In collaboration with the staff of Rep. Patrick Murphy’s office Rep. Patrick Erin Murphy FL-18 Research Book November 2013 (Minor updates March 2014) CONFIDENTIAL This document is formatted for double sided printing. Blank pages are intentional. Introduction This confidential report summarizes research on Rep. Patrick Murphy. It is the product of analysis of news items, votes, legislation, letters, court records, personal records, trend data, campaign finance records, and other public records, and incorporates the research completed in 2011 that focuses on Coastal Construction. The purpose of this report is to identify key accomplishment and vulnerability themes for use in communications and to identify additional areas for research. Before using material in this report, please be certain to understand and verify the facts. Please contact Eric Smith at True Stories Research with any questions or for verification of items prior to use. Eric Smith True Stories Research 1997 Sadler Rd #16912 Fernandina Beach, FL 32034 eric@truestoriesresearch.com 904.572.4840 A Note On Perspective & Construction Rep. Murphy is a vulnerable, targeted Democrat seeking re-election in a district that Mitt Romney won, and in which Republicans enjoy a registration advantage. He is unlikely to draw a primary challenger and is sure to be opposed by a much more mainstream and less controversial Republican than Allen West. He does not need to play to Democratic primary voters, and to win he will need the moderate Romney voters again. Therefore, some points that might normally be portrayed as strengths for a Democrat may be seen as vulnerabilities amongst those crucial voters. Likewise, some points that might normally be considered vulnerabilities for a Democrat can be presented as strengths to those voters. This report is structured with those realities in mind. It presents many of Rep. Murphy’s votes with Republicans as strengths, tempered somewhat for a general audience by placing them under the rubric of bipartisan cooperation and practicality, which can appeal to voters on both sides of the aisle and to independents if properly framed. Likewise it presents some of his key strengths as a Democrat as vulnerabilities. Some issues are presented both ways for use as communication themes and as preparation for attacks. In some cases, it is unclear whether the potential value of a given point as a strength from the perspective of Republican or rightward-leaning independent voters would outweigh the vulnerability it potentially creates in a broader sense, for example a bill that, in the name of limiting government red tape and making more investment capital available to lend, appears to neuter financial reforms intended to prevent another financial meltdown. Additionally certain key Democratic strengths such as increased Medicare benefits, for example, might not be formally popular amongst Republicans, but can likely be overcome in a district with a high percentage of seniors. Issues such as these can be flipped and nuanced as appropriate to the situation irrespective of how they are categorized in this report. Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 Contents Patrick Murphy’s Story .............................................................................................................................. 5 Patrick Murphy’s Story: The Other Side................................................................................................. 19 1: Background ............................................................................................. 29 Biographical Information ............................................................................................................ 29 Public Service ................................................................................................................... 31 Professional History .......................................................................................................... 33 Property & Personal Finances .......................................................................................... 34 Personal Political Giving ................................................................................................... 35 Campaigns ................................................................................................................................... 37 2012 .................................................................................................................................. 37 2014 .................................................................................................................................. 44 2. Political Accomplishments ................................................................. 47 An Independent Thinker Who Reaches Across The Aisle ....................................................... 47 Eliminating Government Waste To Reduce The Deficit ........................................................... 53 A Moderate Voice For Sensible, Responsible Budgeting ........................................................ 58 Pushed For Sensible Budget Approach ........................................................................... 58 Fought To Prevent And Replace The Sequester .............................................................. 60 Voted Against Unacceptable, Extreme Budgets ............................................................... 62 Took Responsible Path On Shutdown And Debt Ceiling .................................................. 68 Fighting Against Perks And Unearned Pay For Congress ...................................................... 75 A Champion For Small Business And Job Growth .................................................................. 79 Campaigned On Creating Jobs; Jobs Are Up .................................................................. 79 Pushed For More Capital And Funding For Growth ......................................................... 80 Regulations Can Help If Tailored To Fit ........................................................................... 83 Cutting And Simplifying Taxes And Regulations For Small Businesses .......................... 87 Helping Companies Bring Jobs, Investment Capital, And Accountability Back Home ..... 89 Fostering More Tourism To Create More Tourism Jobs ................................................... 90 Keeping The Focus On Small Business ........................................................................... 91 An Accessible, Responsive Champion For District 18 Needs ................................................ 91 Worked Tirelessly To Save The Everglades, Lake Okeechobee, St. Lucie River, etc. .... 91 Fulfilled Promise On Shore Renourishment & Dredging .................................................. 97 Went To Bat For Local Farmers ....................................................................................... 99 Fought To Delay Unaffordable Flood Insurance Rate Hike ............................................ 101 Worked To Keep South Florida Moving: Air, Rail, Economy .......................................... 103 Went To Bat For Florida Citrus & Cigars ........................................................................ 105 Went To Bat For Postal Workers .................................................................................... 106 Engaged District Constituents: Access, Inclusion, Support ............................................ 107 Working To Delay And Fix Flawed Obamacare ...................................................................... 108 Supports Obamacare And Wants To Save The Good Parts .......................................... 108 Acknowledged Obamacare’s Flaws; Committed To Fixing It ......................................... 111 Working To Fix Obamacare Piece By Piece .................................................................. 112 Keeping America Healthy: Medicare, Medicaid, And More ................................................... 117 Protect And Improve Medicare ....................................................................................... 117 Protect Medicaid From Rick Scott .................................................................................. 122 Other Health Policy Improvements ................................................................................. 123 Balanced Approach To Transforming Energy Profile While Protecting Environment ....... 125 Starting Now On Long-Term Green Energy Transition .................................................. 125 Moving To Energy Independence Safely And Cleanly ................................................... 127 TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 1 Letting Environmental Regulators Do Their Job ............................................................. 129 Voted For Keystone Pipeline For Jobs And Economic Growth ...................................... 131 Conserve, Preserve, And Protect Habitats And Wildlife ................................................. 132 Pursuing Practical Solutions To Immigration ......................................................................... 134 A Champion For Equal Rights And Fair Treatment For All ................................................... 137 A Strident Advocate For Fair Treatment Of LGBT Americans ........................................ 137 Working To Protect All From Violence And Discrimination ............................................. 142 Advocating For Protection Of Women’s, Children’s Rights .................................................. 142 Consulted And Was Endorsed By Women’s Rights Advocates ..................................... 142 Worked To Protect Women From Violence .................................................................... 143 Worked To Ensure Equal Rights For Women ................................................................ 145 Worked To Protect A Woman’s Right To Choose .......................................................... 147 Worked To Put Children In Families And Keep Them Safe ........................................... 148 A Champion For Education And Students .............................................................................. 149 Protecting And Caring For Seniors ......................................................................................... 154 A Defender Workers’ Rights ..................................................................................................... 156 A Champion For Veterans And Their Families ....................................................................... 161 Protected Funding, Benefits, And Jobs For Veterans .................................................... 161 Mounted Sustained Attack On VA Disability Claim Backlog ........................................... 163 Co-Sponsored Bills To Electronically Share VA/DoD Records To Prevent Backlogs .... 164 Worked To Ensure Vets And Surviving Spouses Got Benefits ...................................... 165 Worked To Safeguard Veteran Status And Eligibility ..................................................... 166 Honored Veterans For Service ....................................................................................... 167 Keeping The Military Strong, Addressing Threats Abroad ................................................... 168 Funded The Military Robustly But Prudently .................................................................. 168 Practical Steps To Deal With The New Normal Of Terrorism ......................................... 170 Got Tough On Iran .......................................................................................................... 171 Prepared To Deal With Syria If Necessary ..................................................................... 172 A Great Friend To Strategic Partner Israel ..................................................................... 172 Looking Out For The Little Guy, Not The Rich & Powerful .................................................... 174 Fought To Stop Giving Away Billions In Corporate Welfare ........................................... 174 Protecting Main Street From Another Financial Collapse ............................................... 177 Pushed For Transparency In Government Spending ..................................................... 178 Pushed For Fair And Transparent Elections .................................................................. 179 Preventing Government And Business From Abusing Public ........................................ 181 Worked To Keep Mortgage Financing Affordable For Low Income/Underwater ............ 183 Worked To Save Food Stamps ...................................................................................... 184 Voted To Preserve Reasonable Welfare Work Requirement ......................................... 187 Preventing And Punishing Fraud And Other Crimes ............................................................. 187 Keeping Guns In The Right Hands .......................................................................................... 190 Caring For Disaster Victims And Preparing For Next Time ................................................... 191 3. Political Vulnerabilities ..................................................................... 195 A Tax & Spend, Big Government, Obama/Pelosi Liberal In The Pocket Of Liberal PACs .. 195 Allied With Obama, Pelosi, And Big Name Liberals ....................................................... 195 Bought And Paid For With Party And Liberal PAC Money ............................................. 196 A Classic Big Spender .................................................................................................... 197 A Champion Of Big Liberal Entitlements And Handouts ................................................ 199 A Fan Of Heavy-Handed Government ........................................................................... 201 Bipartisan Lip Service ............................................................................................................... 202 A Carpetbagger Who Had An Election Bought For Him From The Outside ........................ 205 Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 Ineffective In Washington ......................................................................................................... 205 Sold Out Main St. To Wall St.: Financial Industry Cash, Watered Down Dodd-Frank ........ 206 Took More Bank PAC Money Than Any Freshman ....................................................... 206 Voted Repeatedly To Undermine And Weaken Dodd-Frank Reforms ........................... 206 Pay To Play In Other Industries ...................................................................................... 224 A Salesman For Disastrous Obamacare ................................................................................. 226 Supported, Defended, And Promoted Obamacare ......................................................... 226 Would Not Work Across The Aisle To Repeal Obamacare ............................................ 227 Would Not Make Commonsense Corrections To Obamacare ....................................... 228 Pursues Obama’s Extreme Environmental Agenda ............................................................... 228 Obama Agenda Against Affordable American Energy ................................................... 228 Obama Agenda To Let The EPA Bankrupt Us With Regulation ..................................... 230 Irresponsible And Hypocritical On Fixing Budget ................................................................. 232 Took Sugar Money, Left Subsidies In Place, Won’t Cross Them To Fix Water Problems . 238 Undermined Employers ............................................................................................................ 240 Sold Out Workers ...................................................................................................................... 241 Billions Extra For The Wealthy, Billions Cut For The Poor ................................................... 243 Hypocrite On Campaign Finance ............................................................................................. 244 Voted To Protect His Congressional Perks ............................................................................ 246 A Consultant Jailed For 2012 Election Fraud Worked For Murphy’s 2012 Campaign ........ 247 Promises Broken ....................................................................................................................... 247 Miscellaneous ............................................................................................................................ 249 4: Coastal Accomplishments ................................................................ 253 5. Coastal Vulnerabilities ...................................................................... 287 6: Campaign Finance ............................................................................. 300 7. INDEX: Legislation Sponsored ......................................................... 308 Sponsored .................................................................................................................................. 308 Co-Sponsored ............................................................................................................................ 313 Budget, Debt Ceiling & Shutdown .................................................................................. 313 Campaigns, Campaign Finance, Elections ..................................................................... 314 Citrus .............................................................................................................................. 316 Commemorations Misc. .................................................................................................. 316 Crime/Fraud .................................................................................................................... 317 Disaster Preparedness ................................................................................................... 318 Education ........................................................................................................................ 319 Energy, Efficiency, Oil, Renewables ............................................................................... 320 Environment & Wildlife ................................................................................................... 322 Financial Services .......................................................................................................... 324 Foreign Policy & National Security ................................................................................. 330 Government Abuse, Corruption, Ethics .......................................................................... 333 Government Waste ......................................................................................................... 334 Guns ............................................................................................................................... 336 Health - General ............................................................................................................. 337 Health - Medicare & Medicaid ........................................................................................ 338 Health - Obamacare ....................................................................................................... 340 Housing, Mortgage Finance ........................................................................................... 344 TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 3 Immigration ..................................................................................................................... 344 Indian Interest ................................................................................................................. 345 Jobs & Business ............................................................................................................. 346 Labor, Workers ............................................................................................................... 350 LGBT .............................................................................................................................. 351 Liability ............................................................................................................................ 354 Local Interests ................................................................................................................ 354 Pay & Perks .................................................................................................................... 356 Puerto Rico ..................................................................................................................... 357 Social Welfare Programs ................................................................................................ 358 Sugar .............................................................................................................................. 358 USPS .............................................................................................................................. 358 Veterans ......................................................................................................................... 359 Women & Children ......................................................................................................... 364 8. INDEX: Key Votes By Category ......................................... 368 Agriculture / Farm Bill ............................................................................................................... 368 Budget ........................................................................................................................................ 370 Shutdown & Debt Limit ................................................................................................... 370 Balanced Budget ............................................................................................................ 375 Budget Bills ..................................................................................................................... 376 Sequester ....................................................................................................................... 383 Campaigns And Elections ........................................................................................................ 385 Consumers ................................................................................................................................. 386 Corporate Welfare ..................................................................................................................... 386 Disaster Relief ............................................................................................................................ 386 Hurricane Sandy ............................................................................................................. 386 Other Disaster ................................................................................................................ 387 Education ................................................................................................................................... 388 Environment ............................................................................................................................... 391 Offshore Drilling .............................................................................................................. 391 Keystone XL Pipeline ..................................................................................................... 392 Coal Ash, Mining, Timber ............................................................................................... 393 Financial Services ..................................................................................................................... 394 Foreign Policy & Homeland Security ....................................................................................... 398 Government Abuse ................................................................................................................... 400 Health - Medicare ....................................................................................................................... 401 Health - Obamacare ................................................................................................................... 401 Immigration ................................................................................................................................ 405 Jobs & Economic Development ............................................................................................... 406 Labor, Workers .......................................................................................................................... 407 Regulation .................................................................................................................................. 408 Perks And Pay ........................................................................................................................... 409 Seniors ....................................................................................................................................... 410 Social Welfare Programs .......................................................................................................... 410 Sugar .......................................................................................................................................... 412 Veterans ..................................................................................................................................... 413 Waterway Issues ........................................................................................................................ 414 Women & Children .................................................................................................................... 