Springfield Democtratic Congressman Richard Neal says he and the new Republican House Speaker, Paul Ryan, share common ground on at least one issue: tax reform. As members of the ways and means committee, Neal says he worked closely with Ryan on attempts to change the nation’s tax code. now that Ryan is speaker, Neal says he hopes his colleague will stay on the issue.

“We all agree the current tax system in America is under-productive and inefficient,” Neal says. “It has not been reworked since 1986 and the problem is we all agree on tax reform in general, it’s when you get to the specifics that support starts to fall off.”

Ryan, of Wisconsin, was elected speaker late last month. Neal made his comments Monday at an appearance in Pittsfield.