democrat on the Ways and Means Committee just as Republicans are readying a push for major tax cuts and a reform of the byzantine US tax code.

Read the complete story at BostonGlobe.com.

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TOPICS: Politics Boston Globe Local News Massachusetts Finance

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Boston, MA - 8/15/2017 - Shattered glass remained from the Holocaust Memorial which was recently vandalized for a second time. - (Barry Chin/Globe Staff), Section: Metro, Reporter: Bethany Ao, Topic: 16memorial, LOID: 8.3.3430791324.

Teen accused of vandalizing Holocaust memorial faces judge August 15, 2017 | 11:46 PM

US Senator Ed Markey speaks at Copley Square in January.

Mass. politicians respond to Trump blaming 'both sides' for Charlottesville violence August 15, 2017 | 6:10 PM

President Donald Trump speaks in the lobby of Trump Tower, Tuesday, Aug. 15, 2017 in New York. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

Defiant Trump insists anew: Blame both sides for Charlottesville violence August 15, 2017 | 5:33 PM

Authorities investigating death of MMA fighter after Plymouth match August 15, 2017 | 3:15 PM

Dr. Anil Punjabi

A Boston doctor saved a woman from an apparent overdose on an airplane August 15, 2017 | 2:27 PM

Police investigate after flag is found burning at Arlington business August 15, 2017 | 2:06 PM

Boston, MA -8/7/2017 - At right is defendant Robert Cafarelli (cq) and his attorney, Carmine Lepore (cq), second from right.

Defendants and attorneys arrive at the John Joseph Moakley United States Courthouse (cq), in their Teamsters extortion trial. Top Chef host Padma Lakshmi (cq) also arrived, and is expected to testify.
Photo by Pat Greenhouse/Globe Staff
Topic: 08topchef
Reporter: Milton Valencia

4 Teamsters acquitted in Boston in 'Top Chef' extortion case August 15, 2017 | 11:24 AM

What we know about the 'free speech' rally planned this weekend on Boston Common August 15, 2017 | 11:18 AM

President Donald Trump delivers a statement in the Diplomatic Reception Room of the White House, in Washington, Aug. 14, 2017. Trump bowed to overwhelming pressure that he personally condemn white supremacists who incited bloody demonstrations in Charlottesville, Va., over the weekend — labeling their racists views “evil” after two days of equivocal statements. (Tom Brenner/The New York Times)

Oops? Trump retweets critic saying 'he's a fascist' August 15, 2017 | 10:12 AM

The new MBTA General Manger/CEO Luis Ramirez, left, and Secretary of Transportation and MassDOT CEO Stephanie Pollack took questions from the media during a press conference at the State Transportation Building on Tuesday.

MBTA names former GE executive as new general manager August 15, 2017 | 10:04 AM

‘Top Chef’ jury tripped up on one member’s presumption of guilt August 15, 2017 | 9:11 AM

Old pilings in Maine divide a town. Are they a treasure or a nuisance? August 15, 2017 | 9:10 AM

police tape

Maine driver rescued from burning car by firefighters, Samaritans August 15, 2017 | 8:58 AM

policelights

Police: Vermont woman left 2-year-old in car with drug user August 15, 2017 | 8:56 AM

Mr. Jingles

New Hampshire police catch pet iguana on the run that nips cyclist August 15, 2017 | 8:40 AM

Far right plans its next moves with a new energy August 15, 2017 | 8:20 AM

Former Rhode Island House Speaker Gordon Fox speaks with members of the media as he departs federal court, Thursday, June 11, 2015, in Providence, R.I. Fox was sentenced Thursday to three years in prison for corruption, bringing to a close the federal investigation into a man once considered the most powerful person in state government. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

Former Rhode Island House Speaker to leave prison, enter halfway house August 15, 2017 | 8:10 AM

Protesters topple Confederate statue in North Carolina August 15, 2017 | 4:03 AM

Speakers at ‘free speech’ rally dropping out August 14, 2017 | 10:20 PM

A passerby, left, and a law enforcement official, right, stand near broken glass at the New England Holocaust Memorial on Monday, Aug. 14, 2017, in Boston. Police say a person is in custody for allegedly vandalizing the memorial. It's the second time the memorial has been damaged this summer. Police say the suspect smashed a glass panel Monday. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

Holocaust memorial in Boston vandalized again August 14, 2017 | 8:30 PM

A look inside the fall and winter 1956 Sears catalog reflects a golden age for the struggling retailer.

The incredible shrinking Sears August 14, 2017 | 7:59 PM

In this courtroom sketch, pop singer Taylor Swift speaks from the witness stand during a trial in Denver on Aug. 10.

Jury takes Taylor Swift's side in groping lawsuit August 14, 2017 | 7:28 PM

Holocaust Memorial in Boston damaged for second time this summer August 14, 2017 | 7:18 PM

A makeshift memorial of flowers and a photo of victim Heather Heyer, sits in Charlottesville, Virginia, Sunday.

Google, GoDaddy boot neo-Nazi site that mocked rally victim August 14, 2017 | 7:16 PM

Boston, MA -- 8/14/2017 - Mayor Walsh speaks at a press conference held to address a controversial rally planned Saturday for Boston Common. (Jessica Rinaldi/Globe Staff)

Topic: 15rally

Marty Walsh: Boston won't welcome 'hate groups' seeking to rally August 14, 2017 | 6:30 PM

Boston, MA -- 8/14/2017 - A yacht called Fountainhead is parked in Boston Harbor. (Jessica Rinaldi/Globe Staff)

Topic:

Another gigantic yacht docks in Boston Harbor August 14, 2017 | 5:10 PM

These rescued sea turtles are ready to return home August 14, 2017 | 3:34 PM

Boston Mayor Marty Walsh speaks, Tuesday, July 11, 2017, during a rededication ceremony for the repaired New England Holocaust Memorial in Boston. One of the glass panes in the memorial was damaged by a vandal last month. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)

Watch: Marty Walsh and officials hold press conference on planned ‘free speech’ rally August 14, 2017 | 3:04 PM

President Donald Trump speaks about the deadly white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Va., Monday, Aug. 14, 2017, in the Diplomatic Room of the White House in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Bowing to pressure, Trump denounces hate groups by name August 14, 2017 | 12:24 PM

An alligator lurking by the road? No, just a plastic toy August 14, 2017 | 12:19 PM