414 Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 Patrick Murphy’s Story “Let’s Just Fix It” Patrick Murphy’s story is one of pragmatism, optimism, and a new generation of problem-solvers. He was inspired to run for office by the excesses of his bomb-throwing predecessor and the tone of partisan rancor and gridlock that paralyzed Washington at a time when the country was still licking its wounds from financial collapse and even more threatening problems loomed on the horizon. Spiraling debt, slow growth, high unemployment, mounting environmental crises, and a Capitol full of people seemingly focused on bickering rather than finding solutions. Naturally Bipartisan Murphy wants to solve problems and will entertain ideas from any quarter if they have practical merit. It’s why he ran for office and it has been his noticeably genuine and consistent agenda ever since, particularly when viewed in contrast to the party-focused agendas of many of the other members around him. His focus is practical solutions, not partisan politics. He campaigned on a platform of bipartisan cooperation and began reaching out to Republican lawmakers and conservative constituents before he even took office. Since taking office, he has consistently reached across the aisle to form bipartisan coalitions to craft commonsense legislation to eliminate government waste, to budget sensibly, to do his duty to the 18th District and the nation by keeping the government running, to fight for issues critical to the 18th District such as the urgent need to clean and protect our polluted waterways, and to join Republicans in commonsense positions even when they go against his own party’s stances, such as voting for delays and fixes to the many flaws of Obamacare. In fact, out of 200 Democrats in the House, only 15 have bucked the party more than he has to vote with Republicans. He is a moderate voice whose recent Republican past and position in the center allows him to work easily with Republicans who also value practical solutions over gridlock and rhetoric. He has received recognition of his independent stance from Republicans such as Reps. Tom Rooney and Robert Pittenger, with whom he has partnered on multiple bipartisan efforts. Working Together to Build Trust and Work on Things We Can Agree on Murphy co-chairs two groups explicitly formed to foster bipartisan cooperation and to craft bipartisan legislation built on that cooperation. The Problem Solvers are a team within the No Labels group in which House and Senate members from both parties have agreed to meet regularly to build trust across the aisle. The Problem Solvers released a legislative package in July 2013 called Make America Work!, which addresses issues such as ensuring Congress passes a budget, eliminating duplicative programs and agencies, not automatically raising agency budgets, using modern technology to reduce costs of travel and recordkeeping, making government facilities more energy efficient, etc. TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 5 The United Solutions Caucus, which Murphy co-founded, is a bipartisan group of Congressional freshmen who are "committed to a new era in Congress where bipartisan solutions are the norm." The group aims to address the major issues standing in the way of a healthy government budget, such as a tax plan without excessive corporate subsidies and loopholes and reforming the two biggest expenses, Medicare and Social Security, while protecting current beneficiaries. Introduced Bills Reduce Waste, Spending, Deficit Having already campaigned on a platform of eliminating duplication and waste, Murphy sponsored and introduced the United Solutions Caucus’s first piece of legislation, the SAVE Act, which would cut $200 billion from the budget over ten years by eliminating duplicative and wasteful programs, making agencies bid out projects competitively, getting rid of unused facilities, etc. He followed it up with an extension of the bill called SAVE II, which added more efficiencies for another $26 billion in savings. In the same vein, Murphy co-sponsored several bills that would use GAO reports on government waste to produce legislation that decrease spending or increase revenue without cutting benefits to various program beneficiaries. He was able to successfully amend a military construction bill to stop the Department of Defense from spending any more money to maintain or improve unused facilities and to start competitive bidding on any project greater than $1 million. A Voice Of Reason In The Ongoing Budget Crisis From his first month in office Murphy began signaling his intent to get serious about the budget. He voted to require a balanced budget. And he bucked his party to attach a condition that Congress would go without pay if it did not pass a budget. He cosponsored legislation to move to a biennial budgeting cycle to take the process out of constant crisis mode. A Voice Of Reason In The Sequester As worked for a balanced budget, so too did he attempt to prevent the activation of the harmful sequester by calling for bipartisan cooperation. He warned of the damage the sequester would do to Florida’s jobs and economy and voted to keep Congress from going on recess until it fixed the sequester. After the sequester activated, he voted against budgets that would retain the cuts and for a bill that would replace them with smarter cuts. In solidarity with workers furloughed due to the sequester, he pledged to donate 5% of his salary to local causes. A Balanced And Responsible Path On The Debt Ceiling In his first month in office, Murphy voted to keep the government paying its bills by suspending the debt limit through May and to automatically increase it to accommodate the additional debt accumulated at that point. In March he voted for a bill to fund the government through the end of the fiscal year. When that time came and the parties could not agree to fund it any further, the government shut down. Murphy wrote letters and penned an op-ed calling on Congressional leaders to compromise. He noted that Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 the crisis was a manufactured one but that its effects on the country and an regular working people and businesses were very real. While he would not agree to defund Obamacare as part of a bargain to end the shutdown and fund the government, he did cross the aisle to vote with Republicans on a series of 14 mini spending bills to fund critical functions such as the DC government, veterans affairs, FEMA, Homeland Security, etc. He also voted to make sure federal workers and the military got paid for the shutdown period. In the end he voted for the bill to end the shutdown and warned colleagues not to repeat the same debacle months down the road. Voted Against Congressional Pay Raises And Perks Even before the crises of the sequester and the shutdown kicked in, Murphy had already voted to freeze and reduce Congressional pay for the year. And while he voted unsuccessfully to stop Congress from getting paid for the shutdown period and for Congressional perks such as the House gym and spa to be shut down, he was the only South Florida lawmaker to give up his own pay during that time. Instead he donated it to the Renewal Coalition, which assists wounded veterans and their families. Additionally, while he voted not to revoke the employer contribution to the health care costs of Congress and its staff, he pledged not to accept it for himself. Fostering A Friendly Environment For Business And Jobs To Flourish Pushed For More Access To Capital So Small Business Could Grow Jobs Consistent with the goals he laid out on his campaign, Murphy worked in multiple ways to increase the amount of capital available to small businesses to invest in their own growth and increased economic activity and jobs. He co-sponsored legislation to ease capital requirements on community banks and holding companies so they could offer more loans in the community, including after disasters, and a bill to allow small businesses to refinance debt. He urged the Appropriations and Financial Services committees to fund a program that extends credit, capital, and financial services to underserved populations. He voted for a way for local governments to leverage private capital to create jobs by building needed infrastructure. He introduced his own bill to reauthorize the Manufacturing Extension Partnership grants program to boost small business’s manufacturing capacity and grow jobs. Luring Money And Jobs Back Home To America Another way to inject more capital into the system and create more jobs and more economic activity is to incentivize companies to repatriate jobs, branches, and profits from abroad. Murphy co-sponsored a bill that would give companies a 20% tax credit on insourcing expenses incurred in relocating a branch or business back to the United States if it led to more full-time jobs. He co-sponsored another that would issue bonds to guarantee loans to states to invest in infrastructure projects that would create jobs. Businesses would buy these bonds because for each dollar in bonds that they bought, they could repatriate four dollars in profits from abroad. He also co-sponsored a bill to TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 7 make it easier for international travelers from trusted partner countries to visit the United States, which would grow tourism jobs. Making It Easy To Be A Small Business And Create Jobs To incentivize more people to start more companies to create more jobs, Murphy cosponsored a bill to permanently double the tax deduction, from $5,000 to $10,000 for new small, start-ups. To help ease them into the world of small business, he cosponsored a bill that would direct federal agencies not to fine small businesses for firsttime paperwork mistakes. To help small businesses manage their taxes, he cosponsored a bill to simplify tax due dates for different kinds of corporations and lengthen automatic extensions of time to file. Worked To Correct Regulations That Don’t Make Sense Or Hurt Consumers From his position on the Financial Services Committee, Murphy has had a front row seat to the large batch of regulations that emerged from the aftermath of the financial collapse and are still being finalized in federal regulatory agencies. Many of the regulations are good and necessary protections to ensure the health and stability of the financial system, but many operate like a blunt instrument where a more delicate or surgical approach is required. So Murphy has co-sponsored six bills that make technical corrections to the larger body of well-intentioned regulations to make exceptions for situations that don’t fit into a one-size-fits-all scenario. For example one pending regulation would require appraisers of employee stock ownership programs to hold to a fiduciary standard, a legal standard which says they must place their client’s financial interests ahead of their own or any other. That sounds nice and makes sense in other settings, but does not apply in this situation because an ESOP appraiser’s duty is to impartially appraise a plan according to appraisal standards whether the resulting valuation is in anybody’s best financial interests or not. So that regulation requires a correction. Murphy’s other bills address similar situations, where a well-intentioned regulation either does not make sense in practice or leads to worse outcomes than whatever it was trying to prevent. Working Hard For District 18 Accessible And Responsive To Constituents Murphy has made himself accessible to his constituents, for example with St. Lucie County’s first ever Congressional office, and has engaged them such as via telephone town halls or public budget-balancing exercises. Fighting To Save The Everglades, St. Lucie Estuary, and Indian River Lagoon Perhaps the largest and most urgent issue in the district in 2013 has been the Army Corps of Engineers releases of polluted water from Lake Okeechobee that have laid waste to the St. Lucie Estuary and Indian River Lagoon. When this large volume of polluted, nutrient-rich, low-saline water from moves from the strained Lake Okeechobee into the St. Lucie River, its estuary, and beyond, the result is mass sea grass death, Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 toxic algae blooms, fish kills, dead dolphins and manatees, obliteration of oyster beds, visible slicks of pollution, and danger to human health What's worse, there are no quick or easy answers. Runoff of pesticides and fertilizers as well as seepage from failing septic tanks in the area pollute and change the chemistry of the water, rains swell the lake until the dike is in danger of failing, and since the lake's natural drainage path south into the Everglades has been cut off due to sugar farming, it must be released elsewhere. But the St. Lucie River, its estuary, and the 156-mile long Indian River Lagoon are not equipped to handle it. Since taking office in January, Murphy had already been coordinating with local leaders in the district and working with top administrators at the Army Corps of Engineers and at federal agencies to secure funding for several large water projects in the district. One such is the C-44 Reservoir project, which will add 44 billion gallons of additional storage capacity to reduce the amount of water that must be released, redirect some water north, add four new storm water treatment areas to clean the water before it enters the estuary, restore wetlands, and de-muck the estuary. Through letters and meetings in Washington and in the District, Murphy has kept the pressure on. When the gravity of the problem became even more apparent, Murphy convened a hearing in Washington DC to bring local activists, administrators, and his fellow Congressmen together to drive home the urgency of the need for funding to complete these projects. Among others, both Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer attended. Hoyer later joined Murphy for an aerial tour of the area. Murphy recently wrote to the OMB to ask the Obama Administration directly to add the funding for the stalled C-44 project's second phase to the budget. Murphy has also sponsored and voted for measures to authorize more water projects in a broader plan of restoration for the Everglades. Pledged To Get Funding For Beach Renourishment; Got It Additionally, after having worked with local leaders and federal administrators since he took office, he announced in March that he had secured funding for renourishment of beaches that had been washed away by Hurricane Sandy. He also co-sponsored and voted for bills to provide for dredging of local inlets and of Miami Harbor. Advocated For Needs Of District 18 Businesses And Industries Murphy has also advocated directly for specific industries important to the District and the region. He voted for the 2013 farm bill to add funding to support fruit and vegetable growers and to convert farm and dairy subsidies into insurance programs. He cosponsored a bill to fund research into citrus pests and diseases and advocated for purchase of Florida grapefruit juice by a federal nutrition program, which will help stabilize the industry in a tough year. He also co-sponsored a bill to exempt premium cigars from regulation and fees. He pressed the FAA not to shut down Witham field airport due to sequester cuts and they reversed their plans to close it. He also voted to save subsidized air service between 163 smaller cities and hub airports. He co- TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 9 sponsored bills to retain 6-day mail service at the US Post Office and for Congress to relax the Post Office’s extreme pension pre-funding requirement. Pushing To Delay Or Reduce Alarming National Flood Insurance Rate Hike After a 2012 bill to reform the National Flood Insurance Program, updated flood plain maps and new rates have been announced. Without the former subsidy that kept the prices low for many, the rates have shot up to actuarial rates which are in many cases alarmingly higher than they were before based on a given homeowner’s flood risk. Murphy has written letters to FEMA, met with its top administrators, and co-sponsored bills to attempt to halt these steep increases or delay them. He has also pled for more time for local officials to conduct studies to compile more accurate data than the flawed data that FEMA used to make the new flood maps. Wants To Mend Obamacare, Not End It Voted With Republicans To Acknowledge And Address Obamacare’s Flaws Murphy is in the minority of Democrats who have set partisan warfare aside to look at Obamacare for what it is, a program with plenty of flaws, and vote with Republicans to fix them. He has supported the program since before he was elected but has also recognized that no legislation this substantial comes out perfect from the start. Voted To Delay Obamacare To Allow Time To Fix It So while he has not joined calls to repeal the program given the negative effect that would have on millions of people in Florida and across the country, Murphy was one of the few Democrats to vote for delays in both the employer and individual mandates to give Congress more time to make repairs and to prevent uncertainty for small business in a still-sluggish economy. He voted for a bill to delay the individual mandate and fines for violating it until healthcare.gov was working properly, and called for an investigation into what he called the “complete embarrassment” of its rollout. He was one of the few Democrats who voted with Republicans for a bill that would allow people to keep their preferred individual-coverage health care plans under the first year of Obamacare. Worked For Technical Corrections To The Law Murphy has also co-sponsored technical corrections to Obamacare such as to repeal the premium tax on health insurers, which would just get passed along to consumers. This was something he had told the National Education Association in 2012 that he would do if elected. He also co-sponsored and voted for bills to repeal the Obamacare tax on medical device manufacturers, and to repeal the funding mechanism for the transitional reinsurance program that would spread risk around as insurers got used to covering the influx of new policyholders. He co-sponsored a bill to exempt “orphan” drugs for very rare diseases from an Obamacare user fee that was never intended to apply to them. Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 Since Obamacare cut maximum annual limits for flexible spending account contributions, Murphy co-sponsored a bill to get rid of the traditional “use it or lose it” model of flexible spending accounts and let people get their unused FSA funds back every year. Preserving And Improving Medicare For Beneficiaries Worked To Protect Medicare And Expand Its Benefits True to his word on the campaign trail, Murphy has left Medicare alone rather than allow it to be cut or turned into a voucher program. He voted against two Republican budgets that would have done just that. He also led the charge to protect Medicare’s open enrollment period, which was in danger of the encroaching government shutdown in October 2013. He wrote to the director of Medicare and Medicaid Services to urge her not to let the shutdown impact open enrollment. He also co-sponsored bills to add benefits to Medicare coverage such as an Alzheimer’s screening and planning session, a medication therapy management benefit to make sure that people taking multiple drugs would not experience adverse reactions. He co-sponsored a bill to restore a post-acute nursing facility benefit for people who had been inpatients in a hospital for three days (hospitals had been “reclassifying” such people as outpatient to keep costs down). He co-sponsored a bill to protect cancer drug reimbursement from sequester cuts. He co-sponsored another bill to streamline coverage standards for injured workers on Medicare, clarifying when Medicare should be the first payer and when it should be the secondary payer and standardizing the review process. Pressed For Scrutiny Of Gov. Scott’s Medicaid Privatization In Florida Murphy joined fellow House Democrats in a letter to HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius urging her to be wary of Gov. Rick Scott’s plan to take Florida’s five-county privatized Medicaid waiver pilot statewide, pointing out that there wasn’t any conclusive evidence that it had saved money or better coordinate care. When the waiver was approved anyway, Murphy joined another letter, this time to a senior Medicare and Medicaid administrator to urge that stricter terms and conditions be included in the program to keep the HMOs providing service accountable and to ensure that vulnerable populations such as pregnant women, children, and seniors had safeguards in place. They also pressed for the re-inclusion of the Low Income Pool in the program plan to support providers caring for patients under the plan. Other Health Initiatives Murphy also co-sponsored bills to refocus government resources on ending breast cancer sooner, to better prevent and treat eating disorders, to create tax exempt accounts to pay for disability expenses, and to make hydrocodone a schedule II drug. TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 11 Energy & Environment A Reasonable Balance Murphy has from the start advocated a reasonable balance between the nation’s energy needs and the need to protect the environment. He supports energy independence, but not at the expense of the environment. For example he was one of the few Democrats to buck the party and vote with Republicans to approve the Keystone XL pipeline to take advantage of oil closer to home, and to reap the jobs and economic activity that will come with it. Yet he voted to hold Keystone accountable for any oil spills. He even voted to keep the refined oil here at home in furtherance of the push for energy independence. Likewise, particularly given his experience cleaning up oil in the Gulf of Mexico with Coastal Environmental Services, he voted for safety standards to prevent another Deepwater Horizon-style oil spill disaster and to make them pay for the cleanup if they spill anyway. Took Strategic Steps Toward Long Term Goals In A Green Energy Future Murphy is also a realist in regard to clean renewable energy's current place in the nation's energy matrix. He has said that we have to start transitioning to more of a green-energy economy but that the goals must be longer-term. To that end, he has sponsored bills to begin that process, shifting incentives from oil & gas production to renewables such as wind, solar, hydroelectric and other clean energies, incentivizing and harnessing the small businesses in the market to innovate their way toward those long term goals by using fossil fuels in new ways and developing green energy technologies. Voted Against Offshore Drilling And Harming Wildlife And Habitats Meanwhile he has voted to limit some of the more environmentally destructive and risky paths toward greater energy independence, such as fulfilling his campaign promise to oppose offshore oil drilling, and has drawn the line at exploring for energy in sensitive ecosystems such as the Everglades, or where destructive technologies such as seismic blasts can kill wildlife. He has extended this environmental stewardship to other areas, sponsoring legislation to promote land and forest conservation, protections for animals, and protections against invasive species. Letting The EPA Do Its Job Additionally, he has refused to vote to block the EPA from doing the job it was created to do, to protect the environment, including from abuse and destruction from pollutants and spills that poison our water, our air, and contribute to the undeniable rise in average global temperatures and sea levels that he has acknowledged. Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 Worked For Fair And Equal Treatment And Protection Of Everyone Fair Treatment For LGBT Americans Murphy’s words and deeds and votes have demonstrated a very clear and consistent dedication to fair treatment for everyone. This has been very apparent in the case of LGBT Americans. He lent his voice to an amicus brief filed with the Supreme Court by 211 members of Congress in the case that challenged DOMA. He vowed to continue to fight until the rest of DOMA was repealed and co-sponsored a bill to that effect Married Is Married: Pushed For Equal Benefits For All Married Couples Until the rest of DOMA is repealed, there are stopgap steps that can be taken to win fairness for LGBT Americans by degrees. To that end, Murphy co-sponsored a series of bills that would ensure that legally married same-sex couples get the same federal employee benefits, the same military and VA benefits, and the same Social Security benefits as any other legally married couple. Legislation To Bar Discrimination At Work, School, And In Immigration Decisions Murphy also co-sponsored bills to prohibit employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity, that protect public school students similarly, and that recognize the class of “permanent partner” for the purposes of visa sponsorships and immigration decisions. He co-sponsored another bill that would restore honorable service status to those discharged from the military on the basis of their sexual orientation. Worked To Protect Women Against Violence Murphy co-sponsored the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act to strengthen law enforcement and government’s ability to combat domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. He voted against the House version of the bill because it did not include “sexual orientation” or “gender identity” on a list of underserved populations that face barriers to treatment, and stripped protections for Native American women on reservations. He also hosted a roundtable on domestic violence and cosponsored a bill to lower the burden of proof for women who had been traumatized by sexual assault and make the benefits process easier. He also co-sponsored bills to ban sex offenders from the military and create an oversight council to monitor the military’s responses to sexual assault. Worked Toward Equal Rights For Women Murphy co-sponsored a bill to eliminate sex-based pay discrimination and another to remove the 1982 deadline for the ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment Worked To Stop Violence Against Children Murphy co-sponsored bills to pressure states to make stronger laws against child abuse and to prevent and disclose bullying and harassment of children in schools. TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 13 Pushed For Comprehensive Immigration Reform Murphy supported comprehensive immigration reform on the campaign train and continued that advocacy in office. He urged House leaders to take up the Senate comprehensive immigration bill that had already passed, and when they wouldn’t, cosponsored a bill toward that end. The version he co-sponsored improved on the Senate version by replacing the “border surge” amendment, which militarized the border, with a more measured approach of surveillance and control. He voted to increase funds for border protection and not to deport DREAMers. He co-sponsored bills to allow foreign students with postgraduate degrees in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, or Math to stay in America indefinitely if they remain actively engaged in the field, and to condemn violence against Sikhs. Worked To Keep Education Affordable And Fair Murphy co-sponsored and voted for several bills to prevent the student loan interest rate from doubling, to freeze it for varying numbers of years. He co-sponsored a bill to prevent public employees and service members from consolidating private student loans in ways that that actually wind up costing more. He voted against a bill that would have allowed the rate of the loan to fluctuate from year to year while the student had the loan out, and wound up voting for one that capped rates and fixed the interest rate for the life of the loan. He also voted not to remove the federal government’s ability to set education standards and protect students, particularly underserved populations. Looked Out For Seniors Murphy co-sponsored a bill to add an Alzheimer’s diagnostic evaluation benefit to Medicare, as well as planning services to help individuals and family members navigate options for long-term care, support, and information. He also co-sponsored a bill to protect seniors from investment and charity scams and voted for a bill to reauthorize the Workforce Investment Act to provide employment protections and job training opportunities for seniors. He offered an amendment to protect seniors from budget cuts and the privatization of Medicare Stood With Workers And Labor Murphy voted to raise the minimum wage to $10.10 over three years and kept his campaign promises not to support limiting the NLRB’s ability to enforce the law or to replace overtime pay with paid time off. He voted not to freeze funding for Workforce Development programs or to cut labor out of the process. He voted to make sure federal workers and the military got paid for the period of the government shutdown and co- Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 sponsored a resolution urging banks to work with federal employees who had been furloughed. He cosponsored a bill to prevent employers from demanding employees’ private passwords and another to prevent states from taxing traveling workers who were only working in that state for less than 30 days. Worked To Honor Veterans’ Service Worked to Ensure Uninterrupted Pay, Benefits, And Jobs Murphy broke with Democrats to vote to fund veterans benefits independently of the government shutdown and proposed an amendment to a debt ceiling bill to shield veterans from potential future funding cuts. He also co-sponsored bills to help exiting service members transition into better civilian jobs. He co-sponsored a bill to prioritize vets who needed mental health care and put older vets on equal footing with younger ones. He co-sponsored another bill to ensure that military surviving spouses got both survivor benefits and indemnity compensation for their deceased veteran spouse. Attacked The Egregious Backlog Of VA Disability Claims A serious problem that came to a head this year was the backlog of disability claims at the VA. The volume of claims had outpaced the agencies budget and response times suffered. Some people were having to wait multiple years, when a good response time would be considered multiple months. Murphy attacked this problem in multiple ways, co-sponsoring and voting for bills to provide for the payment of provisional benefits, hire more claims processors, assess internal processes, and other measures. Over the next six months, the agency made great progress in processing the backlog, bringing maximum wait times and average wait times well down. At the current rate, they are scheduled to eliminate the backlog by December 2014. Standardizing, Unifying, Converting All VA And DoD Health And Service Records One of Murphy’s agendas in office has been to eliminate inefficiency and waste by adopting new technologies. One of the contributing factors to the backlog at the VA was that VA records were separate from Department of Defense service records and all of them were on paper. Processing a claim using records pulled from across agencies could be a slow process. So Murphy co-sponsored two bills convert service and VA records into electronic format, standardize them between the VA and DoD, and make them centrally available. Clarifying Definition Of “Veteran” And Level Of Benefits Due Murphy co-sponsored a bill to punish those who to use a false claim of having served in combat to obtain monetary gain. He co-sponsored another to clarify that those who only went to a preparatory school for a service academy may not call themselves veteran for the purpose of claiming benefits. He co-sponsored another to ensure that those who served on boats in the territorial waters of Vietnam during the Vietnam war were eligible for benefits stemming from the use of herbicides in the war. TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 15 Military, National Security, Foreign Policy Voted For Fully Funded DoD Budget Murphy voted for a $638 billion appropriations bill to fully fund the military irrespective of cuts the sequester was supposed to impose, and against a $60 billion cut to that bill. It included military pay raise, an Afghanistan exit deadline, and new penalties for sexual assault. He voted for a similar bill the following month. Got Tough On Iran & Syria He voted for a bill to get tough on Iran in regard to sanctions, illicit financial assistance, and nuclear material and to keep all options on the table in Syria, condemning Bashar al Assad’s use of chemical weapons on his people. Laid Out Blueprint Of Strategic Cooperation And Friendship With Israel Murphy co-sponsored a bill outlining a strategic partnership plan between the United States and Israel, covering areas such as weapons transfer, cooperative activities on energy, water, homeland security, cybersecurity, etc., and lays the groundwork for including Israel in the visa waiver program. He co-sponsored another laying out the conditions of that visa waiver program qualification. He co-sponsored a bill calling for a two state solution, and another recognizing Israel’s 65th anniversary and affirming the two countries’ close ties and increasing cooperation, and another presenting a Congressional gold medal to President Shimon Peres. Took Practical Measures To Deal With Life In The Age Of Terror When the TSA announced that it would begin allowing folding pocketknives and things like ski poles back onto airplanes, Murphy co-sponsored a bill to keep them off. He also voted to extend Terrorism Risk Insurance for another five years, and then voted for another ten years. Looked Out For The Little Guy Went After Subsidies Murphy and his bipartisan partners in the United Solutions Caucus called for an end to excessive corporate subsidies and tax loopholes. Murphy then followed through by cosponsoring and voting for multiple bills to end corporate welfare for the oil & gas industry and shift incentives to renewable energies. He voted to replace wasteful farm and dairy subsidies with optional insurance programs, and he called upon all sugarproducing and consuming countries to eliminate sugar subsidies, ostensibly so that US sugar wouldn’t be hung out to dry if their price supports were the only ones to get cut and the rest of the world had a competitive advantage. Voted To Preserve Food Stamps And Welfare At Current Levels Murphy voted to preserve funding for food stamps. He co-sponsored a bill expressing that the Agriculture Committee should not propose any reduction in food stamp funding. He voted against a food stamp work requirement amendment that became the poison Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 pill that caused the farm bill to fail. He voted to restore cuts to food stamps in the main bill and not to make additional cuts of tens of billions. He voted not to eliminate all funding for the program. He also voted to preserve healthy food access for low income communities. Whereas he would not support the work requirement for food stamps, he did support the work requirement for welfare, a view shared by more than three quarters of Americans. Worked To Clean Up Campaigns & Elections Murphy co-sponsored a bill to require online voting registration, voted for at least 15 days of early voting, and condemned the voter suppression laws in Florida under Rick Scott. Holding true to his statements on the campaign, he co-sponsored three bills to make campaign finance more transparent, requiring public companies to inform their shareholders of their historical political spending, their plans for upcoming political spending, and then to disclose it publicly after they’ve spent it. Worked To Prevent Government Abuse And Excess After the IRS was alleged to have targeted conservative groups for extra scrutiny, Murphy co-sponsored a bill to make it illegal for them to do that. He co-sponsored a bill to deny government retirement benefits to any member of Congress convicted of a felony under either state or federal law. He voted to limit federal employee bonuses during the sequester when every agency and program was suffering, would empower agencies to dismiss workers immediately for misconduct, and would allow citizens to record their calls with federal workers. Other Items Keeping Guns In The Right Hands In the aftermath of the Sandy Hook shootings, Murphy called for commonsense gun laws and keeping guns and ammunition out of the hands of people with mental disorders. He also co-sponsored a bill that would eliminate loopholes in the criminal background check system for gun purchases. Worked To Keep The Capital Markets Safe And Attractive For Investors He co-sponsored a bill to address an issue that plagued victims of Bernie Madoff’s collapsed pyramid schemes, namely whether to use the number on their last account statement (which was likely fraudulent but was all they had) to calculate their losses. The bill would confirm that they should use that number. This and other changes in the bill were intended to restore a degree of confidence in US capital markets. TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 17 He voted not to impede the finalization of Key Dodd-Frank financial industry reforms at the SEC and co-sponsored a bill to make federal spending data reporting transparent and accessible to the public. Went After Fraud & Other Crime Murphy co-sponsored bills to crack down on identity theft and fraud and to prevent juvenile delinquency and street gangs. Keeping Mortgage Finance Accessible And Affordable Murphy voted to keep mortgage financing accessible and affordable to those underwater on their mortgages and to low and moderate income families in rural areas. Hurricane Sandy And Future Disasters Murphy voted multiple times for billions in aid, recovery, and insurance funding for the victims of Hurricane Sandy. He also co-sponsored and voted for preparations for future disasters and pandemics. No Price Gouging He voted to consider a federal price gouging prevention bill that would protect consumers from price gouging on gas and other fuels. Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 Patrick Murphy’s Story: The Other Side ***Note: In order help the campaign prepare for spun attacks, this summary narrative and the accompanying vulnerability section in this report are written as hit pieces as an opponent might write them, deliberately employing the same tone and negative spin on facts in the public record. The arguments expressed here do not reflect the views or opinions of True Stories Research.*** Same Old Story: Outsider To Insider Quickly Patrick Murphy’s story is a familiar one: a political outsider was elected on promises of cleaning up Washington’s finances and working together in practical ways to find commonsense solutions. However, as soon as he took office, and particularly as soon as he took his seat on a powerful House committee and the money started flowing in, he began to look like any other politician, quietly doing the bidding of rich and powerful corporations behind the scenes at the expense of the people who elected him, while raking in hundreds of thousands of dollars from PACs and party bosses. Millions of Dollars from Outside Liberal PACs Elected A Wealthy Carpetbagger The PAC contributions were nothing new, however, as Murphy owes his slim margin of victory in 2012 to the millions of dollars in outside super PAC money that funded his ad campaigns and lent boots on the ground and logistical support, even as he campaigned on getting the “gross” super PACs and their millions out of elections (and thanking the liberal House Majority PAC for its $2.4 million in assistance in a January 2013 testimonial video). Those outside millions, including more than half a million given to them by Murphy’s own wealthy father, elected an outside candidate, a carpetbagger who did not live in the district until the year he was elected. …And It’s Starting Again Given that Murphy has been targeted by the DCCC for priority support in 2014 and is already taking tens of thousands of dollars from them and from party bosses such as Nancy Pelosi, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Steny Hoyer, and Democratic budget author Chris van Hollen, and that his seat is considered vulnerable, voters in the 18th District can expect another flood of outside liberal PAC money and additional appearances by top Democrats such as Barack Obama and Bill Clinton, who stumped and raised money for him last time. Token Bipartisanism The millions of dollars from liberal PACs and party bosses speaks for itself, but Murphy’s campaign promise of bipartisanship also begins to look like typical candidate lip service given that it does not extend to the big ticket items that must be addressed to rescue the nation’s finances and pay down the debt. His colleagues across the aisle have noted that his bipartisan votes have been only “soft votes,” not “bellwether votes.” TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 19 Typical Liberal Tax-And-Spender Murphy said on the campaign trail that he would have voted for President Obama’s 2009 stimulus, and that posture has extended to his votes and calls for all of the typical kinds of tax-and-spend liberal big ticket items such as tax hikes to Clinton-era levels, an endlessly-rising debt ceiling, a trillion dollar farm bill, billions for food stamps, disregarding sequester spending limits, and ever-increasing Medicare benefits and votes against reforming it. He has also embraced other heavy handed liberal standards such as co-sponsoring a gun control bill with over 100 other Democrats. He also voted to let the government keep collecting the phone records of every American even when they’re not under suspicion or investigation. Team Obama: Obamacare Additionally Murphy has sung the praises of Obamacare for its alleged savings and efficiencies and has defended it since before taking office, making only minor critiques while endorsing it overall. On multiple occasions he waived the opportunity to reach across the aisle to repeal or defund it, even as the rollout went off the rails and even as the president’s lie about letting covered Americans keep their preferred plans under Obamacare was revealed, even when bipartisan compromise on the matter could have ended the harmful government shutdown. As a fan of food stamps and other chronic forms of government handouts and entitlements, his vote to allow Obama’s plan to hand out Obamacare subsidies to plan applicants claiming low-income status without verifying their income can be seen as consistent. Team Obama: Death by EPA and the War on Affordable Energy Murphy has also walked in lockstep with Obama on his extreme environmental agenda and has waved the flag of global warming. By voting against offshore drilling, he voted to block the country from finding and tapping its own vast oil resources to achieve energy independence. He sponsored legislation to rescind the price supports in the oil & gas industry that allow his constituents to pay reasonable prices at the pump, among the cheapest in the world, and has attempted to redirect that money to renewable energy technologies that can’t yet meet a fraction of the nation’s energy needs. He has voted to use the blunt instrument of the EPA to attempt to regulate the coal industry and others out of business with a stream of punishing billion-dollar rules that kill jobs. He has rejected proposals to route EPA and other government agency regulations through Congress for commonsense impact analysis on jobs and the economy before dropping them on industry. And he has voted not to make use of the nation’s vast forest reserves to rob forest fires of extra fuel and provide benefit to local communities, and to block mining for minerals of strategic importance to the country. Got Nothing Done in Washington District 18 voters should compare what Candidate Murphy said he was going to do in Washington and what Congressman Murphy’s record to date actually shows to see if they got someone who has made any difference. He has sponsored only six bills to date and not one has made it to the House floor for a vote. Of the 160 bills he had co- Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 sponsored by the middle of November, only 13 passed the House, and only four of those became law. Three of those were commemorative gestures and one has to do with people lying about combat medals. Nothing on the deficit and nothing on any of the other problems he pledged to solve in Washington. Should the 18th District return a junior Congressman in the minority party to Washington? Or would they be better served by sending a Republican who can actually get things passed in a Republicancontrolled House? Too Generous to Fail Perhaps the most alarming thing about Murphy’s brief tenure in office is the way he has quietly sold out regular working Americans to the same financial industries whose irresponsible and predatory behavior sparked the global financial collapse of the late 2000s. He has raked in piles of money from financial sector in the first three quarters of 2013 and it shows in his systematic attempts to undermine the reforms that were put in place to prevent the industry from doing it to us again. The collapse exposed systemic weaknesses and reckless standards in the financial industry that left banks and other financial institutions large and small unable to cope with the backlash from the housing crash and credit crisis and the toxic assets, evaporated equity, and unmet obligations it left behind. Regular Americans and small businesses were left to bail out the financial industry while themselves having to endure skyrocketing unemployment, plunging home values, decimated retirement funds, shuttered banks, frozen capital, and an economy on life support. Politicians were on the hook to explain how they and the nation’s laws could have let this happen, and particularly why banks and other financial institutions that were able to reap such immense profits during the bubble were somehow too big to fail and had to be paid even more money out of Main Street’s pocketbook, including $140 billion in bonuses. In response, legislators put forward numerous reforms, primarily the DoddFrank Wall Street Reform And Consumer Protection Act. Many of the regulations stemming from the Act are still being finalized in federal regulatory agencies, yet they have been under attack by legislators, lobbyists, and paid Congressional allies of the financial industry since before the reform bill even passed. Campaign Cash for Watering Down Dodd-Frank Reforms Regrettably, Murphy has proven to be one of those paid attackers, and more acutely so from his perch on the powerful House Financial Services Committee. In addition to taking more money from the banking and investment industry than any other freshman Member of Congress, at least $77,000 in the first three quarters of 2013, and at least $135,000 from the financial sector as a whole, he has repeatedly voted to water down the Dodd-Frank reforms by exempting one group or industry or financial instrument after another from regulations designed to fix the specific things that allowed the financial collapse to happen in the first place. These industries will not rest until they have exempted themselves entirely from as many of the new regulations as possible. Murphy appears to be an eager partner in this regard as his sponsorships, co-sponsorships, votes, and committee votes demonstrate. TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 21 Helping Citibank Write Laws for Itself Murphy voted, for example, both in committee and on the House floor, for a bill known to have been written by Citigroup to exempt broad swaths of swap derivatives from Dodd-Frank regulations, allowing bailed-out banking giants to hedge their risk with derivatives at the same levels as before the collapse. And since they are not any smaller than they were before, they will need to be bailed out by regular taxpayers once again if the same practices leave them exposed to some future economic shock equivalent to the credit crisis and burst housing bubble. He also voted to exempt foreign branches of banks from swap regulation, allowing them to shift their riskier investments to less regulated countries, but with all the same risks to the parent company and the economy as if the branches were domestic. Helping Securities Brokers Masquerade as Impartial Investment Advisers Murphy has also co-sponsored, voted in committee and voted in the full House for a bill to hamstring proposed requirements emerging from Dodd-Frank that securities brokerdealers be regulated as fiduciaries - that is, as people legally bound to give their clients financial advice based on the client’ best interests and ahead of their own or any others’. Currently brokers and dealers operate as salespeople. Their job is to push investment products that make them and their companies the most money possible, even if those products have high costs and poor performance relative to better performing products. So there is a conflict of interest in regard to giving impartial investment advice, yet most regular Americans of middle income are not financially savvy enough realize that people calling themselves “financial advisers” would give them advice pursuant to anything other than their best interests. It has been estimated that this conflict of interest costs retirement investors $1 billion per month. Putting the Nation’s Retirement Savings at Risk At stake in the broker-dealer fiduciary debate is the $10.5 trillion in IRA and 401(k) retirement funds that these securities brokers control, and from which they extract their fees. This is the nation’s retirement savings and it has a steady leak. The industry has issued ominous warnings that the requirements and expenses of maintaining fiduciary status (for example carrying fiduciary insurance) will cost so much that it will cause companies to exit the individual advice market, leaving Americans stranded with little access to personalized investment advice. Then again, they have a similar story for every other regulation. Always these stories make the claim that the industry is only acting in the best interest of their clients, which is ironic given the particular nature of the regulation they’re trying to avoid in this case. No Fiduciary Requirement for Private Equity Funds Either Murphy also co-sponsored legislation to exempt private equity fund advisers from this fiduciary standard for the same reasons and with possibly even greater risks given that their entire business model is based on leverage… Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 Allowing Same Overleveraging & Undercapitalization as in the Financial Collapse Leverage is important because it was not only one of the key culprits in the financial collapse, and one of the key targets of reform afterwards, but is another of the areas of reform and regulation Murphy is taking money from the financial industry to hamstring and undermine. Prior to and during the financial collapse, banks and other financial institutions were so highly leveraged and so undercapitalized that they were unable to absorb the shock of the credit crisis when the chickens of the housing bubble came home to roost. Many of the bad subprime mortgages lenders made irresponsibly to people who could never pay them back, many of the collateralized debt obligations built on those toxic assets and on good mortgages gone underwater, and many of the opaque, under collateralized credit default swap derivatives insuring them went south, leaving overleveraged, undercapitalized banks unable to cover the defaults, and unable to lend to anyone else in the economy who depended on them for capital. When credit froze in this manner and money couldn’t move, the country and world entered financial crisis. The Dodd-Frank reforms and other global voluntary standards such as the Basel Accords targeted this problem of leverage thresholds, capital adequacy, and market liquidity risk, creating safer thresholds for financial institutions, more ability to withstand financial shock, and better monitoring capability so that collectively these institutions and industries would present less risk to clients and investors and less risk of systemwide collapse as they had done before. Murphy has co-sponsored multiple bills to exempt industries from these new regulations and thresholds designed to protect ordinary individuals, the institutions themselves, and the entire economy. He co-sponsored a bill that would let more and larger financial institution holding companies carry higher levels of debt and maintain less capital than Dodd-Frank and other reforms had set. He co-sponsored two bills that would bog down federal regulators’ attempts to implement Basel III capital requirements and rules concerning liquidity, risk management, governance, transparency, and disclosure. Allowing Riskier Mortgages By Degrees Other tweaks to Dodd-Frank are smaller but the issue is always the same. Financial industries do not want to be regulated because it interferes with their ability to reap maximum profit. Murphy co-sponsored a bill to “not count” escrowed home insurance payments when calculating points and fees on a mortgage for the purposes of disclosing points and fees to the customer and staying under the maximum 3% pointand-fee threshold to qualify as a “Qualified Mortgage” under the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s Qualified Mortgage Rule. This rule aligns with the Ability-to-Repay rule in the Dodd-Frank reforms. Its purpose is to avoid one of the major causes of both the housing bubble and its bursting, namely the reckless extension of mortgage credit to people who were in poor position to ever pay it back, often with predatory terms that came back to bite the borrower. The Qualified Mortgage rule prohibits high-risk products and features such as balloon payments and higher points and fees in exchange for a degree of protection against TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 23 borrower lawsuits. By “not counting” escrowed home insurance payments when calculating points and fees, it is like the opposite of placing one’s thumb on the scale – it misrepresents the true cost of the mortgage, meaning that mortgages with higher effective points and fees than intended can still qualify. Allowing Cozy Relationships Between Big Public Companies And Their Auditors Murphy also co-sponsored a bill to preemptively block the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board from ever issuing a rule that would require that audits for a particular public company be conducted by a specific auditing firm or that public companies must rotate auditing firms. The average relationship between an auditing firm and a top 100 US public company is 28 years. Some have lasted much longer, such as KPMG’s engagement as GE’s auditing firm. Regulators are concerned that such lucrative long term relationships may compromise auditing firms’ willingness to issue anything other than a clean audit opinion, as major collapses and associated accounting scandals in the new century have suggested. For example, PricewaterhouseCoopers gave MF Global a clean audit opinion in 2011 five months before the company entered the eighth largest bankruptcy in US history after segregating hundreds of millions of dollars of its customers’ assets. Major accounting firms have been similarly exposed as compromised and as complicit in other major financial scandals, such as the former Arthur Andersen in the 2001 Enron scandal, and other scandals involving Tyco International, Adelphia, Peregrine Systems, and WorldCom. These abuses prompted the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 that Murphy voted to weaken in this case to ensure continued cover for major public corporations and major accounting firms like his former employer and current campaign benefactor, Deloitte, which contributed to his nearly $45,000 haul from the accounting firms and other financial industry corporations who lobbied on this bill. This might be less of an issue except that the companies concerned are public. And when accounting trickery, rubber stamped by complicit auditors, gives a false impression of the health of a public company to boost share value, and then leads to share price collapse once exposed, it is the shareholders - the public - that gets hurt, such as when Enron’s stock dropped from $90 to nearly nothing over the course of its scandal. The Sarbanes-Oxley reforms were put in place for those and other reasons and Murphy voted to weaken them as he has voted to weaken other regulations that chafe large corporations but protect average Americans. Payday Lender Payday Murphy also took money from the payday lending industry and co-sponsored a bill to regulate online payday lenders separately and less rigorously than brick and mortar payday lenders. On the other side of the lobbying table were groups that advocate for consumers and underserved populations that are often the target of predatory payday lenders. Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 A Little Sugar From Big Sugar Goes A Long Way Another industry that has given Murphy money is the sugar industry. The sugar industry’s role in the restorations efforts in the Everglades has been a complicating one. Sugar is farmed in the agricultural area south of Lake Okeechobee, where water used to flow south naturally. Since it can no longer do that, excess water from the lake must drain somewhere else when high volumes threaten the integrity of the dike around the lake, since failure would put area homeowners at risk (think New Orleans). So the water is released to the west and to the east via canals. The C-44 canal drains east into District 18 and empties into the south fork of the St. Lucie River, which then flows into its estuary, which flows into the Indian River Lagoon, which stretches 156 miles north along the coast. Water in Lake Okeechobee and the surrounding area is polluted with septic tank seepage, fertilizer runoff, and pesticides. When this dirty water is released into the St. Lucie river, it not only brings its pollutants, but also its nitrogen-rich nutrients and low salinity. The combination kills everything in the river, the estuary, and beyond, either due to the salinity, the toxic algae blooms it fosters, or the poisons. Tens of thousands of acres of sea grass have been lost, oyster beds have been destroyed, massive fish kills have occurred, dolphins and manatees have died in large numbers, and the water has become so polluted with visible and invisible pollutants and bacteria that residents were warned to keep away from it. Murphy has been working with local, state and federal officials to find funding to better manage the releases and clean up the pollution. But while environmentalists and activists continue to point the finger at Big Sugar for its role in this ongoing problem, not only to the east, but farther south into the Everglades where the industry adds pollutants of its own to the Everglades system, Murphy has been what one journalist described as “wishy washy” in taking the industry on. When given the opportunity to get rid of the Depression-era price supports for the sugar industry, for example, something he campaigned on doing across all industries, he balked. He voted for the 2013 farm bill, which left the subsidies in place and which the CBO said would cost American consumers an extra $374 million over the next decade. All told, because the price support program artificially sets the price higher than the actual market price, the program costs Americans $3.5 billion per year. He also voted against an amendment to that same farm bill that would have specifically cut the sugar price supports. Murphy said of his support for sugar, "I don't want to single out one crop, especially one that is in my district.” All Talk, No Action On Passing A Budget From his first month in office in January 2013 through to the October government shutdown, Murphy issued repeated calls for solutions to the budget crisis and shutdown, pleading for bipartisan cooperation, even attaching the consequence of shutting off Congressional pay if Congress did not pass a budget. Yet when it came time to vote on budgets, he voted against every one that was proposed. He voted against two Republican budgets that would save trillions, bring entitlements under control, and cut TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 25 and simplify taxes. And he voted against three Democratic budgets that would invest in infrastructure, replace the harmful sequester with smarter cuts, reduce the deficit, grow jobs, and protect society’s most vulnerable. Additionally when Murphy’s ostensible partners across the aisle proposed a bipartisan and bicameral fiscal working group to negotiate an end to the shutdown, he voted against it. Bad for Business (from the right) Murphy campaigned as a pro-business moderate, and a businessman himself, who would work across the aisle to create jobs to get the economy moving. But in his third month in office, he voted to raise the minimum wage almost three dollars, which any business owner would say would cost jobs. When given the opportunity to freeze the National Labor Relations Board until it could fill enough seats to form a quorum, and to overturn decisions it has made without a quorum, he stayed firmly on his side of the aisle and voted with every Democrat not to. He also campaigned as someone who would attack the deficit by finding and eliminating duplicative and wasteful programs. Yet when a bill came up to streamline Workforce Investment efforts by eliminating and consolidating 35 programs, including 26 that the GAO had found to be ineffective or duplicative, he again stood with Democrats to vote against it. Bad For Workers (from the left) Murphy has twice targeted overtime pay, part of 75 year-old protections in the Fair Labor Standards act. First he wrote to the OMB to protest the Department of Labor’s attempt to apply the maximum weekly hours protections (overtime) in the FLSA to caregivers who provide home care to the elderly and disabled. Then he co-sponsored legislation to exempt from FLSA overtime protections for two years any insurance adjuster who evaluates claims resulting from or relating to a major disaster. Republicans have a special hatred for federal employees, many of whom belong to public sector unions that support Democrats, and have effectively declared war on them, targeting them with bill after bill to erode their job quality and job security. Despite having promised federal workers on the campaign trail that he would not demonize them in that way or freeze or cap their pay or benefits, Murphy joined Republicans in several of these bills in the first three quarters of 2013. He voted keep their pay frozen, to limit bonuses due during sequestration, allow citizens to record their phone calls with them, putting confidential information at risk, to allow them to be terminated immediately for misconduct instead of allowing them their right to due process, and to bar the hiring or continued federal employment of anyone who had a seriously delinquent tax lien. Bad For Workers (from the right) Murphy voted against the Working Families Flexibility Act, which would have given workers the option of paid time off in lieu of overtime pay for hours worked in excess of 40 per week. Billions More For Wealthy Farmers, Billions Cut For The Poor And Hungry Murphy voted for the nearly $1 trillion 2013 farm bill, which among many other provisions would pour billions into subsidized insurance programs and other giveaways Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 to wealthy farmers and milk processors (and also voted specifically to retain those insurance programs), while cutting $20.5 million from funding for food stamps for people who can’t otherwise get enough to eat. It also replaced a dairy safety net with an insurance program that gives milk processors cheap, subsidized milk at the expense of dairies with no drop in prices on store shelves. Preserving His Congressional Perks Murphy also voted to hold on to his own perks. By hanging his party out to dry by voting with only 27 other Democrats against the House Democratic alternative budget for FY2014, Murphy also voted to retain the many special perks that members of Congress are afforded, including the House gym and spa, the House barber shop, the House salon, the House dining room, and authorization to use taxpayer dollars to buy first class air travel and to lease corporate jets. He also voted to retain a special perk for Congress and its staff that no other American will get. Irrespective of income levels, the federal government will subsidize the cost of Obamacare health insurance for members of Congress and their staff. In a vote in which could either hold on to this subsidy and to Obamacare or end the government shutdown, he chose Obamacare and his Obamacare subsidy. Broken Promises: Keystone, Medicare, DREAM, Abortion, Overtime, Workers Murphy said on the campaign trail that he did not support the Keystone XL pipeline but then voted to bypass the president and approve it. Murphy said on the campaign trail that he would leave Medicare untouched, but once elected, he said it was on the table to negotiate in exchange for tax concessions from Republicans. Murphy said on the campaign trail that he supported a path to citizenship DREAMers, but voted instead to start deporting them again. Murphy said on the campaign trail numerous times that he firmly supported a woman’s right to choose but then voted to block funding for abortions for detained immigrant women. Murphy said on the campaign trail that he would work to protect overtime pay but instead went out of his way to try to exempt home care workers from FLSA overtime/maximum hours protections and also to exempt insurance adjusters working on disaster areas for two years after the disaster. Murphy said on the campaign trail that he would not demonize federal workers or try to manage them by capping or freezing their wages and benefits. But then he voted to freeze and cap their wages, erode their rights to due process, and target ones that were having financial problems. TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 27 Consultant Jailed For 2012 Election Fraud Worked For Murphy’s 2012 Campaign Murphy’s 2012 campaign hired consultant Jeffrey Garcia, who pled guilty, was convicted, and was jailed for election fraud involving submitting phony and illegal absentee ballot requests for another campaign in 2012. He is also under investigation for possibly having funded a fake Tea Party candidate in 2010 to siphon conservative voters away from his client’s opponent. Working To Keep Carcinogens Unregulated Murphy co-sponsored an amendment to exempt premium cigars from FDA regulation. Cigars are as harmful as any other form of tobacco. The lobbying picture for this bill was the tobacco industry on one side and doctors and major public health and cancer organizations on the other. Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 1: Background Biographical Information Name: Patrick Erin Murphy Date of Birth: March 30, 1983 Profession: U.S. Congressman Previously: VP, Coastal Environmental Services; CPA, Deloitte & Touche Education: BA, Accounting/Finance, University of Miami; Diploma, The Lawrenceville School Bio Congressman Patrick E. Murphy represents Florida’s 18th Congressional district, which includes Martin, St. Lucie, and northern Palm Beach counties. He was sworn into Congress at the age of 29, becoming the youngest Member of the 113th Congress. Congressman Murphy currently serves on the prestigious House Committee on Financial Services, where he sits on the Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit as well as the Subcommittee on Domestic and International Monetary Policy. Additionally, Congressman Murphy sits on the House Committee on Small Business, where he serves as the Ranking Member on the Agriculture, Energy, and Trade Subcommittee. Congressman Murphy is also a member of the New Democrat Coalition, a group of moderate, pro-business Democrats. Congressman Murphy was born and raised in Florida, spending most of his childhood in the Florida Keys. Much of his youth was spent on construction sites of his family-owned construction company, Coastal Construction Group (CCG). His family has been in the construction industry for five generations and Congressman Murphy continued in the industry, working as a day laborer through college and most recently, starting his own small business, Coastal Environmental Services, which specializes in disaster relief and cleanup efforts. CCG was named one of the nation’s top “Green Contractors.” In 2010, Congressman Murphy spent six months working in the Gulf of Mexico to help with cleanup efforts following the BP oil spill. Before starting Coastal Environmental Services, Congressman Murphy earned his B.S. in business administration from the University of Miami, graduating with dual majors in accounting and finance. After graduating, he went to work as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) for Deloitte and Touche as an auditor of Fortune 500 companies. TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 29 Congressman Murphy is one of only 10 CPAs currently serving in the House of Representatives. Given Congressman Murphy’s background as a CPA and operating a small business, he knows firsthand the importance of bringing smart, efficient rules of the road to protect taxpayers from reckless behavior and the need to work together to find new ways to support small business growth, the true backbone of our economy. Serving on the Small Business Committee, Congressman Murphy will work to promote smarter regulations rather than more regulations and to create a predictable and globally competitive tax code that will help small businesses to spur economic growth through job creation. Additionally, Congressman Murphy is committed to working with his colleagues on the Financial Services Committee to find real solutions to the housing crisis, with his home state of Florida unfortunately leading the nation in foreclosures. Through his positions on the Small Business Committee as well as the Financial Services’ Subcommittee on Financial Institutions, Congressman Murphy will work to encourage lending to small businesses and entrepreneurs, understanding the important role of capital flow in our economic recovery. Having lived on the Florida coast his entire life, Congressman Murphy is acutely aware of the importance of the environment and how its health is vital to the economy. One of his top priorities is to protect the Florida shores and Everglades from the dangers of oil drilling. Congressman Murphy is also dedicated to ensuring that programs such as Social Security and Medicare, which made the middle class so strong, are protected for future generations. Congressman Murphy is committed to working in a bipartisan manner to tackle the challenges currently facing the nation to continue to move the country forward. To that end, he is a co-chair of the No Labels’ Problem Solvers Group, which is comprised of House and Senate members dedicated to building trust across the aisle. Additionally, Congressman Murphy is the co-founder and co-chairman of the United Solutions Caucus, which is a group of 30 like-minded freshman members, both Democrats and Republicans, who are focused on finding long-term, bipartisan solutions to fiscal issues and helping build relationships across party lines. Congressman Murphy understands this bipartisan work is essential to protecting the middle class and the American dream. (patrickmurphy.house.gov) Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 Public Service Murphy Was Elected To Congress In Florida’s 18th District In 2012: Murphy was elected Florida’s 18th Congressional District seat on November 6, 2012, defeating Republican incumbent Allen West. (votesmart.org; Palm Beach Post, September 2, 2013; Washington Times profile) Murphy Serves On The Following Congressional Committees: Financial Services, Member • Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit, Member • Subcommittee on Monetary Policy and Trade, Member Small Business, Member • Subcommittee on Agriculture, Energy and Trade, Ranking Member (bgov.com) Murphy Got Top Committee Assignment: Murphy was named to the House Committee on Financial Services, a notably competitive position. (The Stuart News, December 21, 2012) Murphy To Use Committee Assignment To Address Housing Market: In December 2012, Murphy landed a coveted spot on House Committee on Financial Services. He said he would use the position to address housing market issues facing Martin and St. Lucie, and northern Palm Beach counties. He pointed out that Florida was particularly impacted by the foreclosure crisis, including his home district. (The Stuart News, December 21, 2012) Murphy’s Background Helped Lead To Major Committee Assignments: According to U.S. Rep. Tom Rooney (FL-17), Murphy’s assignment to the House Committee on Financial Services is a “big deal.” The Republican lawmaker said he was not surprised, in part, because of Murphy’s background. (The Stuart News, December 30, 2012) Murphy Selected As Ranking Member of Agriculture, Energy and Trade Subcommittee: Murphy was selected as a ranking member for the Agriculture, Energy, and Trade subcommittee of the Small Business Committee. Murphy said, “I will work with both my Democratic and Republican colleagues to craft legislation on a range of issues, including economic growth in agriculture and clean energy, energy independence, and the global competitiveness of our small businesses. (India Investment Times, February 15, 2013) TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 31 Murphy Is A Member Of The Following Caucuses And Groups: • United Solutions Caucus (Co-Founder & Co-Chair) – to craft bipartisan solutions to reducing the deficit • No Labels' Problem Solvers Group (Co-Chair) - to meet regularly to build trust across the aisle and break down structural problems that push our leaders apart • Citrus Caucus (Co-Chair) – to work together on issues effecting citrus industry • Disaster Relief Caucus (Co-Chair) - to serve as a venue for discussion and development of policies to better respond to, prepare for, and mitigate the impact of natural disasters • Animal Protection Caucus - to raise awareness of animal welfare issues in Congress • Arts Caucus – a bipartisan organization for Members of Congress who support the arts through federal initiatives • Boating Caucus - an informal, bicameral group to advocate the interests of the recreational boating industry • Caucus for Competitiveness in Entertainment Technology (E-Tech) – to educate policymakers and the public about the economic, educational, and social benefits of sustaining a robust entertainment software industry. • Caucus on Access to Capital & Credit • Caucus on Foster Youth - a forum for Members of Congress to discuss and develop policy recommendations to strengthen the child welfare system and improve the overall well-being of youth and families • Caucus on Homelessness - to produce legislation to help in the fight against hunger and homelessness • Caucus on Human Trafficking - working to end the crime of human trafficking • Certified Public Accounts & Accountants Caucus – an informal, bipartisan group of Members, who are either CPAs or accountants • Everglades Caucus - educate members and staffers about the Everglades and foster support for the restoration effort • Florida PORTS Caucus – to work together as the Florida delegation in Army Corps issues affecting ports • Foster Youth Caucus - a forum for Members of Congress to discuss and develop policy recommendations to strengthen the child welfare system and improve the overall wellbeing of foster youth and their families. • Future Caucus - led by Millennials, its mission is to foster a bipartisan community of Members of Congress dedicated to pragmatic, innovative leadership on futureoriented issues and engaging with future leaders across the country on critical policy issues. • Home Protection Caucus - to establish a bi-partisan approach in developing a solution that enhances the accessibility and affordability of flood insurance for homeowners • Human Trafficking Caucus - to remain informed on action issues to combat sex trafficking • LGBT Equality Caucus - the mission of the LGBT Equality Caucus is to promote lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) equality Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 • • • • • • New Democrat Coalition - the pro-growth, fiscally-responsible wing of the Democratic Party Ports Opportunity, Renewal, Trade, and Security (PORTS) Caucus - to promote the importance of our ports to the nation’s economy and the need to secure them. Small Business Information Technology Caucus - to raise awareness for issues affecting emerging technology firms Travel & Tourism Caucus - to promote issues important to the travel and tourism industry in a bipartisan manner Veterans Jobs Caucus - to decrease the unemployment rate of the nation’s veterans Victims' Rights Caucus - to be a voice for victims' rights in Congress and before the Administration. (patrickmurphy.house.gov; bgov.com) Murphy Won NLC “40 Under 40” Award For Young Progressive Leaders: Murphy was the recipient of the New Leadership Council’s “40 Under 40” award for outstanding individuals who make it through the NLC Institute, a program that offers training, mentoring and professional development to create a foundation of progressive civic leaders. The highlight of the institute is the curriculum, which focuses on issues like framing a compelling message, fundraising, public relations and the nuances of new media. The NLC is a nonprofit organization that recruits, trains and promotes the next generation of political leaders. The national group has chapters in every major American city, and appeals members of all types, everyone from elected officials and community leaders to civic-minded individuals. (SaintPetersBlog, September 1, 2013) Professional History Murphy Was Vice President Of Coastal Environmental Services, A Disaster Relief And Environmental Cleanup Company: In 2010, Murphy became vice president of Coastal Environmental Services LLC, an affiliate of his father’s Coastal Construction Group. He served in that position until elected in November 2012. Founded in July 2010, the company specializes in disaster relief and environmental cleanup. Murphy spent six months in the Gulf of Mexico leading efforts to remove oil spilled during the BP Deepwater Horizon oil disaster. The LLC was owned by Coastal Environmental Services Inc., in which his father and other Coastal Construction Group executives were officers. Both the LLC and the Inc. are both still listed as active companies with the Florida Secretary of State, both having filed annual registrations in April 2013. There exists a web address, coastalenvironmentalservicesllc.com, which may or may not have been associated with Murphy’s company (there are others by that name in the country), but the address is now inactive. On his 2013 financial disclosure statement, he listed Coastal Environmental Services as an asset, but listed it as having no value. (lcv.org bio; Sun-Sentinel, October 18, 2010; Florida Department of State: Coastal Environmental Services LLC and Coastal Environmental Services Inc; coastalenvironmentalservicesllc.com; Murphy financial disclosure statement, September 4, 2013) TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 33 Murphy Was A CPA: After graduating from the University of Miami and prior to joining Coastal Environmental Services, Murphy was an external audit senior CPA for Deloitte & Touche, auditing Fortune 500 companies. His license was in Colorado. (Miami Herald, October 11, 2010; lcv.org bio; The Stuart News, October 21, 2012) Murphy Is A Director Of Miami Bridge: Murphy disclosed in 2013 that he is a director of Miami Bridge. This is likely Miami Bridge Youth and Family Services, Inc., an organization that offers two emergency youth shelters, non-residential family crisis intervention counseling, and truancy diversion services. Its mission is “to promote positive youth development, and strengthen and support families to enable children to actualize their full potential to become productive community members.” (Murphy financial disclosure statement, September 4, 2013; miamibridge.org) Murphy Is Co-Chair Of The Philanthropic Wing Of His Family’s Business: Murphy is the co-chair of Coastal Cares, which guides his family business’s philanthropic work for local and regional charities including the Boys & Girls Club, United Way, Camillus House, and Education Fund/Teach-A-Thon. (patrickmurphyforcongress.com) Property & Personal Finances Murphy Makes At Least $272,050 Per Year: As a Member of the House of Representatives, Murphy makes $174,000 per year. In 2013 he disclosed that he also earned a salary of $98,050 from Coastal Construction Group of South Florida, Inc. in calendar 2012. If he makes the same from that company this year, his total will be $272,050. (Congressional Research Service, Salaries of Members Of Congress, November 4, 2013) Murphy Has Assets Valued At Between $1.1 Million And $5.7 Million: Murphy disclosed in 2013 that he had checking and savings accounts worth $16,002-65,000, stock accounts worth $6,007-91,000 (Apple Computer and several mutual funds), a Coastal Construction 401(k) worth $1,035,023-5,351,000, and presumably shares of Coastal Construction worth $1,035,023-5,351,000. His total assets are valued at $1,070,045-5,702,000. (Murphy financial disclosure statement, September 4, 2013) Murphy Rents A Condo In Jupiter: In September 2013, Murphy listed his home address as 700 South US 1, Apartment 102 in Jupiter. Real estate listings describe this unit as a three-bedroom, three-bathroom, 2259 sq. ft. condo in the Commodore/Anchorage at Jupiter Yacht Club Condominium. In one case it was referred to as a townhouse. The unit is owned by the Steven C. Christensen Trust, based in Bow, New Hampshire. (Murphy 2013 Personal Financial Disclosure; Press Journal; July 27, 2012; zillow.com http://commodore-anchorageatjupiteryachtclub.org; Palm Beach County Property Appraiser) Murphy Rents An Apartment In Washington DC: When Murphy came to Washington, he made arrangements for a one-bedroom apartment about two miles from the Capitol. (TCPalm.com, January 3, 2013) Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 Personal Political Giving Murphy Has Given Over $40,000 To Other Candidates And Committees: Murphy has given a total of $43,050 to other candidates and committees, almost all of it since 2010. He gave to Mitt Romney in 2007 and Charlie Crist in 2010. All of the other contributions have been to Democratic candidates and committees. (influenceexplorer.com, accessed November 1, 2013; fec.gov) Murphy's Contributions To Other Candidates And Committees Date Recipient Location Amount 11/30/2007 Mitt Romney (R) National $2,300 03/01/2010 Dave Aronberg (D) FL $250 03/18/2010 Charlie Crist (I) FL $2,400 03/18/2010 Charlie Crist (I) FL $2,400 01/20/2011 Bill Nelson (D) FL $2,400 01/27/2011 Ted Deutch (D) FL $2,400 01/27/2011 Ted Deutch (D) FL $2,400 02/02/2011 Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D) FL $2,400 02/02/2011 Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D) FL $2,400 02/28/2011 DCCC National $2,000 03/09/2011 Steve Israel (D) NY $2,000 03/27/2011 Bob Casey (D) PA $500 06/02/2011 Bill Nelson (D) FL $900 06/13/2011 Barack Obama (D) National $2,500 07/26/2011 Andrew Hughes (D) WA $1,000 02/18/2012 Elizabeth Warren (D) MA $250 06/29/2012 Keith Fitzgerald (D) FL $2,000 06/30/2012 Tulsi Gabbard (D) HI $2,500 07/10/2012 Daniel Kagan (D) CO $50 10/31/2012 Democratic Exec. Cmte of Florida FL $10,000 Total $43,050 (influenceexplorer.com, accessed November 2013) TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 35 Murphy Gave Himself Over $65,000: Murphy contributed a total of $66,740 to his own campaign, including on the day of his election. (influenceexplorer.com, accessed November 1, 2013; fec.gov) Date 01/25/2011 01/29/2011 02/02/2011 02/02/2011 02/19/2011 02/24/2011 02/25/2011 02/26/2011 02/26/2011 02/28/2011 03/01/2011 06/18/2011 12/30/2011 09/10/2012 09/19/2012 09/21/2012 11/06/2012 11/06/2012 Murphy's Contributions To His Own Campaign Recipient Location Patrick Murphy (D) FL Patrick Murphy (D) FL Patrick Murphy (D) FL Patrick Murphy (D) FL Patrick Murphy (D) FL Patrick Murphy (D) FL Patrick Murphy (D) FL Patrick Murphy (D) FL Patrick Murphy (D) FL Patrick Murphy (D) FL Patrick Murphy (D) FL Patrick Murphy (D) FL Patrick Murphy (D) FL Patrick Murphy (D) FL Patrick Murphy (D) FL Patrick Murphy (D) FL Patrick Murphy (D) FL Patrick Murphy (D) FL Total (influenceexplorer.com, accessed November 2013) Amount $7,500 $9,500 $2,400 $2,500 $1,175 $500 $317 $1,650 $4,235 $1,484 $100 $4,738 $10,000 $5,670 $3,668 $5,660 $4,008 $1,635 $66,740 Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 Campaigns 2012 Murphy Defeated Allen West Murphy Announced His Run In March 2011: In March 2011, Murphy announced he would run against Allen West in District 22. (South Florida Sun-Sentinel, March 22, 2011) Murphy Followed Opponent Allen West From District 22 To District 18 In February 2012: On February 8, 2012, Murphy announced that he would follow his District 22 opponent, Allen West, to the District 18 race, a move West had made the week before. "I got into this race for two main reasons: First, I believe the biggest threat to America, our troubled economy, is best addressed by having more people with my experience as a CPA and small-business owner in Congress," Murphy said in a release. "Secondly, Allen West and the tea party represent an enormous threat to the middle class, seniors, the environment, and America's economic recovery. There is simply no one more divisive in Congress and it's imperative we make sure he is not reelected." (National Journal Daily AM, February 8, 2012) Murphy Won By 0.6%: Murphy was elected Florida’s 18th Congressional District seat on November 6, 2012. He easily beat Democrats Jim Horn and Jerry Lee Buechler in the August 2012 primary. He then defeated Allen West by 1,904 votes, or 0.6 percent. (votesmart.org; Palm Beach Post, September 2, 2013; Washington Times profile) County Palm Beach Martin St Lucie Total 2012 Election Results Murphy West 68,158 49.9% 68,348 50.1% 32,532 42.7% 43,333 56.9% 65,567 55.3% 52,672 44.4% 166,257 50.3% 164,353 49.7% (Palm Beach, St. Lucie, and Martin County Supervisors of Elections) Murphy Led West 47% To 46% At The End of August 2012: A poll conducted by Grove Insight in August 2012 showed Murphy leading Allen West 47% to 46% even though Murphy had been outspent 2 to 1 in the prior two months. (Targeted News Service, August 31, 2012) Murphy Led West 49% To 45% At The End of September 2012: A poll conducted by Kimball Political Consulting on September 28, 2012 showed Murphy leading Allen West 49% to 45%. The same poll found President Obama leading Mitt Romney 52% to 45%. Data suggested that Murphy’s base of support was in Palm Beach County with 58% of the vote while West's base support was in Martin County 52% of the vote. St. Lucie TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 37 County was a draw, with 47% of voters supporting West and 46% supporting Murphy. West had a 25 point lead with younger voters while Murphy led by 17 points amongst 50-59 year olds. Jobs, the deficit, and health care were rated as the most important issues by those surveyed. Forty nine percent of respondents trusted West to solve the jobs issue, while 48% trusted Murphy. (PR Newswire, September 30, 2012) Murphy Won A Rare Victory In A District Obama Lost: Murphy is one of only nine Democrats in the House to win election in 2012 in a district that Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney carried. Romney won District 18 with 51.7% of the vote to Obama’s 47.6%, a margin of 4.1%. (Palm Beach Post, August 28, 2013; Daily Kos 2012 Presidential Election Results by Congressional District) Murphy Beat West With Republican Support: Murphy won his election over the strong fundraising Tea Party favorite, West, partly because he outperformed President Obama in his district. In fact, enough Romney voters sided with Murphy to secure his victory. (Palm Beach Post, November 25, 2012) Muslim Advocate: Muslim Support Helped Murphy Win: Mustafa Dandashly, a student at FIU College of Law and an adviser to Emerge USA, an organization that advocates for policies whose benefits include underrepresented communities such as Muslims, claimed in November 2012 that the Muslim community and its allies overwhelmingly support Murphy with votes and contributions in his narrow victory over West. Dandashly said the community reacted with an “unprecedented showing” to push back against West who “built his political career by defaming and insulting Muslims in America.” (The Miami Herald, November 26, 2012) Palm Beach Post Endorsed Murphy Over West: The editorial board of the Palm Beach Post endorsed Murphy in October 2012, citing a “bottom up change in Congress toward more bipartisanship.” The board acknowledged reservations including that Murphy had no record, but agreed Murphy was stronger choice for the 18th district over West who Murphy criticized for supporting the Republican Party’s plan to “end Medicare as we know it.” (Palm Beach Post, October 23, 2012) Vote Counting Doubts Led To Recount, But It Benefitted Murphy State Elections Commission Certified Murphy As The Winner, Gov. Scott Agreed: After the all-Republican State Elections Canvassing Commission certified Murphy as the winner of the election, Gov. Rick Scott, a Republican aligned with the Tea Party, said he was satisfied with the results that showed Murphy won the election: "That's what the numbers show." (Sun-Sentinel, November 21, 2012) West Demanded Recount, Making Accusations Of Fraud: After Murphy was declared the winner of the election against West by multiple outlets late on Election Night, 2012, West refused to concede and demanded a recount, citing possible fraudulent outcomes in St. Lucie County. The eventual recount in the county actually added to Murphy's lead. (Business Insider, November 2012) Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 St. Lucie Vote Count Problems Led To Two-Week Dispute Of Election Results Before West Conceded: After Murphy’s election victory on November 6, 2012, a dispute over a “bungled” vote count in St. Lucie County led to two weeks court hearings, partial recounts, visits by state election officials, scrutiny of the county supervisor of elections, and constant news coverage. West finally conceded on November 20, but continued to question St. Lucie County results. (Miami Herald, November 20, 2012) Murphy Gained Votes After Recount: Preliminary numbers by the St. Lucie County elections board’s November 2012 recount showed Murphy with an even greater lead than before the recount, with 65,841 votes to West's 52,704. When those results were added to the final tallies in Martin and Palm Beach counties, Murphy's lead increased to 0.65 percent. A spread of less than 0.50 percent would have triggered an automatic recount. . “A lot of these ballots have been counted three times,” Murphy said. “I think the voters should be confident now.” (Palm Beach Post, November 19, 2012; The Stuart News, November 19, 2012) A Rumor Of 900 Votes Cast In A Precinct With Only Seven Voters Was Found To Be False: After a rumor started by Allen West’s campaign manager, Tim Edson, went around the internet that a precinct with only 7 voters somehow recorded 900 votes in Murphy’s November 6, 2012 election victory, the Miami Herald’s Politifact investigated and disproved it. Precinct 93 in St. Lucie County had only seven registered voters, yet a rumor went around the internet and then broadcast news that about 900 votes had been recorded there. Unofficial results from November 11 on the Supervisor of Elections website showed that only six votes had been recorded in Precinct 93. However, the county had had trouble reading ballots on tabulation machines on election night, and partial recounts were demanded. Volunteer observers watching the recount on November 18 noticed and reported a ballot-counting machine with a Precinct 93 sign on it, which had about 776 votes on its tape. However when questioned, St. Lucie County canvassing board member Tod Mowery, a Republican county commissioner, explained that since Precinct 93 had so few voters, its machine had been used to help count votes from Precinct 85, a much larger precinct. Mowery showed West campaign representatives the tape, and the representatives confirmed that the count was for District 85. So Politifact ruled the claim false. (Miami Herald, November 20, 2012) Ballot-Counting Machine Audit Showed 100% Accuracy In Randomly Selected Precincts: An audit of St. Lucie County ballot reading machines was ordered when voters demanded a recount after hearing that ballot counting machines could not read some cartridges. The audit found 100 percent accuracy in two randomly selected precincts. (Palm Beach Post, November 28, 2012) Controversial Tea Party Group Sued For St. Lucie County Elections Audit: In February 2013, an outside group called “True the Vote” which is aligned with the Tea Party, filed a federal lawsuit seeking to audit the election results from 2012 and to have the St. Lucie County elections supervisor turn over additional public records. Allen West who was defeated by Murphy, suggested Murphy had to “cheat to beat me.” However, True the Vote says its goal was not to undo West’s loss, but rather to avoid future TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 39 systematic failures on election day. The federal case would have required a full audit to examine voter registration and records. The group had faced criticism for “impeding the voting process” in districts with high rates of minorities. (The Huffington Post, February 