Michael Steel

Why He Matters

As the minority party in both chambers of Congress, Republicans have little power to influence which bills pass and how they read. Instead, they must try to shape the debate and turn American voters against the Democrats’ policy objectives. Steel is one of the leaders in that effort. As press secretary for House Minority Leader John A. Boehner (R-Ohio), Steel helps shape the House GOP message and preaches the Republican gospel loud and wide.

Steel started his Washington career as a reporter at the National Journal. But after earning his master’s in journalism, he switched sides, working as a press secretary and as communications director for the House Republican Policy Committee and House Ways and Means Committee before teaming up with Boehner.
 

Path to Power

Steel was born in Durham, N.C., in 1977. He earned his undergraduate degree from the University of North Carolina in 1999, where he studied journalism. After graduation, he pursued a career as a political reporter in Washington, D.C.. He worked for the National Journal where he “got sent to cover the least popular story of the day on Capitol Hill” for two years before returning to the Columbia Graduate School of Journalism, where he earned his M.S. in 2003.Interview with WhoRunsGov

Steel returned to Washington soon after, but this time, he was giving the quotes not getting them. He took a job as press secretary for Rep. John Shadegg (D-Ariz.). He campaigned for Sen. Tom Coburn in 2004.Noble, Sean, “Trouble in Paradise,” Noble Thinking, March 6, 2009 Steel explained his decision to join Shadegg’s office this way: “I decided I enjoyed being on the other side of the telephone,” he said.Interview with WhoRunsGov
In 2005, Steel joined the House Republican Policy Committee, which Shadegg chaired, as communications director. He headed to then-Rep. Jim McCrery’s (R-La.) office as press secretary in 2006. Steel joined the powerful House Ways and Means Committee in 2007 as communications director when McCrery became ranking member on that powerful tax-writing panel.

In January 2008, after McCrery announced he was retiring, Steel was named to Boehner’s staff as press secretary. He replaced staffer Brian Kennedy, who left for a position as vice president of Responsible Resources, a group that advocates for effective energy and natural resource policies.Phillips, Lauren, “People on the Move,” National Journal Politico reporter Anne Schroeder Mullins joked that Steel’s “natty attire” helped him score the gig.Schroeder, Anne, "He's a Boehner Guy Now," Politico, Dec. 28, 2007

The Issues

“You don’t get better than Mike Steel when it comes to messaging,” wrote conservative blogger Sean Noble in March 2009.Noble, Sean, “Trouble in Paradise,” Noble Thinking, March 6, 2009 It’s a good thing – this legislative session, the House Republicans must sell their ideas to the American public while in the minority. As a chief spokesman for the House GOP cause, Steel is part of a high-profile staff that pushes daily stories, responds to dust-ups and crafts long-term GOP messaging. He has said that having the Democrats in power is “a great opportunity to contrast the Republican vision.”The Almanac of the Unelected, 2008 edition

Steel must also brush up on the minority leader’s positions on issues like health care, national security and taxes. “I spend a lot of my times going to meetings and talking to policy staff so I know what to say when the phone rings,” Steel said in 2007.The Almanac of the Unelected, 2008 edition

Steel is unpopular with liberal groups for sending an email to reporters and political leaders informing them that a federal agency had said it was going to spend some of the stimulus money it received  on "wetland restoration in the San Francisco Bay Area — including work to protect the salt marsh harvest mouse," wrote Steel in his email. The ensuing rumor – that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) had lobbied for millions of dollars for mouse protection - was untrue, but it made the rounds online and on cable.Media Matters for America web site 

The Network

Steel works closely with Kevin Smith and Antonia Ferrier, his team members in the communications office. He also partners with Paula Nowakowski, Boehner’s chief of staff.

He is also in frequent contact with Brad Dayspring, communications director for House GOP Whip Eric Cantor (R-Va.); Matt Lloyd, communications director for Rep. Mike Pence; and Josh Holmes, staff director for the Senate Repbulican Communications Center.Interview with WhoRunsGov

He first met his boss Boehner at a black-tie dinner. When his old boss at the House Ways and Means Committee (then-ranking member Jim McCrery) retired, he jumped to Boehner’s office.Interview with WhoRunsGov