11th District Representative Reflects on 20-Year Congressional Career and Medicare Battle
Gathering at Norwood’s VFW Hall on Saturday, some 200 members of the Massachusetts Chapter of the National Association of Retired Federal Employees bade farewell to retiring U.S. Representative James Burke (D-Milton). Stepping down after serving 20 years representing the 11th Congressional District, Burke kept the atmosphere lighthearted, joking during his speech: “This really isn’t a time for goodbyes, because I’ll be joining the ranks of this organization on Jan. 1.”
State chapter President Paul Doherty praised Burke as “a great friend of the retired” for his steadfast advocacy of Social Security, federal pensions, and senior welfare. Reflecting on his legislative achievements, Burke noted that his proudest accomplishment was the historic fight to pass Medicare:“President Kennedy had been unable to get the bill through, but finally LBJ twisted some arms and it carried 13-12 in the Ways and Means Committee.” He also highlighted his instrumental roles in securing passage of Medicaid and the Social Security survivors benefits legislation.
Warnings on Social Security and Memories of Tip O’Neill
Addressing the retirees, Burke issued a firm call to action: “Stay organized and stay strong… There are those who would like to destroy Social Security and other retirement provisions. They would like to forget the contributions retirees have made to this country.”
Looking back across a political life that began when he entered the Massachusetts state legislature in 1937, Burke reminisced about starting alongside fellow freshman lawmaker Thomas P. “Tip” O’Neill. Recalling O’Neill’s election as Speaker of the House in 1977, Burke chuckled, “I looked at Tip and told him, ‘We’ve gotten away with it for 40 years, haven’t we.'”
As for his post-congressional plans, the Milton Democrat stated he intended to spend time gardening and working with charitable organizations supporting retirees, the blind, and cerebral palsy research. He also cautioned that the incoming Congress would face stiff economic challenges, chief among them balancing the foreign trade deficit.
Archival Note: This article has been dynamically reconstructed from the original public record print archives of the Patriot Ledger
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