5, 2013) Conservative Group Planned To Review 2012 St. Lucie County Ballots: In May 2013 conservative group True the Vote announced it would review approximately 118,000 ballots from Murphy’s 2012 defeat of Allen West. Vote officials said some ballots were counted twice, eventually leading to a full recount of early voting, which resulted in a net gain in votes for Murphy. (Post on Politics, Palm Beach Post, May 10, 2013) Murphy A Top Fundraiser In 2012 Murphy Raised More Than Most Democratic Challengers In The Country In 2012: As of the end of July 2012, Murphy had raised over $2.3 million, making him one of the best-financed Democratic challengers in the country. (Palm Beach Post, September 23, 2012) Murphy Raised $2.3 Million By The Primary And Spent $1 Million: Murphy raised $2.3 million in campaign funds by the time of his August 2012 primary and spent almost a million on the primary. (Stuart News/Port St. Lucie News, August 15, 2012) Murphy Was Outspent 4-to-1, But Defeated West: Murphy defeated Allen West despite being outspent $17.8 million to $4.3 million. Campaign finance reports show that West raised campaign funds at a rate of about $3,975 an hour, twenty four hours a day, seven days a week, from October 18th to November 6, 2012. West spent approximately $100 per vote cast compared to Murphy at about $25 a vote. (Miami Times, December 12, 2012; Palm Beach Post, December 29, 2012) Murphy Handily Won Primary Murphy Won Primary With 80% Of Vote: Murphy won his August 2012 primary against Jim Horn and Jerry Buechler with about 80% of the vote, after having left a contested primary in District 22. (Stuart News/Port St. Lucie News, August 15, 2012; The Shark Tank, June 17, 2012) Murphy Won Palm Beach Post Endorsement For Primary: In July 2012, Murphy won the endorsement of the Palm Beach Post. The paper’s editors explained the reasons for their endorsement: “Murphy identified jobs and the economy as the biggest issue in this race. The first bill he would champion in Congress would be a massive American Jobs Act. He also wants to incentivize banks to lend money and reform the tax code, which he said is laughable. Murphy supports allowing the Bush tax cuts to expire for those making more than $1 million. Murphy switched from the Republican to Democratic Party in January 2011. He is the third-highest money raiser of all Democratic U.S. House challengers and enjoys the backing of the Democratic Party establishment. Murphy styles himself a consensus-builder.” (Palm Beach Post, July 19, 2012) Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 Murphy Was Falsely Attacked Repeatedly Over 2003 Arrest A serious 2003 case in the 11th Circuit of Miami-Dade, Florida details how Murphy was arrested for disorderly intoxication and possession of a fake I.D. card, a felony. Although not charged, the incident allegedly included underage possession of alcohol, a high degree of drunkenness, fighting in a nightclub, and refusing to pay a taxi cab driver. The arrest affidavit includes details of Murphy’s misbehavior, including saying, “fuck you,” to the arresting officer. The felony I.D. charge was reduced, but the fact of the charge remains. This case could be very damaging, because although at a younger age, it indicates a willingness to deliberately break the law, and loss of control. The State of Florida vs. Patrick Erin Murphy (Case No. 0443AAX) Arrest: In February 2003, Patrick Erin Murphy was arrested for: unlawful possession of a driver’s license on which the date of birth had been altered, a type three felony; and, disorderly intoxication, a type two misdemeanor. In the arresting officer’s affidavit, the circumstances were described as follows: The Defendant and Co-Defendant were escorted out of Club CROBAR by club security for fighting inside. Defendant and Co-Defendant were covered in alcohol (soaking wet) and eyes bloodshot, slurring speech and not able to stand without supporting self on fixed object. Defendant was yelling obscenities at club security and refusing to leave door area. Defendant and Co-Defendant were asked to leave area because their actions were disrupting flow of business, and if they did not calm down and do so, they would be subject to arrest. Co-Defendant was bleeding from a head laceration, but refused treatment from Fire/Rescue. Defendant and CoDefendant left area after warning, but after approximately 5 minutes, a taxi cab driver pulled up to myself and officer Celestre with Defendant and Co-Defendant inside of back seat stating that Defendant and Co-Defendant was too intoxicated and was refusing to pay for cab. Defendant was asked for I.D. but Defendant continually passed over I.D. in wallet (I.D. was visible) and then refused to give it to me. I found I.D. from Defendant wallet in his hand and found it to be a fake New Jersey operator license (NJ# M56290522703813). Defendant was again advised to calm down and step away from my safe space (Defendant continued to get within several inches of my face) or he would be arrested. Defendant refused, stating “fuck you,” at which time I placed Defendant under arrest. (Defendant’s real Florida I.D. was given by Defendant just prior to arrest.) No further statements. Defendant’s NJ I.D. was DoB of 3/17/1981 and his FL I.D. has 3/30/1983 for DoB. Defendant and Co-Defendant was asked if they needed to talk about incident/arrest with a supervisor because Defendant and CoDefendant was making false accusations that myself and Officer Celestre were mistreating them, at which time SGT Rojo #325 arrived on scene to sign arrest forms to what Defendant and Co-Defendant stated, “no, I don’t have any complaints.” (Criminal Justice Information System, Case inquiry, Case No. 0443AAX; State Case #13-2003-CF-004677-001-XX, February 17, 2003) TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 41 Transfer: In March 2003, the 11th Judicial Circuit Court judge transferred the pending case against Murphy to Traffic Court after reducing the charge of unlawful possession of a driver’s license on which the date of birth had been altered, a type three felony, upon motion of the State Attorney, to unlawful application for a driver’s license or I.D. card. (Order to Transfer Cause/Bond, Case No. 0443AAX) Jim Horn Incorrectly Stated Murphy Was Arrested At A Gay Bar: In July 2012, Murphy’s primary opponent Jim Horn sent out a flyer claiming that Murphy’s 2003 arrest had been outside of a famous South Beach gay bar called Crobar. According to the Miami New Times blog, Riptide, it is true that Crobar hosted some gay and gay-friendly parties at that time, but was not a “gay club”. At the time, the bar hosted a gay party called Anthem on Sunday nights, running into Monday mornings. However Murphy was arrested there in the early hours of Sunday morning, after a Saturday night party. According to Riptide, the Saturday parties at that time attracted straighter crowds with big name DJs, and therefore named Horn’s accusation false. (The Shark Tank, July 18, 2012; Miami New Times, Riptide, July 19, 2012) (Miami New Times, Riptide, July 19, 2012) West Attacked Murphy Over His 2003 Arrest: On September 28, 2012, Rep. Allen West released an ad attacking Murphy for his 2003 arrest. CBS News described it thusly: Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 In the 30-second spot, entitled "Decide," West compares his own actions on the night of Feb. 16, 2003 to those of Patrick Murphy, the Democrat who is attempting to unseat the first-term congressman. On that night, according to the campaign, West "had just received deployment orders and prepares his men to go to war." The spot then zooms in on a map of "South Beach, Miami," where "Patrick Murphy is thrown out of a club for fighting, covered in alcohol and unable to stand," according to the narrator. "Murphy then confronts and verbally assaults a police officer." "Patrick Murphy was arrested and taken to jail," the narrator continues, as Murphy's mugshot is featured next to West's head shot. "Two men, a country in crisis. You decide." "Our new television ad exposes Patrick Murphy for who he really is-a spoiled brat who knows nothing of duty, honor or service," the West campaign said in a press release Friday. "Patrick Murphy can duck every debate and his father can run all the false, racist attack ads he wants, but it doesn't change the fact that Pat-rick Murphy is the emptiest of empty suits and of highly questionable character. Patrick Murphy is not fit for office." (CBS News, September 28, 2012) Politifact: West’s Allegation That Murphy’s Father’s Political Donations Got Murphy Off The Hook “Mostly False”: In October 2012, Allen West ran an ad against Murphy that alleged that his father’s companies had made “a huge donation” to the political campaign of the prosecutor in the case as payoff for dropping the 2003 case against Murphy for what the ad said was drunkenly assaulting a police officer, and that Murphy then tried to hide it. However Murphy was not charged for assaulting a police officer and there was no evidence he ever tried to hide his arrest. He was arrested for having a fake ID and for misdemeanor disorderly intoxication, though he was not actually charged with intoxication by prosecutors. The case, composed only of the fake ID charge, was transferred to traffic court and dismissed by the state attorney’s office. West’s ad said that Murphy’s father’s construction businesses made a total of $1,500 in campaign contributions to Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle in 2004, the year following the arrest. Politifact noted that this was a very small drop in the bucket in Fernandez Rundle’s overall campaign haul of $800,000 that year. Murphy’s father himself had contributed $500 to Rundle four years earlier and his companies gave her a total of $2,500 in 2012. Politifact found nothing to connect the campaign contributions to the dismissal of the charges against Murphy and even confirmed with the West campaign that they had no such evidence. It found that Murphy’s father and his companies had donated to dozens of candidates at multiple levels of government since the late 1990s, including much larger five-figure donations to the Republican Party before 2003 and to Democrat Alex Sink’s campaign after 2003. TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 43 Fernandez Rundle said knew Murphy’s father through various community events, had never heard from him regarding his son’s 2003 case, and had never met Murphy until recently. She said the West campaign’s claims about the 2003 case were the first she had heard about the matter. She said the record showed that the facts of the case could not support a belief that the charges could be proven beyond a reasonable doubt, so the disorderly intoxication charge had been dropped and the fake ID case was directed to traffic court. The Tampa Bay Times’ Politifact rated West’s ad “mostly false” since the only sliver of truth in it was that the companies made small donations to Fernandez Rundle’s campaign the following year. (Tampa Bay Times, Politifact, November 2, 2012) 2014 Murphy Again A Top Fundraiser; Dwarfing Opponents’ Hauls Murphy Raised Over 100 Times More Than Republican Competitor In The First Half Of 2013: Murphy raised $1.3 million in the first six months of 2013, over 100 times the amount raised by his announced opponent, Vice Mayor Ellen Andel of Juno Beach. (The Huffington Post, July 16, 2013) Murphy Among Top Freshman Fundraisers In Q2 2013: Murphy raised $530,000 in the second quarter of 2013, which was second to only Tom Cotton (R-AR). Some attributed his fundraising success to committee assignments, "I'll never ... take money from something or someone I don't agree with, and I would never take a vote that I didn't fully support in my heart,” he countered. “I learned early on you're never going to make everyone happy and of course on every issue." (Politico, July 21, 2013) Murphy Raised $530,000 In Q3 2013: In the third quarter of 2013, Murphy raised $530,000 and reported $1.4 million in cash on hand. (SaintPetersBlog, October 7, 2013) Picking Up Endorsements From Prominent State And National Figures Murphy One Of Alex Sink’s Top Priorities For Support: In September 2013, former Florida CFO and former Florida gubernatorial Alex Sink said that supporting Murphy’s re-election was one of her top priorities. (Tampa Tribune, September 21, 2013) Prominent State And National Officials Supporting Murphy: In August 2013, a fundraiser for Murphy was hosted by several prominent supporters such as former gubernatorial candidate Alex Sink, former U.S. Rep. Jim Davis and his successor, U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor, and Maryann Ferenc, past chair of Tampa's tourism agency. (SaintPetersBlog, August 19, 2013) Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 Murphy’s 2012 Campaign Employed Habitually Dirty Consultant At The Same Time He Was Committing Alleged Crimes On Other Campaigns Murphy’s Former Consultant Investigated For Involvement In Illegal Funding Of Phony Tea Party Candidate And Miami Absentee Ballot Request Scandal: In September 2013, the FBI began formally investigating Jeffrey Garcia, the former Chief of Staff of Democratic Congressman Joe Garcia (no relation), for his involvement in a “phony Tea Party candidate’s secretly funded mail campaign.” Garcia’s candidate, Jose Rolando Arrojo, sent out mailers that would have cost over $10,000 to produce and mail, yet in violation of federal law he reported none of that. Garcia was already under investigation for possible involvement into a 2012 Miami absentee ballot request scandal. Some activists suspected him of similar tricks in Murphy’s race against Allen West. (The Shark Tank, September 10, 2013) Murphy “Dismayed” About His Former Consultant, Who Resigned As Another Congressman’s Chief Of Staff Over An Election Scandal: Political consultant Jeff Garcia resigned as chief of staff to Rep. Joe Garcia in May 2013 over a scandal involving fraudulent absentee ballot requests. His company, Palm Media LLC, had previously produced some web videos for Murphy’s 2012 campaign. A statement from Murphy’s office said, "Congressman Murphy was dismayed to hear today of the wrongdoing involving Mr. Jeff Garcia. The integrity of the electoral process is vital to our political system. Mr. Garcia’s media company had a very limited role in the campaign which included producing some web videos. He was not one of the campaign’s primary consultants and had no involvement in the campaign’s field program, absentee program or outreach to voters.” (Post on Politics, June 4, 2013) Murphy’s 2012 Campaign Employed Habitually Dirty Consultant Who Is Now In Jail For Election Fraud And Under Investigation For More Election Fraud Murphy’s 2012 Consultant Went To Jail For Absentee-Ballot Election Fraud Committed On Another 2012 Race: Murphy’s 2012 campaign hired consultant Jeffrey Garcia, who was also working for then-candidate Joe Garcia’s campaign at the time, and later became Rep. Garcia’s chief of staff. In mid-October 2013, he began serving a jail sentence after pleading guilty and being convicted of a felony and three misdemeanors for submitting hundreds of phony absentee-ballot requests online in that campaign for unsuspecting voters who had not given him permission. The state attorney presiding over the case, Katherine Fernandez Rundle, is the same one who presided over Murphy’s 2003 case for disorderly intoxication and possession of a fake ID. (Miami Herald, October 26, 2013 and October 20, 2013) Murphy’s 2012 Consultant Also Under Investigation For Involvement In Illegal Funding Of Phony Tea Party Candidate In 2010: In September 2013, the FBI began formally investigating Murphy’s 2012 consultant Jeffrey Garcia for possibly secretly funding a bogus tea party candidate, Jose Rolando “Roly” Arrojo, in 2010 as a way to peel off conservative votes from Republican David Rivera, who defeated Joe Garcia TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 45 that year but then lost to him in 2012. Arrojo, sent out mailers that would have cost over $10,000 to produce and mail, yet in violation of federal law he reported none of that. (The Shark Tank, September 10, 2013; Miami Herald, October 20, 2013) Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 2. Political Accomplishments This section contains accomplishment themes assembled from content stemming from multiple sources – news articles, sponsored legislation, key votes, campaign finance, etc. The sponsored legislation and key vote content here is duplicative of much of the content in the two standalone reference sections on those topics. Here, the positives from those sections are arranged by prioritized communication theme and are joined by content from other sources, whereas there they are arranged in alphabetical subject categories with no content from other sources. Some content appears in multiple theme sections when it involves multiple topics. An Independent Thinker Who Reaches Across The Aisle “Murphy Keeps His Promise to Deal; Youngest U.S. House Member Crosses Aisle Where Veterans Won't.” Headline, Palm Beach Post, April 8, 2013 “He's definitely tried to be more independent than partisan and I think that's commendable.” Republican Rep. Tom Rooney, Palm Beach Post, April 8, 2013 “I think he wants to find solutions. I think we all want to find solutions. We don't agree on everything, but we're all committed to look at what can be done to address these enormous fiscal issues.” Republican Rep. Robert Pittenger, Palm Beach Post, April 8, 2013 Campaigned As A Problem Solver Who Would Work Across The Aisle Candidate Murphy Called For End To Political Bullying And A Focus On Problem Solving: Murphy said in an October 2012 ad that bipartisanship was better than his opponent Allen West’s “bullying and name-calling,” adding that, "I'll reach across the aisle and solve problems." He also told an audience that "Allen West is trying to set some sort of record for how many headlines he can get. I want to break a record for how many problems I can solve." (Politico, October 15, 2012) Candidate Murphy Decried Party Extremism: At an October 2012 debate, Murphy said, "When you're spending your time calling people communists or comparing them to Nazis or Marxists, that's no way to get things done. I got into this race in large part because I'm tired of the extremism of the Tea Party." (Sun-Sentinel, October 28, 2012) Murphy Chosen To Speak At Congressional Freshman News Conference As A Problem Solver: In November 2012, Murphy was chosen by Democratic leadership to show that the incoming class of freshman were “focused on solving problems, a class TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 47 that's moving toward bipartisanship” according to Murphy himself. Murphy noted a need to lean on his business background and to work with both parties to solve problems. (The Stuart News, November 25, 2012) Candidate Murphy: I’m More Conservative Than Obama: Murphy characterized his race with Tea Party darling Allen West: “Allen West is more extreme than Mitt Romney, and I am more conservative than President Obama.” (Irish Times, October 25, 2012) Even Allen West Said Murphy Sounded Like A Republican: At an October 2012 debate, Murphy called for spending cuts, closing tax code loopholes and eliminating redundant programs, prompting West to say that Murphy sounded like a Republican. (The Stuart News, October 14, 2012) Reached Out To Republicans Right Away Murphy Reached Out To Conservative Voters After Election: "I want to be a voice for everybody. There's obviously a lot of Allen West voters out there. I want to hear from them. Call me, e-mail, come to the door, whatever," Murphy said. "I met with so many Republicans throughout the campaign that said truthfully they just want a moderate (…) There's a lot of pro-business, pro-environmental, pro-choice Republicans in this district," he added. (Palm Beach Post, November 25, 2012) Murphy Opened His Door To His Opponent’s Supporters: After and expensive and fierce 2012 campaign, Murphy declared victory and offered a message to those who voted for his rival: ''To those who supported my opponent, my door is open, and I want to hear your voice.” Murphy added that he was “humbled” by his victory, and looked forward to bipartisan work. (NY Times November 21, 2012) Murphy Struck Common Ground With Republican Rooney: In December 2012, Murphy met with Tom Rooney, a Tequesta Republican to discuss bipartisan collaboration to seek solutions for Everglades or hurricane insurance legislation. After the talks, Rooney called Murphy a “nice guy” who was “sincere.” (The Stuart News, December 21, 2012) Before Taking Office, Murphy And Rooney Planned Bipartisan Work: Before being sworn in Tom Rooney (Fl-17) and Murphy discussed how to achieve common goals in a divided Congress. Rooney pointed out that they would, “work together and get things done for the Treasure Coast and for Central Florida.” (The Stuart News, December 30, 2012) Murphy Pledged Bipartisanship: Congress was sworn in officially January 3, 2013. However a ceremonial swearing in for Reps. Murphy, Frankel, and Hastings took place in front of a full house at West Palm Beach’s city hall on January 28. Murphy highlighted his message of bipartisanship, "We were all elected on a message of bipartisanship and doing what it takes to put all Americans forward," said Murphy. (Palm Beach Post, January 29, 2013) Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 Murphy Paired With Republican For 2013 State Of The Union: In February 2013, Rep. Tom Rice, R-SC asked fellow CPA Murphy to pair up for the State of the Union to uphold a tradition that started three years prior to set aside partisan differences. Rice said he met Murphy at freshman congressional workshops, and discovered they both worked for Deloitte & Touche, the global financial advisory group. (Morning News, February 14, 2013) Murphy Called For Bipartisanship To Reach A Grand Bargain: In his response to President Obama’s State of the Union address, Murphy praised the president for his focus on the state of the economy. However, he added, “to come to a grand bargain, we need to find common ground to work together, regardless of party affiliation.” (Politico, February 12, 2013) Murphy Joined Republicans And Democrats In Caucus To Advocate For Florida Ports: In April 2013, Murphy joined a 17-member, bipartisan, bicameral caucus to advocate for Florida ports, with a majority of Republicans on the House side. Murphy and the caucus planned to work across the aisle to push for dredging and dealing with the bureaucracy at the Army Corps of Engineers. (Sun Sentinel, April 30, 2013) An Independent Problem Solver Who Appeals To Moderate Republicans Murphy Is A Centrist/Moderate And Effectively An Independent, Not A Knee-jerk Democrat: After having been a lifelong Republican, yet objecting to the extreme direction in which the Tea Party was hijacking the party, Murphy switched parties in January 2011 to run as a Democrat. Yet consistent with his background, he has voted against his party’s line more than almost all Democrats. For example he voted to delay the Obamacare mandates despite siding with the party against a Republican plan to repeal the entire bill. "The big votes that we've had, I scrutinize and analyze very carefully," he said. "To be honest, I guess, there has been some pressure at times from leadership... I'm an independent voice, I'm an independent thinker. I'm going to do what I think is best for my constituents and the country," he added. (Politico.com, August 2, 2013; Stuart News/Port St. Lucie News, August 15, 2012; Lexis Public Records) Murphy 16th Most Likely Democrat To Vote Against His Party: Murphy frequently votes against his party. As of early November 2013, OpenCongress.org showed that the average House Democrat had voted the party position 93.3% of the time, while Murphy voted with the party only 83% of the time. (OpenCongress.org, accessed November 11, 2013) Candidate Murphy Called For More Conservative Tax Policy Than Obama; Wanted To Make Deals On Estate Taxes, Capital Gains, And Dividends: During his 2012 campaign, Murphy said only those earning more than $1 million should see higher income tax rates, despite President Obama’s plan to set the threshold at $250,000. Murphy suggested deals could be made if part of a package that included relief on estate taxes, capital gains, and dividends. (Palm Beach Post, November 25, 2012) TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 49 Former Republican Murphy Caters To Moderate Republicans Who Feel Their Party Has Gone Too Far: Murphy characterized his support from Republican moderates: "I think a lot of them are very upset with their party, whether it's gun issues, immigration, a woman's right to choose." (Tampa Bay Times, July 4, 2013) Murphy Looked To His Republican Past To Build Bipartisan Relationships: Murphy, who was a Republican until 2011, said in July 2013 that his prior Republican affiliation was helping him in Congress. "A lot of my Republican friends here, whether they're freshman or whether they have been here for 10 years, all somehow figure out that I used to be a Republican and someone that they could probably work with on whatever particular issues," he said. (CBS News, July 13, 2013) Murphy Promoted Bipartisanship And Noted Some Successes: In May 2013 Murphy attended the St. Lucie Democratic Party dinner. He stressed bipartisanship and noted that he had been able to find agreement with some across the aisle on business issues. (Stuart News, May 19, 2013) Republican Rep. Rooney Commended Murphy For Being More Independent Than Partisan: In April 2013, Republican Rep. Tom Rooney, who formerly represented many of Murphy’s constituents, said Murphy deserved credit for voting with Republicans on some issues. "He's definitely tried to be more independent than partisan and I think that's commendable," said Rooney. (Palm Beach Post, April 8, 2013) Murphy To Run Reelection Race On Moderate Record And Local Focus: In his first six months in office, Murphy defied his party to vote to require a balanced budget and to support the Keystone XL pipeline, while focusing on local issues such as beach renourishment. (Tampa Bay Times, July 15, 2013) Convened Bipartisan United Solutions Caucus To Attack Deficit Murphy Convened And Co-Chairs The Bipartisan “United Solutions Caucus” Of Freshman Representatives To Endorse Statement Of Principles On Reducing The Deficit: In February 2013, Murphy reached across the aisle to Rep. Robert Pittenger (R-NC) to convene a bipartisan group of 31 other freshman representatives called the United Solutions Caucus to endorse a bipartisan statement of principles on reducing the deficit. The group said they were "committed to a new era in Congress where bipartisan solutions are the norm." The group’s statement and letter to Speaker Boehner and Minority Leader Pelosi noted that, “In recent years, Congress has lacked the political will to come together and find solutions. The freshman members of the 113th Congress believe now is the time to work together. We call upon leadership to no longer accept piecemeal solutions and to work toward finding long-term solutions to avoid financial collapse like Greece and other European countries.” Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 In regard to taxes, the group called for "a fair and broad tax plan including eliminating excessive corporate subsidies, tax loopholes and other subsidies to provide lower rates that will encourage a pro-growth economy, providing added revenue for the federal budget." In regard to Social Security and Medicare, the group said that current beneficiaries had to be protected while the programs underwent long-term reform that addressed rising health care costs and demographic shifts. "The common good of the country demands good faith negotiation, compromise, and immediate and significant action," the group's statement said. (Palm Beach Post, February 15, 2013; Murphy et. al. letter to Speaker John Boehner and Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, February 13, 2013) Murphy’s Republican Counterpart In His Bipartisan United Solutions Caucus Praised His Desire To Find Solutions: In February 2013, Murphy joined with Rep. Robert Pittenger (R-NC) to convene a United Solutions Caucus composed of Congressional freshmen to find ways to work together on deficit reduction and the national debt. "I'm a businessman. He is an accountant by training. So we have a similar approach in terms of management," Pittenger said of Murphy. "I think he wants to find solutions. I think we all want to find solutions. We don't agree on everything, but we're all committed to look at what can be done to address these enormous fiscal issues." (Palm Beach Post, April 8, 2013) Leads The “No Labels Problem Solvers” To Eliminate Waste Murphy Co-Chairs The No Labels Problem Solvers, A Bipartisan Coalition That Works Together To Make Government More Efficient, Effective, And Less Wasteful: Murphy co-chairs the Problem Solvers team of the No Labels group, a group of House and Senate members who have agreed to meet regularly to build trust across the aisle. “This group is unlike anything that has existed on Capitol Hill, where there is no forum for large groups of Democrats and Republicans to actually meet together to work through problems. Each party has its own weekly meetings, but there is no opportunity to hear from or reason with the other side. The Problem Solvers offers a new way forward. The Problem Solvers are committed to regular across-the-aisle meetings, embracing the new attitude of problem solving and being real leaders.” No Labels itself is a 501(c)(4) “citizens' movement of Democrats, Republicans and independents dedicated to a new politics of problem solving… No Labels promotes its politics of problem solving in three ways: by organizing citizens across America, providing a space for legislators who want to solve problems to convene and by pushing for common-sense reforms to make our government work.” In July 2013, the Problem Solvers released a legislative package called Make America Work!, containing bills to address the following issues, most of which Murphy cosponsored: TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 51 • • • • • • • • • No Budget, No Pay – If Congress doesn’t pass a budget on time, they don’t get paid. (Murphy co-sponsored HR 310) Take the Time, Save the Dime – Move to a more stable two-year budgeting process (Murphy co-sponsored HR 1869) Don’t Duplicate, Consolidate – Eliminate duplicate agencies and programs identified by the GAO (Murphy co-sponsored HR 2506) Buy Smarter and Save - Enforce strategic sourcing so that separate divisions within a single federal agency do not make independent contracts for common items. (Murphy co-sponsored HR 2694) No Adding, No Padding - Stop assuming automatic year-to-year spending increases in agency budgets. 21st Century Health Care for Heroes - Merge the electronic health records of the Department of Defense with the Department of Veterans Affairs. (Murphy cosponsored HR 2590) Stay in Place, Cut the Waste - Cut 50 percent of agency travel and replace it with video conferencing. Wasted Energy, Wasted Dollars - Reduce energy waste in federal buildings by incentivizing private companies to identify energy savings. The contractors would be paid with the dollars saved instead of with taxpayer dollars. (Murphy cosponsored HR 2689) Plan for Efficient and Effective Government - Create a new Commission for Government Transformation to oversee and effect the transformation of various federal government programs so they will be more economical, efficient and effective. (Murphy co-sponsored HR 2675) (No Labels FAQ; No Labels Problem Solvers; No Labels Make Government Work!; patrickmurphy.house.gov press release, July 16, 2013) Murphy And No Labels Problem Solvers Introduced Nine Bipartisan Bills To Cut Wasteful Spending And Duplication: In July 2013, Murphy and the bipartisan No Labels group’s Problem Solvers congressional coalition, which he co-chairs, unveiled a legislative package called “Make Government Work!” consisting of nine bills designed to make government more efficient, more effective, and less wasteful. Murphy characterized the new bills as “no brainers.” The bills would: eliminate a variety of agencies and programs identified by the nonpartisan Government Accountability Office as duplicative and wasteful, withhold Congress members' pay if it did not pass a budget on time, cut 50 percent of agency travel by implementing more video conferencing, reduce energy waste in federal buildings by incenting private companies to find energy savings, and eliminate automatic year-to-year spending increases in agency budgets, including inflation increases. (Press Journal, July 19, 2013; Sun-sentinel.com, July 18, 2013; nolabels.org) Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 Eliminating Government Waste To Reduce The Deficit Campaigned On Platform Of Cutting Government Waste, Unnecessary Agencies Candidate Murphy Called For Eliminating Waste And Unnecessary Agencies In Washington: In an October 2012 debate against Allen West. Murphy and West agreed on the need to trim the deficit by seeking out waste in Washington and by cutting unnecessary federal agencies. (Palm Beach Post, October 20, 2012) Introduced Bipartisan Legislation To Save $200 Billion Over 10 Years By Eliminating Duplication And Waste Murphy’s Bipartisan United Solutions Caucus Introduced Legislation To Cut $200 Billion In Government Spending As Start Of “Grand Bargain” For Even Bigger Savings: In May 2013, Murphy Rep. David (R-OH) of the bipartisan United Solutions Caucus introduced the group’s first piece of legislation, the Savings, Accountability, Value, and Efficiency (SAVE) Act to cut $200 billion in government spending over the next 10 years from a variety of programs that the Government Accountability and Oversight Office identified as wasteful or inefficient. Murphy said in a statement. "This would be done by eliminating programs such as the USDA's duplicative catfish inspection program, reclaiming billions of unused dollars in Department of Energy accounts, pushing federal agencies to compete hundreds of billions of dollars in contracts like the private sector, and moving the executive branch to dispose of hundreds of excess or underutilized buildings.” He said the savings were a first steps to a bigger bipartisan agreement, "You build trust along the way and at the end of the day, that's the framework for a grand bargain." (Palm Beach Post, May 24, 2013; Stuart News, May 17, 2013) Murphy And Republican Colleague Urged Cooperation To Trim Deficit, “Change The Tone And Get Back To Bipartisanship”: In May 2013, Murphy joined with his Republican colleague, Rep. David Joyce (R-OH), to call for more cooperation between Democrats and Republicans when the two appeared together to promote their co-sponsored SAVE Act, which would save $200 billion over 10 years. "We are not going to solve the world's problems overnight. We are freshman members. But we're changing the tone and step by step that's what we need to do in this country is change the tone and get back to bipartisanship," Murphy said. (Palm Beach Post, May 25, 2013) Murphy Introduced Bipartisan SAVE Act To Cut $200 Billion In Wasteful Spending Over 10 Years: In May 2013, Murphy and Rep. David Joyce (R-OH) introduced HR 1999, the Savings, Accountability, Value, and Efficiency Act or SAVE Act. It would cut $200 billion in government spending by eliminating duplication and waste, and by increasing efficiency. It would do that by eliminating programs like the USDA’s duplicative catfish inspection program, reclaiming billions of unused dollars in Department of Energy accounts, pushing federal agencies to compete hundreds of TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 53 billions of dollars in contracts like the private sector, and moving the executive branch to dispose of hundreds of excess or underutilized buildings. Specifically it would: • Require the Office of Management and Budget publish a national strategy every two years for managing excess and underutilized federal real property. • Require the General Services Administration to implement a plan to improve the Federal Real Property Profile that ensures the data collected is complete, accurate, and consistent. • Require the Administrator for Federal Procurement Policy to issue guidance to federal agencies for reinvigorating the role of the competition advocate. • Require the OMB to issue government-wide savings goals for the strategic sourcing of goods and services by executive agencies. • Require agency chief information officers to report to OMB on agency efforts to identify and eliminate potentially duplicative information technology investment. • Require the Federal Chief Information Officer to develop and implement the Federal Data Center Optimization Initiative to optimize the usage and efficiency of federal data centers. • Require the OMB to issue recommendations for reducing or consolidating the number of federal data centers by at least 40% by the end of FY2018 and by at least 80% by the end of FY2023. • Rescind unobligated budget authority for the Department of Energy (DOE) Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing Loan Program. • Require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to submit to Congress a report on efforts to finalize plans and schedules for fully implementing and expanding the use of the Integrated Data Repository and on actions taken to plan, schedule, and conduct training on the One Program Integrity System. • Amend the USEC Privatization Act to expand the definition of "uranium" for purposes of transfers and sales to include depleted uranium and any byproduct of uranium processing. • Require the OMB to develop a strategy to assess the collective results of federal funding for the reduction of mobile source diesel emissions and to identify and eliminate any unnecessary duplication, overlap, and fragmentation of such activities. • Repeal a provision of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 establishing an inspection and grading program for catfish and other species of farm-raised fish or shellfish. The legislation had 20 co-sponsors and was referred to multiple committees. (congress.gov, HR 1999, May 14, 2013; patrickmurphyforcongress.com) Introduced Bill To Save $26 Billion Through Commonsense Efficiency Murphy Introduced SAVE II Act To Reduce Federal Deficit By $26 Billion By Capitalizing On Modern Technology And Commonsense Opportunities For Efficiency: In September 2013, Murphy introduced HR 3146, the Savings, Accountability, Value, and Efficiency II Act or SAVE II Act to cut $26 billion in government spending over 10 years. The bill was an extension of the bipartisan SAVE Act (HR 1999) that Murphy introduced in May 2013 to cut $200 billion in wasteful Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 spending over 10 years. "As Congress works on a long-term solution to our nation's unacceptably high level of debt, we should not lose focus on economic growth, steady revenues, and cutting as much fat from government operations as we can find," said Murphy. "While tough fiscal decisions still need to be made, these measures represent a non-controversial approach to cutting billions from the deficit without hurting the economy or important national investments." SAVE II: • • • • • • • Requires greater interoperability for unmanned aircraft systems Restricts passports for individuals with seriously delinquent tax debt in excess of $50,000 Requires a report on switching from a retrospective antidumping and countervailing duty collection system to a prospective one Requires a report on the effectiveness of each USAID foreign assistance program and project Requires the conversion of all x-ray systems in federal prisons from analog to filmless digital Prohibits the minting or issuance of any coin that costs more to produce than its face value Requires the Government Printing Office to switch from paper documents to electronic-only publishing on the internet with limited exceptions. The legislation was co-sponsored by Reps. Mike Coffman, R-Colo., Scott Peters, DCalif., Kyrsten Sinema, D-Ariz., and Mark Takano, D-Calif. The bill was referred to several committees. (congress.gov, HR 3146, September 19, 2013; Targeted News Service, September 24, 2013; Congressional Documents and Publications, September 19, 2013) Co-Sponsored Bill To Use GAO Recommendations To Cut Waste Murphy Co-Sponsored The Government Waste Reduction Act Of 2013: In March 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Government Waste Reduction Act Of 2013, which would establish a temporary Independent Government Waste Reduction Board to develop legislative proposals that address government waste as exposed in 2011 and 2012 GAO reports. Each legislative proposal would decrease spending or increase revenue without cutting benefits for veterans, members of the Armed Forces, or seniors—including Medicare and Social Security. This bill would require that the Board’s legislative proposals be put to a straight up-or-down vote with no amendments— bypassing regular order—in the House and Senate. The Board would be required to submit legislative proposals at one year after its inception, and would dissolve four months after that. The Board would consist of 15 members chosen by the President with the consent of the House and Senate majority and minority. (CRS Summary, CoSponsorship memo for HR 530, added March 12, 2013) Murphy Co-Sponsored The Duplication Elimination Act Of 2013 To Require The President To Justify The Exclusion Of Any GAO Recommendation For Elimination Of Duplicative Government Programs And That The Recommendations Be Executed And Used To Lower The Deficit: In June 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Duplication Elimination Act Of 2013, which requires the President, within 90 days after TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 55 publication of the annual Government Accountability Office report on duplication, consolidation, and elimination of duplicative government programs, to send Congress a proposed joint resolution accompanied by a special message specifying: any recommendations outlined in the GAO report that are excluded from the proposed joint resolution; in detail why they were excluded; and the outlined GAO recommendations included in the proposed joint resolution. Limits the proposed joint resolution to one that: (1) makes legislative changes needed to carry out the recommendations contained in the GAO report for a year that the President did not exclude, and (2) requires that any savings attributable to the legislative changes be transferred to the General Fund of the Treasury and be used to reduce the deficit. It sets forth procedures for expedited congressional consideration of the proposed joint resolution. (CRS Summary, CoSponsorship memo for HR 2506, added June 26, 2013) Murphy Co-Sponsored The Government Efficiency Act To Create A Body To Recommend Legislation To Eliminate Government Waste: In July 2013, Murphy cosponsored the Government Efficiency Act, which creates a Commission for Government Transformation that recommends legislation based on Government accounting reports and requires straight up or down votes. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 2675, added July 11, 2013) Co-Sponsored Bill To Require Government Agency Procurement To Be More Strategic And Efficient Murphy Co-Sponsored The Buy Smarter And Save Act Of 2013 To Require Government Agencies To Be More Efficient In Their Purchasing: In July 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Buy Smarter And Save Act Of 2013, which directs the President to establish: (1) an annual government-wide goal to procure goods and services using strategic sourcing, and (2) an annual government-wide goal for savings from the use of strategic sourcing. Defines "strategic sourcing" as a structured and collaborative process of critically analyzing an organization's spending patterns to better leverage its purchasing power, reduce costs, and improve overall value and performance. (CRS Summary, HR 2694, added July 18, 2013) Murphy Urged The Department Of Defense To Cut Waste By Using Off The Shelf Cost Optimization Tools: In October 2013 Murphy led a bipartisan letter to Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel urging the Department of Defense to spend more efficiently in light of its decision not to employ widely used commercial cost optimization tools, and to instead develop and maintain its own. (Murphy et. al. letter to Secretary Chuck Hagel, October 29, 2013) Co-Sponsored Bill To Close Unused Government Bank Accounts Murphy Co-Sponsored The CLEAN Act To Close Long-Empty Government Bank Accounts: In May 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Closing Long-Empty Accounts Now Act of 2013 or CLEAN Act, which directs the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency to submit a report that: (1) lists each U.S. government bank Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 account that has a zero balance for 180 days or more, and (2) recommends which of such accounts should be immediately closed. It requires the appropriate agency to close each such account recommended for closure not later than seven days after the report is submitted. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 1856, added May 7, 2013) Successfully Amended Bill To Require Competitive Bidding On Defense Construction Projects Murphy Proposed And Won Passage Of An Amendment That Would Require The Department Of Defense To Get At Least Two Competitive Bids On Any Contract Over $1,000,000: As an extension of his SAVE Act, Murphy offered an amendment to the military construction and veterans affairs appropriations bill in June 2013 that would boost competitive bidding across defense construction projects. Murphy pointed out on the House floor that 43 percent of Department of Defense contracts are noncompetitively awarded and that it does not keep accurate records of why solesource contracts are awarded. His amendment would prevent the Department of Defense from awarding contracts worth over $1 million that have not received at least two competitive bids. The amendment was agreed to by a voice vote. (congress.gov, th H.Amdt. 91 to HR 2216, June 4, 2013; Congressional Record, 113 Congress, page H3078) Successfully Amended Bill To Stop DoD Spending On Unused Facilities Murphy Proposed And Won Passage Of An Amendment That Would Require The Department Of Defense To Stop Paying To Maintain Unused Facilities: As an extension of his SAVE Act, Murphy offered an amendment to the military construction and veterans affairs appropriations bill in June 2013 that would prohibit any of the funds to be used to maintain or improve Department of Defense real property with a zero percent utilization rate according to the Department's real property inventory database, with a few exceptions noted. Murphy pointed out that eliminating the spending on the hundreds or thousands of buildings and structures that aren’t being used for anything would save tens of millions of dollars in the next fiscal year alone. The amendment was agreed to by a voice vote. (congress.gov, H.Amdt. 95 to HR 2216, June 4, 2013; Congressional th Record, 113 Congress, page H3079) Offered Amendment To Shift $325 Million Cost Of Agricultural Quarantine Inspections From Taxpayers To International Visitors And Trading Partners Murphy Proposed An Amendment To Save Taxpayers $325 Million By Requiring Customs & Border Patrol And The USDA To Pay For Agricultural Quarantine Inspections Of Incoming Vessels And Passengers Using Fees On Those Vessels And Passengers Instead Of Handing The Bill To Taxpayers: In June 2013, Murphy offered an amendment to the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act that would bar any of the funds from being used for the Agricultural Quarantine Inspection program. It would cut over $300 million from a program that had been supposed to cost taxpayers nothing. Customs and Border Patrol, along with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, conducts agricultural quarantine inspections on incoming vessels and TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 57 passengers to protect the nation’s agriculture and wildlife. The cost is supposed to be covered by fees imposed on incoming vessels and travelers, but the Government Accountability Office found in 2011 that the fees covered only 60 percent of the program's cost. As a result, the taxpayers had to cover a $325 million shortfall. Murphy’s SAVE Act, a separate piece of legislation, would direct Customs and Border Patrol and the USDA to adjust its fees to fully cover the cost of the program. The current amendment would prevent Customs and Border Patrol from continuing to use taxpayer dollars to subsidize incoming vessels and travelers and make the program truly feesupported. The amendment failed on a voice vote. (congress.gov, H.Amdt. 125 to HR 2217, th June 5, 2013; Congressional Record, 113 Congress, page H3192) A Moderate Voice For Sensible, Responsible Budgeting Pushed For Sensible Budget Approach Called For Mixed And Balanced Approach To Reduce The Debt Candidate Murphy Called For A Mix Of Tax Increases, Spending Cuts, And Eliminating Redundancy And Fraud To Reduce The Debt: At an October 2012 debate, Murphy said that in addition to some tax increases, what was needed to reduce the debt was cutting spending, eliminating redundancies in government, and tackling fraud. (TC Palm, October 4, 2012) Voted To Require A Balanced Budget Murphy Broke Ranks With Democrats To Vote For Balanced Budget Measure: On February 6, 2013, Murphy crossed the aisle to join Republicans in voting for a measure for the Require A PLAN Act, which would require that if the President’s fiscal year 2014 budget did not achieve balance in the years for which it provided estimates, he would submit a supplemental unified budget by April 1, 2013, which would identify a fiscal year in which balance would be achieved. Murphy stated that while he was frustrated with the partisan language in the bill, he agreed that a balanced budget was important. Murphy also voted for a failed amendment that would’ve required President Obama’s budget to include a balanced approach of spending cuts and tax increases. Murphy stated, “Although I wish the bill had been amended to ensure a balanced approach is taken to reach a balanced budget, this is still an important step in getting our fiscal house in order." The bill passed 253-167. (HR 444, Vote #38, 02/06/13; Palm Beach Post, February 7, 2013) Voted Not To Pay Congress Until It Passed A Budget Murphy Broke With Party, Voted To Withhold Congress’ Pay Until Budget Passed: In January, Murphy voted against the wishes of Democratic leadership and the majority of the House Democratic Caucus to withhold Congressional pay until such time as it Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 passed a budget. The legislation would put a deadline on April 15th for Congress to pass a budget and receive pay. (Palm Beach Post, March 30, 2013) Co-Sponsored A Switch To Biennial Budgeting To Stabilize The Process Murphy Co-Sponsored The Biennial Budgeting And Enhanced Oversight Act Of 2013 To Move The Government From Annual To Biennial Budgeting Stabilize The Budget Process And Avoid Crises: In July 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Biennial Budgeting And Enhanced Oversight Act Of 2013, which amends the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to: • Establish a two-year (biennial) budgeting and appropriations cycle for the U.S. government • Year 1 of the biennium (odd-numbered years): Congress would draft and adopt a budget plan covering the next two years. This plan would provide the framework for the consideration of legislation with fiscal implications over the course of the entire Congress. • Year 2 of the biennium (even-numbered years): Congress would focus on conducting detailed oversight of government agencies and programs. • Biennial process would provide more budget stability and certainty by doing away with the current ad-hoc appropriation process. Federal departments and agencies would know a full year in advance the resources they will have available, giving them the ability to plan into the future and implement cost-saving measures to make the most of every dollar. The bill’s sponsor, Reid Ribble (R-WI), outlined its purpose of taking the country and government out of constant crisis mode in regard to budgeting: “Congress has relied on short-term, stop-gap budget measures for almost three decades, said Ribble. "This dysfunctional approach has caused Washington to stumble from budget crisis to budget crisis and disregarded the proper use of taxpayer money. As one of government’s most basic tasks, passing a budget prioritizes spending depending on the needs and values of our nation. The failure to do so is simply irresponsible and it’s time to fix the problem and hold Washington accountable. “In order to fix our nation’s broken budget process, I introduced a bipartisan solution that will implement a framework for financial responsibility. Biennial budgeting would provide greater stability because deadlines and responsibilities would be broken down in a two-year cycle. Year one would be focused on drafting and executing a responsible budget plan for both years, while year two would be focused on performing detailed oversight of government agencies and programs. By providing enhanced oversight and a more orderly budget process, this will stop the spectacle of a Congress that wastes taxpayer dollars and budgets from crisis to crisis.” (CRS Summary, HR 1869, added July 22, 2013; ribble.house.gov, Press release, May 9, 2013) TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 59 Fought To Prevent And Replace The Sequester Fought To Prevent The Harmful Sequester Murphy Decried Devastating And Mindless Sequester Cuts: In February 2013, Murphy and Reps. Ted Deutch and Lois Frankel criticized the impending sequester in a joint news conference. The trio called out Reps. Southerland, Webster, and Young for blocking a deal on the sequester in order to preserve “tax breaks for millionaires and corporations.” Murphy said the cuts would hurt biomedical research at Scripps Research Institute in Jupiter. (The Stuart News, February 25, 2013) Murphy Called For Bipartisan, Balanced Approach To Avert Sequester And The Damage It Would Do To Everyone: In February 2013, Murphy called for a balanced approach to avert sequester cuts that could result in longer waits at the airport, cuts to pre-school for the poor, and less money for research on cures for Alzheimer’s disease. (Sun-Sentinel, February 22, 2013) Murphy Called For A Fix For The Sequester, Noting Florida Biotech Institutes Faced Potentially Devastating Cuts In Federal Grants: The budget sequester, which activated on March 1, 2013, called for 5% cuts to non-defense programs including the National Institute of Health, which could directly complicate Florida’s taxpayer support for non-profit biotech institutes. Before the sequester only 8% of grants were approved. After enactment, many projects were at risk of being slowed. Murphy noted, "Cuts to medical and science research awards not only affect the work of scientists and students but the health and well-being of millions of Americans." (Palm Beach Post, March 25, 2013) Murphy Said Sequester Would Kill 80,000 Florida Jobs: In March 2013, Murphy decried the damage that the sequester would do to Florida, saying that jobs would be lost. He cited estimates of 80,000 jobs in Florida to be affected in the long term. (Stuart News/Port St. Lucie News, March 3, 2013) CBO: Sequester Will Slash 2013 Economic Growth In Half. According to the Wall Street Journal’s MarketWatch: “Fiscal tightening including the automatic budget cuts known as the sequester would cut U.S. growth in half in 2013 if allowed to go into effect, the Congressional Budget Office said Tuesday in a new budget and economic outlook. … CBO said Tuesday that growth would be about 1.5 percentage points faster in 2013 if not for fiscal tightening including the sequester.” (MarketWatch, 2/5/13) Murphy And Bipartisan Accountants Caucus Called For Exemption Of Financial Accounting Standards Boards From Sequester Cuts: In February 2013, Murphy and the members of the Bipartisan Congressional Accountants Caucus wrote to the chairmen of the House and Senate budget and appropriations committees to ask that the Office of Management and Budget’s the Financial Accounting Standards Board and the Government Accounting Standards Board be exempted from the sequester. They pointed out that starving the boards of funding undermined the independence required Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 to establish fair and reliable accounting standards and was contrary to the intent and legal requirements of the Budget Control Act of 2011, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, and the Dodd-Frank financial reforms. (Congressional Accountants Caucus letter to Mikulski, Rogers, Murray, and Ryan, February 26, 2013) Voted Not To Go On Paid Recess Without Fixing The Sequester Murphy Called On Fellow Legislators To Stay In Washington To Avoid The Sequester With Balanced Approach Of Tax Increases And Spending Cuts: In February 2013, Murphy and Reps. Joe Garcia and Lois Frankel held a press conference urging colleagues to stay in Washington to find a solution to the sequester. Murphy called a legislative break in advance of the sequester deadline “irresponsible” and reiterated the need for a “grand bargain.” The group called for a balanced approach of tax increases and spending reductions to avoid the looming sequester. The sequester was projected to have significant impact on military and other government workers across Florida, including military and civilian personnel. (Sun Sentinel, February 28, 2013; The Key West Citizen, March 2, 2013; Palm Beach Post, March 1, 2013) Murphy Voted To Stay In Washington To Fix Sequester Instead Of Going Home: In February 2013, two weeks before the sequester would begin cutting indiscriminately from government, Murphy voted against adjourning for over a week before reaching a solution. The resolution passed with 222 Republicans and no Democrats voting for adjournment, 222-190. (H Con Res 15, Vote #43, 2/15/13) Voted To Apply Sequester Cuts To House Committees To Make Congress Feel It Murphy Voted To Apply Sequester Cuts To House Committees – Tightening Belt In Tight Times: In 2013, Murphy voted for a bill to provide $241 million in the 113th Congress for the 19 standing committees of the House and the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. The appropriations bill specifically authorized the Committee on House Administration to make House Committee budgets compliant with the Budget Control Act (sequestration), which would impose an average 11 percent cut from amounts authorized for committees in the 112th Congress. • Budget; Ways and Means; and Intelligence Committees would be cut by roughly 9 percent. • Financial Services; Foreign Affairs; Science, Space and Technology; Small Business; Transportation and Infrastructure; and Veterans Affairs would be cut nearly 12 percent. The bill passed the House 272-136. (HR 115, Vote #82, 3/19/13) Other Members Complained That Sequester Cuts Would Hinder The House’s Ability To Conduct Oversight; No Comment On Why The Same Logic Did Not Apply To What Cuts Were Doing To The Rest Of The Country: TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 61 • Rep. Buck McKeon (R-CA) said the cuts “would cripple committee functions at an important time.” (Statement of Howard P. “Buck” McKeon before the Committee on House Administration, 3/05/13) • Rep. Juan C. Vargas called the cuts the “next step in a slow march” in making the House incapable of conducting its oversight function (D-CA). (CQ News, 3/19/13) • “The passage of H. Res. 115 jeopardizes Congress’ ability to serve the American people and conduct meaningful oversight,” said Rep. Carol Shea-Porter (D-NH). (Rep. Carol Shea-Porter press release, 3/20/13) Voted To Ease Flight Delays Due To Sequester Cuts Murphy Voted To Ease Sequestration Cuts For FAA: In 2013, Murphy voted for legislation that would give the Secretary of Transportation the flexibility to end flight delays due to cuts to the Federal Aviation Administration. The bill would allow as much $253 million to be moved from other parts of the Transportation Department to the FAA to “stop further furloughs and keep the air traffic control system operating at a normal pace” through the fiscal year. (New York Times, 4/26/13) Over the course of a week, the furloughs delayed more than 3,000 flights according to FAA tallies. (CNN, 4/26/13) The bill passed 361-41. (HR 1765, Vote #125, 4/26/13) Voted Not To Keep The Sequester Murphy Voted Against Keeping The Sequester Cuts: In 2013, Murphy voted against bills that would preserve sequester cuts: • • Murphy voted against Republican budget, which retained cuts from sequestration. (H Con Res 25, Vote #88, 3/21/13) Murphy voted against Republican Study Committee budget, which contained cuts from sequestration. (H Con Res 25, Vote #86, 3/21/13) Voted To Consider Replacing The Sequester With A Balanced Approach Murphy Voted To Consider Replacing Sequester With Sensible Cuts: In September 2013, Murphy voted to consider the Stop the Sequester Job Loss Now Act, which would replace the entire sequester for the remainder of fiscal year 2013. “That measure would eliminate subsidies to the farm industry, scrap tax preferences used by oil-and-gas companies and implement a new minimum tax rate on people making seven figures annually — the proposal commonly known as the ‘Buffett Rule.’” Murphy’s vote against the motion to order the previous question was a vote to allow for consideration of the sequester replacement bill. (The Hill, 2/11/13) The previous question was approved 232193, so the bill could not be considered. (H Res 99, Vote #472, 9/09/13) Voted Against Unacceptable, Extreme Budgets Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 Murphy Voted Against Proposed 2014 Budgets That Went Too Far To One Side Or The Other: In 2013, Murphy voted against Republican budgets that would slash nondefense spending, cut taxes for millionaires and raise them for the middle class, and convert Medicare into a voucher plan. Yet he also voted against multiple Democratic budgets that would raise domestic spending too much and tax capital gains as ordinary income. (The Stuart News, Port St. Lucie News, March 24, 2013; Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, 3/17/13) Voted Against Radical Ryan Budget With Wrong Priorities Murphy Voted Against The Ryan Budget, Which Privatized Medicare, Cut Taxes On The Rich, And Raised Them On The Middle Class: In March 2013, Murphy voted with every Democrat against the Republicans’ main budget, put forward by Republican Rep. Paul Ryan. Supporters of the budget claimed it would: • Cut $885 billion from Medicare and Medicaid spending over the ensuing 10 years • Maintain and extend the sequester cuts • Repeal Obamacare • Replace the current seven tax brackets with only two: 10% on the first $100,000 and 25% on all in excess of that • Repeal the alternative minimum tax as well as any and all taxes imposed by Obamacare, including the 3.8% tax on a taxpayer’s net investment income • Reduce the maximum corporate tax rate from 35% to 25%. Opponents said it cut taxes for millionaires, raised taxes on the middle class, and eliminated the Medicare guarantee. Forbes called it a “Kamikaze” budget, but also noted that at least the Kamikazes of WWII had the right idea of sinking the US fleet even if their mission was hopeless. The Ryan budget, according to Forbes, did not even attack the right target, targeting spending instead of economic growth. Forbes also likened the process to surgery: “Budget cutting is surgery. Economic growth provides anesthesia. Ryan’s budget proposes surgery without anesthesia. This is never going to be popular with the patient, even if Dr. Ryan assures us that it is ‘for our own good.’” Forbes also noted that the plan only projected real GDP growth of 0.17% greater than the current projection, taking growth from 2.19% to 2.36%, when what was needed for the economy to work was RGDP of at least 3.5% over the long term. According to Forbes, “Ryan’s budget plan should have presented an ‘alternative growth scenario’, and it did not.” The budget passed the House 221-207. (H Con Res 25, Vote #88, 03/20/13; Forbes.com March 12, 2013 and March 20, 2013) CBPP: Families Making Less Than $200,000 Would Face Average Tax Hike of $3,000: According to an analysis of the Ryan Budget conducted by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, “Families with children that have incomes below $200,000 would have to face tax increases averaging more than $3,000 a year, if policymakers were to avoid increasing the deficit while reaching Chairman TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 63 Ryan’s 25-percent top-tax-rate goal… If policymakers enacted the same extremely ambitious reductions in tax expenditures for filers with incomes above $200,000…, filers with incomes of $1 million or more would lose tax breaks totaling about $90,000 on average — still leaving them with an average net tax cut of about $245,000 …” (Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, 3/17/13) CBPP: Millionaires Would Likely Experience A $245,000 Net Tax Cut: According to an analysis of the Ryan Budget conducted by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, “If policymakers enacted the same extremely ambitious reductions in tax expenditures for filers with incomes above $200,000 that TPC assumed when it analyzed Romney’s tax plan, filers with incomes of $1 million or more would lose tax breaks totaling about $90,000 on average — still leaving them with an average net tax cut of about $245,000. Households with incomes above $200,000 would get a net cut of about $16,000.” (Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, 3/17/13) National Journal: “For Those Younger Than Age 55, Medicare Could Look Unrecognizable” If Ryan Budget Were Implemented: According to the National Journal: “And, for those younger than age 55, Medicare could look unrecognizable: People receive a fixed sum of money from the federal government to buy health insurance in their old age, regardless of the way inflation has caused health care costs to increase.” (National Journal, 3/10/13) CBPP: Ryan Budget Would Cut Medicare Spending by a Total of $356 Billion: According to an analysis of the Ryan budget conducted by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities: “Over the next ten years, the Ryan budget would cut Medicare spending by a total of $356 billion. His budget would save $129 billion compared to current law from limiting medical malpractice awards, increasing income-tested premiums, and repealing the Medicare benefit improvements in health reform, including closure of the prescription drug ‘donut hole.’ Ryan’s baseline includes $138 billion in scheduled cuts from Medicare’s sustainable growth rate formula for physicians and $89 billion in Medicare cuts from sequestration, bringing his total Medicare reductions to the aforementioned $356 billion.” (Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, 3/13/12) EPI: “Ryan Budget Would Increase the Unemployment Rate by Between .6 [and] .8 Percentage Points”: According to an analysis of the Ryan budget conducted by the Economic Policy Institute, “We estimate that the Ryan budget would increase the unemployment rate by between 0.6 percentage points and 0.8 percentage points.” (Economic Policy Institute, 3/12/13) CBPP: Ryan Budget “Would Likely Add to Deficits, Undercutting… Claim to Balance the Budget Within a Decade”: The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities dismissed Ryan’s claim that his budget would balance within a decade, by writing: “Nor is his vow to raise $6 trillion by scaling back tax expenditures plausible, given that the most costly of them, such as the mortgage interest deduction and deduction for charitable giving, tend to be the most politically Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 popular. As a result, if policymakers were to cut taxes enough to meet Chairman Ryan’s goal, they would likely add to deficits, undercutting Chairman Ryan’s claim to budget the balance within a decade.” (Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, 3/17/13) Ryan Budget Slashes Pell Grant Eligibility and Freezes Pell Grant Funding to Not Keep Pace With Inflation: According to an analysis of the Ryan budget conducted by Inside Higher Ed: “The budget also calls for reversing changes to the grant’s needs analysis formula put into place in 2007, which expanded the number of students eligible for Pell Grants, in essence making fewer students eligible to receive them. It also revisits proposals put forward last year: using ‘fair value’ accounting for student loans, which makes the program seem much less profitable for the federal government than it does under current accounting rules.” In addition, Campus Progress found: “Under the House Republican Budget, Pell Grants would be capped at the current level of $5,645 for 10 years, and eliminate all mandatory funding. In other words, under Ryan’s plan, Pell Grants would not keep up with the pace of inflation and rising tuition costs, and would be worth less each successive year.” (Inside Higher Ed, 3/13/13; Campus Progress, 3/12/13) Ryan Budget Would Slash The Corporate Tax Rate From 35 Percent to 25 Percent: According to the New York Times, “Under the Ryan plan, the corporate tax rate would also fall, from 35 percent to 25 percent — although all those tax changes are supposed to be crafted to bring in the same amount of revenue as the current tax code, a tall order.” (New York Times, 3/12/13) Ryan’s “Budget Would Add About $1.2 Trillion to the National Debt”: According to the Washington Post: “With $41.5 trillion in spending over the next decade and $40.2 trillion in revenues, Ryan’s budget would add about $1.2 trillion to the national debt. But shrinking deficits would reduce borrowing and cause the debt to shrink as a percentage of the economy. By the time a $7 billion surplus emerges in 2023, Ryan predicts that the Treasury would owe $14.2 trillion to outside creditors (compared with $11.8 trillion today), or about 55 percent of the gross domestic product (compared with about 76 percent today).” (Washington Post, 3/12/13) Voted Against Extreme Republican Study Committee Budget Murphy Answered “Present” On Extreme Republican Study Committee Budget: In March 2013, Murphy answered “present” with a majority of Democrats when the Republican Study Committee substitute budget put forward by Republican Rep. Woodall came to a vote. Supporters said the budget would balance the budget in four years, remove the fiscal cliff tax increases, and cut discretionary spending to FY2008 levels. Opponents, including even the Heritage Foundation, said it was even worse than the Ryan budget, since it eliminated the spending provisions of Obamacare, which it effectively repealed, but left in the associated revenues. Therefore the claim of balancing the budget in four years was said to be fallacious. It also cut taxes for TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 65 millionaires, raised taxes on the middle class, and eliminated the Medicare guarantee. The amendment failed 104-132. (H Con Res 25, Vote #86, 03/20/13) RSC Budget Would Turn Medicare Into a Voucher Program for Those 59 and Younger: According to The Hill: “The key difference between the two proposals [the RSC and Ryan budgets] is the plan to overhaul Medicare. While Ryan calls for implementing his ‘premium support’ plan for future beneficiaries age 54 and younger, the RSC budget would start the change for people 59 and below.” (The Hill, 3/15/13) RSC Budget Would Raise The Social Security Eligibility Age From 65 To 70 For Those 51 And Older: According to the RSC’s FY 2014 budget blueprint, “This budget would slowly phase in an increase in the Social Security fullretirement age for individuals born in 1962 (currently 51) and after to an eventual full-retirement age of 70.” (RSC Budget, March 2013) RSC Budget Would Eliminate The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau And Reinstates Too Big to Fail: The RSC’s FY2014 calls for the elimination of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and removes the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporations authority to wind-down banks that are too big to fail. (RSC Budget, March 2013) RSC Budget Would Allow Pell Grants to Collect Interest During Enrollment and Deny Grants to Adjust to Inflation: Under current law, Pell Grants do not collect interest during the student’s enrollment; however, the RSC’s FY 2014 budget blueprint calls for the repeal of this provision. In addition, the RSC budget would prevent the Pell Grant from keeping pace with inflation. (RSC Budget, March 2013) RSC Budget Would Slash the Corporate Tax Rate from 35 Percent to 25 Percent and Adopt a Territorial Tax System: According to the RSC’s FY 2014 budget blueprint, “This budget calls for reducing America’s top corporate tax rate from 35 percent to 25 percent. In addition, the “budget directs the House Ways and Means Committee to identify tax deductions and credits that could be eliminated and to report legislation transitioning the U.S. to a territorial tax system.” (RSC Budget, March 2013) RSC Budget Would Cap the Capital Gains Tax at 15 Percent, Remove the Capital Gains Inflation Index: The RSC’s FY 2014 budget blueprint would cap the capital gains tax at 15 percent. In addition, “This budget would eliminate the capital gains tax on inflation.” (RSC Budget, March 2013) RSC Budget Would Establish A System With Two Income Tax Brackets: 25 Percent and 15 Percent and Eliminate Individual Deductions and Credits: The RSC’s FY 2014 budget blueprint would establish: “Just two rates -- 15 percent (first $50,000 taxable income for single filers, $100,000 for joint filers) and 25 percent (taxable income above those amounts); A standard deduction of Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 $12,500 for single filers, and $25,000 for joint filers; An additional deduction of $12,500 for each dependent; and No other individual deductions or credits or exclusions.” (RSC Budget, March 2013) • CBPP: Two-Tax Bracket Structure Included in RSC Budget Would Likely Result in Net Tax Increases for Low and Middle Income Families. In 2012, the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities analyzed the impacts of Rep. Dave Camp’s tax reform package, which contained many of the policy proposals that are also included in the FY 2014 RSC budget – such as the repeal of the Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) and two income tax brackets – and concluded that if passed, the proposal would result in a net tax increase for working families. The CBPP wrote: “The proposals thus provide no protection from policy changes that would shift tax burdens down the income scale by giving large net tax cuts to highincome individuals and net tax increases to low- and moderate-income families. That’s because the tax rate cuts that the bills call for would be very regressive and give their biggest tax cuts by far to people at the top, while curbs on tax expenditures could cause significant tax increases for low- and middle-income families. That’s especially true if, as many Republicans favor, policymakers protect the primary tax expenditure that benefits people at the top — the low top rate on capital gains and dividend income — while substantially cutting tax expenditures on which ordinary families rely.” (Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, 7/31/12) Voted Against House Democratic Budget And $1 Trillion More In Taxes Murphy Voted Against The Democratic Caucus Budget, Which Included $1 Trillion In New Tax Revenue With No Details On How That Would Be Raised: In March 2013, Murphy was one of only 28 Democrats to join all Republicans in voting against the Democratic Caucus substitute budget put forward by Democratic Rep. Van Hollen. The budget would raise $1 trillion in new tax revenues, but did “not provide details on exactly how the tax code would be reformed to generate that level of new revenue”. The amendment failed 165-253. (H Con Res, Vote #87, 03/20/13; Washington Post Politics Blog, March 26, 2012) Voted Against Senate Democratic Budget And $1 Trillion More In Taxes Murphy Voted Against The Senate Democratic Budget, Which Included $1 Trillion In New Taxes And Did Not Balance The Budget: In 2013, Murphy voted against a version of the 2014 budget, introduced by Republican Mick Mulvaney of South Carolina, which was a virtual copy of the Senate Democratic budget. It would include $975 billion in new taxes but would not balance the budget with the sequester turned off. (Senate Budget Committee Democrats, March 2013; The Hill, On The Money Blog, March 12, 2013) The amendment failed 154-261. (H Con Res 25, Vote #83, 3/20/13) TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 67 Voted Against Congressional Black Caucus Budget And $2.7 Trillion More In Tax Murphy Voted Against Congressional Black Caucus Budget And Up To $2.7 Trillion In Additional Taxes: In March 2013, Murphy voted with Republicans against the Congressional Black Caucus budget, which directed the Ways and Means Committee to find $2.7 trillion in additional tax revenues. (H Con Res 25, Vote #84, 03/20/13) Voted Against Progressive Caucus Budget And Tax Rates Of Up To 49% Murphy Voted Against The Progressive Caucus Budget And Tax Rates As High As 49%: In March 2013, Murphy voted with Republicans and a majority of Democrats against the Progressive Caucus substitute budget put forward by Democratic Rep. Grijalva. The budget would create four new tax brackets at 46%, 47%, 48%, and 49%. (H Con Res 25, Vote #85, 03/20/13) Took Responsible Path On Shutdown And Debt Ceiling Voted Keep The Government Paying Its Bills, Withhold Congressional Pay Until They Passed A Budget, And Protect Vulnerable Populations From Cuts Voted To Keep Government Paying Its Bills And Voted To Support “No Budget, No Pay”: In January 2013, Murphy voted to suspend the debt limit through May 18, 2013, and then automatically increase the debt limit to accommodate the additional debt accumulated through that date. The bill also directed both chambers of Congress to adopt a budget resolution for FY 2014 by April 15, 2013. If either body failed to pass a budget, members of that body would have their paychecks put into an escrow account starting on April 16 until that body adopted a budget or until the last day of the 113th Congress. (CQ Votes, 1/23/13) The bill passed, 285-44. (HR 325, Vote # 30, 1/23/13) Murphy Voted For Stopgap Bill To Fund Government Through End Of Fiscal 2013: In March 2013, Murphy voted for the continuing resolution to provide funding for government operations through fiscal year 2013. The bill would provide $1.043 trillion in discretionary funds before sequestration. The bill would provide $517.7 billion in base discretionary funding for the Department of Defense, $39.6 billion for the Department of Homeland Security and $71.9 billion for veterans programs and military construction. The continuing resolution would provide $20.5 billion for agriculture programs and $50.2 billion for commerce, law enforcement and science programs. The bill passed with bipartisan support, 318-109. (HR 933, Vote #89, 3/21/13, and Vote #62, 3/6/2013) Republican Congressman: Stopgap Bill Set “Responsible Spending Levels”: Rep. Richard Hanna (R-NY) said of the stopgap spending bill, “This continuing resolution is a good step forward in ensuring continuity of government Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 operations at responsible spending levels.” (Rep. Richard Hanna press release, March 21, 2013) Called On Shutdown Culprits To Recognize The Damage They Were Doing And Allow Both Parties To Vote To End The Shutdown Murphy Lamented The Ongoing Costs Of The Shutdown To Small Business And Called On Extremists To Recognize That The Impact Was Real And Not A Game: In November 2013, Murphy told local news channel WPEC-TV that he was well aware of the negative economic impact the shutdown had and was continuing to have on local businesses. “I have repeatedly called on leadership of both parties to get to work to find common ground to find a long-term solution to our nation’s challenges. Dysfunction in Congress and governing crisis to crisis is holding back our recovery. Certainty and stability from Washington will give our businesses the confidence to grow the economy and create jobs,” he said, “Although the shutdown was a manufactured crisis, the impact it had was very real. In the 16 days the government was shutdown, America lost $6 billion in economic output. As SPS Industrial and Fairwind Air Charter can attest, it is still causing pain on Main Street. I would hope that the small group of Tea Party members who shut down the government and brought us to the brink of default will realize that this is not a game.” (cbs12.com, November 7, 2013) Murphy Wrote Op-Ed Calling For Bipartisan Cooperation To End The Government Shutdown: In October 2013, Murphy wrote an op-ed in the Palm Beach Post reiterating his previous calls for Speaker John Boehner to allow a vote on a clean spending bill to immediately reopen the government. He spoke of Republicans who wanted that themselves and would vote for it if given a chance. He spoke of the frustrations of ordinary Americans during the shutdown, such as a veteran whose benefits were at risk, whose G.I. Bill funding was at risk, and who couldn’t even get his belongings from where he was formerly stationed until the shutdown ended. He spoke of furloughed workers, of small business loans that were not being processed in the Palm Beach County-Treasure coast area and across the nation, and of the risk to the creditworthiness of the nation. He laid the blame squarely on the extreme Tea Party in contrast to his efforts to orchestrate a “grand bargain” between the parties since taking office in January. He called once again for members of Congress to work together to find common-sense solutions to fund the government responsibly and mentioned his efforts in the bipartisan United Solutions and No Labels groups toward those ends. (Palm Beach Post, October 10, 2013) Murphy Penned Letter To Boehner Signed By 200 Members Of Congress To End The Government Shutdown: Murphy On October 5, 2013, the fifth day of the government shutdown, Murphy and Rep. Timothy H. Bishop of New York led 200 members of congress in writing a letter that John Boehner immediately call a vote on a clean spending bill to reopen the government. The letter noted that trying to defund or delay the Affordable Care Act via legislation needed to re-open the government was TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 69 putting the economy at risk in order to advance a political agenda. "Our fragile economy cannot afford one more day of this disgraceful shutdown," said Murphy. "The American people have had enough - enough of the shutdown, enough of the games, enough of the manufactured crises. It is beyond time to put the partisanship aside, end this shutdown, and move forward with the business of the American people that has gotten tied up in this gridlock." (States News Service, October 5, 2013) Voted To Pay Veterans, Seniors, Ahead Of China And Iran If US Hit Debt Ceiling Voted Against A Plan To Pay Bondholders Such As China And Iran Ahead Of Veterans, Troops, Medicare Recipients, Etc. If US Hit Debt Ceiling: In 2013, Murphy voted against a bill that would prioritize paying bondholders – including in China, Iran and the Cayman Islands – if the nation were to default on its debt payments, instead of American troops, veterans, doctors and hospitals, and American small businesses. House Speaker John Boehner even admitted that a “debt prioritization bill makes it clear to our bondholders that we’re going to meet our obligations… Listen. Those who have loaned us money, like in any other proceeding, if you will, court proceeding, the bondholders usually get paid first. Same thing here,” he said. Republican supporters of the bill maintained that nation wouldn’t default on its credit as long the interest payments were made on time. The Obama administration countered that it was an unacceptably risky alternative to simply raising the debt ceiling. “This bill would threaten the full faith and credit of the United States, cost American jobs, hurt businesses of all sizes, and do damage to the economy,” the administration wrote in a statement of policy. (Huffington Post, 5/07/13) The bill passed 221-207. (HR 807, Vote #142, 5/09/13) Was Willing To Delay Obamacare But Not If Held Hostage To The Shutdown Murphy Refused To Vote For Delays To Obamacare Individual And Employer Mandates If They Were Tied To A Resolution To Keep The Government Running: In September, Murphy voted for Republican bills to delay enforcement of Obamacare’s individual and employer mandates, but said he opposed attaching such measures to a continuing resolution to keep the government running. "I prefer a plain CR at this point," he said. Murphy campaigned as a supporter of the health care law in 2012 while saying he supports improvements to it. But, he said, "Whether you agree with the Affordable Care Act or not, that debate has already happened. ... These arguments are separate at this point." (Palm Beach Post, September 28, 2013) Murphy Called On The House To Keep The Government Running And Address Obamacare Separately: On September 30, 2013, Murphy called for the House of Representatives to take up a clean government funding resolution to avoid a government shutdown. "The debates over keeping our government operating and over the health care law are separate issues,” he said. “I once again urge the leaders of both parties to sit down and work out a clean funding bill to keep our government operating." (Congressional Documents and Publications, September 30, 2013) Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 Broke With Democrats To Vote For Republicans’ Mini Spending Bills During Shutdown Murphy Broke With Democrats To Vote To Fund Veterans Benefits Independently Of The Government Shutdown: On October 1, 2013, when all but 33 Democrats voted not to fund veterans benefits independently of the government shutdown, Murphy voted with every Republican to fund them. Requiring a 2/3 majority to pass under a suspension of the rules, the bill failed 264-164. (HJ Res 72, Vote #506, October 1, 2013) On October 3 when the bill came up again under normal rules, and all but 35 Democrats voted against it, Murphy again voted with every Republican to fund them. (HJ Res 72, Vote #518, October 3, 2013) Murphy Broke With Democrats To Fund The DC Government Independently Of The Federal Government Shutdown: On October 1, 2013, when all but 34 Democrats voted not to fund the District of Columbia government independently of the federal government shutdown, Murphy voted with every Republican to fund it. Requiring a 2/3 majority to pass under a suspension of the rules, the bill failed 265-163. (HJ Res 71, Vote #507, October 1, 2013) The bill passed the next day by surprise voice vote. (The Hill, October 2, 2013) Murphy Broke With Democrats To Vote To Fund National Parks And Museums Independently Of The Government Shutdown: On October 1, 2013, when all but 22 Democrats voted not to fund the National Park Service, the Smithsonian Institution, the National Gallery of Art, and the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum independently of the government shutdown, Murphy voted with all but one Republican to fund them. Requiring a 2/3 majority to pass under a suspension of the rules, the bill failed 252-176. (HJ Res 70, Vote #508, October 1, 2013) On the following day, he again broke with all but 22 other Democrats and voted with all but one Republican to vote for it again. This time, under normal rules that did not require a 2/3 majority, the bill passed 252-173. (HJ Res 70, Vote #513, October 2, 2013) Murphy Broke With Democrats To Vote To Fund The NIH Independently Of The Government Shutdown: On October 2, 2013, when all but 25 Democrats voted not to fund the National Institutes of Health independently of the government shutdown, Murphy voted with all but one Republican to fund them. The bill passed 254-171. (HJ Res 73, Vote #514, October 2, 2013) Murphy Broke With Democrats To Vote To Fund The National Guard And Reserve Independently Of The Government Shutdown: On October 2, 2013, when all but 36 Democrats voted not to pay the National Guard and the Reserve independently of the government shutdown, Murphy voted with all Republicans to fund them. The bill passed 265-160. (HR 3230, Vote #516, October 2, 2013) Murphy Voted To Fund Benefits For Survivors Of Deceased Military Service Members Independently Of The Government Shutdown: On October 9, 2013, TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 71 Murphy voted with a unanimous House to fund death gratuities and related survivor benefits for survivors of deceased military service members independently of the government shutdown. (H J Res 91, Vote #538, October 9, 2013) Murphy Broke With Democrats To Fund FEMA Independently Of The Government Shutdown: On October 4, 2013, when all but 22 Democrats voted not to fund the Federal Emergency Management Agency independently of the government shutdown, Murphy voted with all Republicans to fund it. The bill passed 247-164. (HJ Res 85, Vote #522, October 4, 2013) Murphy Broke With Democrats To Fund The FAA Independently Of The Government Shutdown: On October 9, 2013, when all but 23 Democrats voted not to fund the Federal Aviation Administration independently of the government shutdown, Murphy voted with all Republicans to fund it. The bill passed 252-172. (HJ Res 90, Vote #537, October 9, 2013) Murphy Broke With Democrats To Fund Homeland Security Independently Of The Government Shutdown: On October 10, 2013, when all but 21 Democrats voted not to fund the Department of Homeland Security independently of the government shutdown, Murphy voted with all Republicans to fund it. The bill passed 249-175. (HJ Res 79, Vote #540, October 10, 2013) Murphy Broke With Democrats To Fund National Nuclear Security Administration Independently Of The Government Shutdown: On October 11, 2013, when all but 21 Democrats voted not to fund the National Nuclear Security Administration independently of the government shutdown, Murphy voted with all Republicans to fund it. The bill passed 248-176. (HJ Res 76, Vote #542, October 11, 2013) Murphy Broke With Democrats To Fund Indian Bureaus Independently Of The Government Shutdown: On October 14, 2013, when all but 21 Democrats voted not to fund the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Bureau of Indian Education, and the Indian Health Service independently of the government shutdown, Murphy voted with all but one Republican to fund it. The bill passed 233-160. (HJ Res 80, Vote #548, October 14, 2013) Murphy Broke With Democrats To Fund WIC Independently Of The Government Shutdown: On October 4, 2013, when all but 22 Democrats voted not to fund the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) independently of the government shutdown, Murphy voted with all Republicans to fund it. The bill passed 244-164. (HJ Res 75, Vote #524, October 4, 2013) Murphy Broke With Democrats To Fund The FDA Independently Of The Government Shutdown: On October 7, 2013, when all but 20 Democrats voted not to fund the Food and Drug Administration independently of the government shutdown, Murphy voted with all but one Republican to fund it. The bill passed 235-162. (HJ Res 77, Vote #528, October 7, 2013) Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 Murphy Broke With Democrats To Fund Head Start Independently Of The Government Shutdown: On October 8, 2013, when all but 22 Democrats voted not to fund the Head Start Program for low-income children independently of the government shutdown, Murphy voted with all but two Republicans to fund it. The bill passed 248168. (HJ Res 84, Vote #530, October 8, 2013) Voted To Make Sure Federal Workers And Military Got Paid For Shutdown Period Murphy Voted To Retroactively Compensate Furloughed Federal Employees For The Government Shutdown Period: On October 5, 2013, Murphy voted with a unanimous house to provide back pay to furloughed federal workers once the shutdown ended. (HR 3223, Vote #525, October 5, 2013) Murphy Voted To Make Sure Federal Workers Still Working During The Shutdown Were Paid On Time: On October 8, 2013, Murphy voted with a unanimous house to ensure paychecks for government employees who were still working during the shutdown were issued on time. (HJ Res 89, Vote #535, October 5, 2013; The Hill, October 8, 2013) Murphy Voted To Continue Military Pay In the Event Of A Shutdown: On September 29, 2013, Murphy voted with a unanimous House to continue paying the military in the event of a government shutdown. (HR 3210, Vote #499, September 29, 2013) Voted To End The Shutdown Murphy Voted For The Deal To End The Shutdown: On October 16, 2013, Murphy voted with all Democrats and a minority of Republicans for the bill that funded the government and ended the shutdown. The bill passed 285-144. (HR 2775, Vote #550, October 16, 2013) The shutdown deal bill: • • • • • • • • • Funded the government through January 15, 2014 Allowed the Treasury to borrow normally through February 7, 2014 and preserved the Treasury’s emergency flexibility to avoid default for a period of time after that date. Directed House and Senate negotiators to try to reach a budget agreement by mid-December. Paid federal employees what they did not get paid during the shutdown Required Health and Human Services to report to Congress verifying that no one will get Obamacare subsidies if they don’t qualify for them based on income Appropriated $450 million in emergency transportation aid for Colorado in response to recent flooding Allocated funding to deploy two new weather satellite programs Blocked any cost of living adjustment for Congress in FY 2014 Paid the widow of the late Sen. Frank Lautenberg a death benefit payment of $174,000 TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 73 • • • Authorized an increase in funding for (not actually fund) a lock and dam project on the Ohio River in Illinois and Kentucky from $775,000,000 to $2,918,000,000 Did not cut government health insurance benefits for congressional and administration officials or their staffs Did not give federal agencies more flexibility to mitigate the effects of the sequester’s budget cuts (wsbradio.com, October 16, 2013; Wall Street Journal blog, October 16, 2013) Murphy And United Solutions Caucus Hailed Deal To End Shutdown: On October 16, Murphy, as co-founder and co-chairman of the bipartisan United Solutions Caucus, led 15 fellow caucus members in statement endorsing the bipartisan budget deal reached in the Senate to end the government shutdown and avoid default. The Caucus had been meeting regularly during the shutdown to engage in bipartisan discussions on solutions to the crisis. The members urged House leaders to bring the bill to the floor immediately. (Congressional Documents and Publications, October 16, 2013) Urged Colleagues Not To Make The Same Mistake Months Down The Road Murphy Urged Bipartisan Cooperation To Avoid Another Government Shutdown Months Down The Road And The Damage It Will Again Inflict On The Country: On the heels of the deal to end the government shutdown, Murphy released the following statement to urge fellow members not to let it happen again months down the road: "I am pleased that Congress was at long last able to find a common sense solution where both parties came to the middle to avoid the catastrophe of a default and to reopen the government after an unnecessary shutdown. But it never should have come to this -- a 16 day shutdown and driving our country to the brink of default have caused real harm to the American people, our economy, and our world standing. This manufactured crisis should have been prevented weeks ago. I sincerely hope that the Tea Party does not repeat this nonsense a few months from now; our country simply cannot afford it. To stop this trend of governing from crisis to crisis, Congress should make smart spending cuts and pass a responsible budget to give certainty and stability to our small businesses and economy to grow and create jobs." (Congressional Documents and Publications, October 16, 2013) Voted For Opportunity To Discuss And Debate Looming Debt Concerns Murphy Voted To Disapprove Of The President’s Suspension Of The Debt Limit Until February 2014: In October 2013, Murphy voted with all but three Democrats and against all but four Republicans for a resolution that disapproves of President Obama's decision to suspend the debt ceiling until early February 2014. The debt ceiling bill passed earlier in October gave the president the authority to suspend the debt limit himself, but left Congress the ability to block such a move via a disapproval resolution. This resolution was the House’s attempt to block that suspension, however the Senate had already rejected an identical resolution for its part the day before, meaning that no Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 disapproving resolution would pass Congress. Republicans said it was merely an opportunity to allow for discussion and debate on debt concerns. The bill passed 222191. (HJ Res 99, Vote #570, October 30, 2013; The Hill, October 30, 2013) Fighting Against Perks And Unearned Pay For Congress Co-Sponsored A Bill To Cut Congressional Pay 10% And Halt Automatic Annual Pay Increases Murphy Co-Sponsored The CHIP IN Act To Reduce Congressional Pay And Stop Automatic Raises: In February 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Congressional Halt in Pay Increases (CHIP IN) and Cut Congressional Pay Act, which would reduce member pay by 10%, or $17,400, starting after the next general election, and prevent member pay from automatically increasing annually. Regular member pay would be $156,600 under this bill. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 398, added February 25, 2013) Voted To Freeze Civilian Federal Employee Pay, Including His Own Murphy Voted To Keep Federal Civilian Pay Frozen, Including His Own: In February 2013, Murphy voted for a bill that would extend the statutory pay freeze for federal civilian employees, including Members of Congress, through the end of 2013. The bill would not affect an authorized increase in military pay. The bill passed 261-154. (HR 273, Vote #44, 2/15/13) Co-Sponsored And Voted For Bills To Eliminate Congress’ Automatic Cost Of Living Increase For 2013 And 2014 Murphy Co-Sponsored A Bill To Prohibit Members Of Congress From Receiving A Pay Raise Through The End Of 2014: In February 2013, Murphy co-sponsored a bill to prohibit members of Congress from receiving any automatic cost of living adjustments through the end of 113th Congress. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 636, added February 14, 2013) Murphy Voted To Consider A Bill To Deny Congress A Cost Of Living Pay Raise: In 2013, Murphy voted to consider a bill that would prohibit members of Congress from receiving an automatic Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) for the 113th Congress. The previous question was approved 227-188, so the bill was not considered. Murphy’s vote against the motion to consider the previous question was therefore effectively a “yes” vote to allow for consideration of the bill to deny the COLA adjustment. (H Res 99, Vote #59, 3/06/13) TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 75 Voted For Congress To Go Without Pay If It Did Not Pass A Budget   Murphy Defied Democratic Leadership To Vote For A Republican Bill That Would Block Congress’ Pay Until It Passed A Budget: In January 2013, House Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer told Murphy he wasn’t pleased that Murphy was planning to break with Democrats to for an extension of federal borrowing authority that included a "no budget, no pay" clause. The bill would withhold pay from members of Congress if they did not pass a budget by April 15, 2013. Democrats called it an unconstitutional gimmick, but Murphy said, "I feel that is Congress' job, to have a budget. That's one of our main things that we should be doing, so maybe this is enough pressure for us to actually come to the table and come up with something." (Palm Beach Post, April 8, 2013) Co-Sponsored A Bill To Stop Pay For Congress During Government Shutdown Murphy Co-Sponsored The No Government No Pay Act of 2013: In October 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the No Government No Pay Act of 2013, which requires the withholding of pay of a Member of Congress during a government shutdown equal to the product of 1 day's worth of pay under such annual rate and the number of 24-hour periods during which the government shutdown is in effect. It makes such withholding applicable to days occurring during the 114th and succeeding Congresses. (CRS Summary, HR 3224, added October 2, 2013) Co-Sponsored A Bill To Halt Pay For Congress Until All Other US Debts Then Due Were Paid Murphy Co-Sponsored The Stop Pay for Members Act: In September 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Stop Pay for Members Act, which prohibits the satisfaction of the obligation to pay basic pay of Members of Congress, if the U.S. public debt reaches the public debt limit, until: (1) all other obligations of the U.S. government then due have been satisfied; or (2) if earlier, the ability of the U.S. Treasury to satisfy such obligations in a timely manner is restored, whether by an increase in the public debt limit or otherwise. It declares that each Member of Congress consents and agrees that payment of basic pay in accordance with this Act shall constitute a full and complete discharge and acquittance of all claims and demands for service as such a Member during the period covered by the payment. (CRS Summary, HR 1884, added September 18, 2013) Voted Against Congressional Pay if Nation Defaulted Murphy Voted Against Borrowing Above The Debt Limit To Pay Congress’ Compensation: In 2013, Murphy voted for an amendment to the Full Faith and Credit Act that would bar the Treasury secretary from borrowing above the debt limit to pay for compensation for members of Congress. The amendment was adopted 340-84. (HR 807, Vote #140, 5/09/13) Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 Gave Up Pay During Shutdown; Donated It To Charity Murphy Only South Florida Lawmaker To Give Up His Pay During The Shutdown: Murphy was the only South Florida lawmaker who declined to keep his pay during the government shutdown. He planned to donate his pay to the Renewal Coalition to assist wounded veterans and their families. "The residents of the Treasure Coast and Palm Beaches, like the rest of Americans, expect Congress to do its job of funding the government responsibly. If our leaders cannot work together to come to a reasonable solution to keep our government operating it will threaten our economic growth and suspend key services to our seniors and our nation's heroes. In that situation, Members of Congress should not receive pay while our brave service members and their families suffer. I will be standing with them if a shutdown occurs and will donate my pay to help Renewal Coalition continue to serve those who have served our nation," said Murphy. (Sun-Sentinel, October 4, 2013; Government Executive, October 3, 2013; Congressional Documents and Publications, September 28, 2013) Renewal Coalition Thanked Murphy: When Murphy donated his pay during the October 2013 government shutdown to the Renewal Coalition, whose “mission is to assist wounded service members and their families in their transition from military to civilian life or back to active duty by offering a retreat experience at Florida residences with the intent of providing these families a relaxed, pleasant, and welcoming environment,” the group’s executive director wrote to Murphy to thank him: Dear Congressman Murphy: Words will never be able to express how grateful our organization is for your generosity in donating your pay to us during the government shutdown. We are using your donation to purchase airline tickets for 5 severely combat wounded servicemen and their wives to travel here for a much needed retreat. These servicemen are all Purple Heart recipients and have been deployed many times to both Iraq and Afghanistan. I hope that you will be able to join us some time between October 18-22 to meet the people you have done so much to help during this crisis. You will be receiving a formal letter of gratitude but until then, I wanted to let you know how much help you are rendering to people who have given so much on behalf of all of us. All my best, Mary Hinton Executive Director, Renewal Coalition www.renewalcoalition.org TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 77 Pledged 5% Of His Salary To Charity In Solidarity With Sequester-Furloughed Workers   Murphy Stood With Workers Furloughed Due To The Sequester, Announced He Would Donate 5% Of His Salary To Local Causes: In April 2013, Murphy announced he would donate $8,700, or 5% of his salary, to local charities in a self-imposed pay cut in solidarity with federal workers furloughed due to the sequester. He was joined by some colleagues in Congress, but most did not participate. His first donation went to the family of Sgt. Gary Morales of the St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office, who was killed in the line of duty in February. "Sequestration's indiscriminate cuts are causing furloughs and job losses as well as cutting funding to many important programs in our communities, yet the salaries of members of Congress have not been affected," Murphy said. "I am looking forward to giving back to the community, and for this first contribution to go to such a special cause, to assist the family of Sgt. Morales." (Orlando Sentinel, April 4, 2013) Called For Congress To Be Stripped Of Perks While Government Shut Down Murphy Called For The House Gym And Spa To Be Shut Down During The Government Shutdown: In October 2013, while the government was shut down, Murphy and Rep. Bill Foster (D-IL) demanded that the House gym, which stayed open even while much of the federal government had closed, should be shut down. They said it was outrageous that lawmakers maintained access to their "exclusive gym and spa" while Americans made sacrifices due to the government shutdown. The two introduced The Shutdown Prioritization Act, which would force the Speaker of the House to remove the Members-only gym and spa from the list of essential house services. (Daily News, October 10, 2013; CRS Summary, HR 3276, added October 8, 2013) Voted Not To Revoke Employer Contribution For Health Care For Members Of Congress And Their Staff… Murphy Voted Not To Revoke The Employer Contribution To Congressional Health Care Coverage: On September 30, 2013, Murphy voted with all but nine Democrats and against all but 12 Republicans against a bill that would end the government shutdown but would delay Obamacare’s individual mandate and would revoke the employer contribution for health care coverage for members of Congress and their staff. The bill passed 228-201. (HJ Res 59, Vote #504, September 30, 2013) The following day, he voted against the same provisions in a 228-199 vote. (H Res 368, Vote #505, October 1, 2013; Associated Press via Politico.com, October 1, 2013) …But Said He Would Refuse The Employer Subsidy For His Own Healthcare   Murphy Said He Would Not Accept An Employer Subsidy For His Healthcare: On September 30, 2013, Murphy announced that he would not accept an employer subsidy for his healthcare. “I have always said that Obamacare needs improvements and I have supported several measures to do just that. I agree that Congress should not have any special privileges, especially when it cannot do its job and has failed the American Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 people. That is why I will not be accepting a subsidy for my healthcare and I challenge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle who voted for tonight's amendment to do the same.” (Congressional Documents and Publications, September 30, 2013) A Champion For Small Business And Job Growth Campaigned On Creating Jobs; Jobs Are Up Campaigned On Creating Jobs Murphy’s First Campaign Focused On Job Growth And Economic Stability: As a candidate in 2012, Murphy said his focus was “creating a climate conducive to job growth, stability, a tax rate/code that is predictable five to ten years down the road," and that money needed to be spent on improving existing infrastructure. (South Florida Times, October 25, 2012) Jobs Up, Unemployment Down Under Murphy Jobs Up 1.74% Under Murphy: In October 2013, total nonfarm employment nationwide, seasonally adjusted, was 136,554,000. A year prior, before Murphy took office, it was 134,225,000. This is an increase of 2,329,000 jobs or 1.74%. (bls.gov, accessed November 2013) Note: This is a different measurement than “employment level,” which would be equivalent to the “unemployment level” displayed below. However the employment level figure is not as favorable as the above, an increase of only 240,000 jobs or 0.17% from 143,328,000 to 143,568,000. Port St. Lucie MSA Jobs Up 3% Under Murphy: In August 2013, total nonfarm employment in the Port St. Lucie metropolitan statistical area (St. Lucie and Martin Counties), seasonally adjusted, was 126,500. A year prior, before Murphy took office, it was 122,800. This is an increase of 3,700 jobs or 3.01%. (bls.gov, accessed November 2013) Unemployment Level Down 8% Under Murphy: In October 2013, there were 11,272,000 unemployed people in the United States, seasonally adjusted. A year prior, before Murphy took office, there were 12,248,000. This is a decrease of 976,000 or 7.97%. (bls.gov, accessed November 2013) Unemployment Rate Down 0.6 Percentage Points Under Murphy: In October 2013, the national unemployment rate was 7.3%. A year prior, before Murphy took office, it was 7.9%. This a decrease of 0.6 percentage points. (bls.gov, accessed November 2013) TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 79 Pushed For More Capital And Funding For Growth Co-Sponsored Legislation To Increase Community Banks’ Ability To Provide Capital To More Small Businesses, Foster More Community Development Murphy Introduced A Bill To Ease Capital Requirements On Community Banks To Make It Easier For Small Businesses To Get Loans: On an August 1, 2013 telephone town hall meeting with his constituents, Murphy responded to one of his Republican constituent’s frustrations about federal regulations on banks that have created "excruciating" paperwork for small businesses trying to get loans. "We've got to do everything to ease the regulations and expand capital for these small businesses," said Murphy. He noted that he had introduced a bill to ease capital requirements on community banks (see immediately below). (Palm Beach Post, August 2, 2013) Murphy Co-Sponsored A Bill To Allow Small Financial Institution Holding Companies To Carry Higher Levels Of Debt To Generate More Capital To Lend To Their Communities To Foster Economic Development And Job Growth: In October 2013, Murphy co-sponsored a bill to allow more small bank holding companies to safely be more highly leveraged than large bank holding companies, and to let savings and loan holding companies join small bank holding companies under the exemption from the leverage and risk-based capital requirements of the Dodd-Frank financial reforms. The Federal Reserve Board’s Small Bank Holding Company Policy Statement facilitates the transfer of ownership of small community-based banks in a manner consistent with bank safety and soundness. The Board discourages the use of debt by bank holding companies (BHCs) to finance the acquisition of banks because high levels of debt at a bank holding company can impair its ability to serve as a course of strength to its subsidiary banks. But since small BHCs have less access to equity financing than larger BHCs, they often require acquisition debt to buy small banks. For that reason, the Board adopted a Policy Statement that permits small BHCs to carry higher debt levels than larger BHCs. To qualify for those higher levels, however, they must meet certain debtrelated tests and must not be engaged in significant nonbanking activities so that they do not present an undue risk to the safety and soundness of their subsidiary banks. Under current law, a small BHC in the above scenario must have assets of less than $500 million. In recognition of inflation, industry consolidation, and asset growth, this bill would raise the asset threshold to $1 billion. It would also add savings & loan holding companies as another type of company eligible for the exceptions under the Policy Statement. The companies could not be engaged in any nonbanking activities involving significant leverage or have a significant amount of outstanding debt held by the general public. Additionally, the bill would clarify that the exemption granted to small BHCs from the minimum leverage and risk-based capital requirements of Section 171 of the DoddFrank reforms (the Collins Amendment) also applies to savings and loan holding companies. Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 Such changes would make it easier for small bank and savings and loan holding companies to raise both debt and equity so that their subsidiary banks could use the proceeds to offer capital to more people and businesses in the community, leading to job creation and community development. (CRS Summary, HR 3329, added October 23, 2013; Committee on Financial Services Memorandum on the November 14, 2013 Full Committee Markup, including HR 3329, November 8, 2013; Independent Community Bankers of America letter to Reps. Jeb Hensarling and Maxine Waters, November 8, 2013) Co-Sponsored A Bill To Maintain Access To Capital For Small Businesses Murphy Co-Sponsored The CREED Act To Expand Access To Capital For Small Businesses: In April 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the CREED Act, which would be a very low-cost way to maintain access to capital for small businesses. It would extend for five years the exemption for small businesses to refinance debt not related to expanding their businesses using the SBA-backed 504 loan program. The 504 program traditionally has financed the purchase of fixed assets—equipment and real estate— specifically to promote business growth. In an effort to expand access to capital, Congress in 2010 passed an exception allowing non-expansion-related 504 loans, but this measure expired in September 2012. The 504 program since 2011 helped provide 2,731 refinancing loans amounting to $2.5 billion. So far, only one 504 refinancing loan—with a balance of less than $1 million—has been purchased by SBA and is in liquidation, indicating that the cost to taxpayers is very low. 504 loans are capped at $5 million. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 1240, added April 9, 2013) Called For Funding For Program That Helps Underserved Communities Get Credit, Capital, And Financial Services Murphy Called For Full Funding Of Program That Fosters Affordable Credit And Financial Services To Underserved Populations To Help Create Jobs And Revitalize Neighborhoods: In April 2013, Murphy and a large group of members of Congress wrote to the heads of the House Appropriations Committee and its Subcommittee on Financial Services to urge that the 2014 Financial Services Appropriations bill provide full funding as requested by the President for the Department of the Treasury’s Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund. The CDFI Fund’s purpose is to help financial institutions provide more credit, capital, and financial services to underserved populations and communities. It fosters the creation and expansion of financial institutions that specialize in providing affordable credit, creating jobs, and revitalizing neighborhoods. As the underserved communities struggled to recover from the economic meltdown, the authors encouraged the committees to continue to invest in the development of these communities. (Murphy et. al. letter to Appropriations Committee and Financial Services Subcommittee chairmen and ranking members, April 17, 2013) TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 81 Sponsored Bill To Help Disaster-Struck Small Businesses Get Loans To Rebuild Murphy Introduced Zero-Cost Bipartisan Bill To Help Companies Get Back On Their Feet Faster After A Natural Disaster: In May 2013, Murphy introduced HR 1974, the Small Business Disaster Reform Act of 2013. It would help small businesses get disaster relief loans more easily and allow small business development centers from other states pitch in to help disaster-stricken areas. Specifically it would: • Amend the Small Business Act with respect to obtaining the best available collateral for a disaster loan of not more than $200,000 relating to damage to or destruction of the property of, or economic injury to, a small business concern. • Prohibit the Small Business Administration from requiring the small business owner to use the owner's primary residence as collateral if the owner has other assets with a value equal to or greater than the loan amount that could be used as collateral for the loan. • Authorize the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) to provide assistance to small businesses outside the state of that SBDC, without regard to geographical proximity, if the small business is in an area for which the President has declared a major disaster. • Express the sense of Congress that an SBDC is appropriately reimbursed for any legitimate expenses in carrying out such assistance. The bill was referred to several committees. "As a small businessman from Florida, I know firsthand the threats natural disasters pose to businesses owners. With small businesses serving as the backbone of our economy, we must ensure that the SBA is able to best assist them in the wake of disasters," said Murphy. "This bipartisan bill would do just that with zero cost by allowing small business owners to use assets other than their residences as collateral for small loans and by allowing neighboring SBDCs to help disaster-stricken areas. I hope that Congress will act swiftly to implement this common-sense solution." (congress.gov, HR 1974, May 14, 2013; patrickmurphyforcongress.com) Voted To Consider Build America Bonds Program To Create Jobs & Infrastructure Murphy Voted To Consider Bill To Use Private Capital To Create Jobs And Build Infrastructure: In 2013, Murphy voted to consider a bill to permanently extend the Build America Bonds program. The program, part of the Put America Back to Work Act, would help states and local governments leverage private capital to create jobs today and build the infrastructure that is the backbone of economic growth. The previous question was ordered, 228-192, meaning the bill was not brought up for consideration. Murphy’s “no” vote to order the previous question was therefore effectively a “yes” vote to consider the bill. (H Res 175, Vote #121, 4/23/13) Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 Introduced Legislation To Extend Grant Program To Help Small Manufacturers Grow Capacity In Clean, Efficient, And Modern Ways Murphy Introduced Legislation To Boost Small Business’ Manufacturing Capability And Create Jobs: In April 2013, Murphy introduced his first piece of legislation, HR 1418, the Partnering with American Manufacturers for Efficiency and Competitiveness Act. The bill would extend through FY2018 the authorization of appropriations to add capabilities to the Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership program (MEP), including the development of projects to solve new or emerging manufacturing problems. By reauthorizing the competitive grants program the bill would foster small businesses' manufacturing capabilities by promoting the use of clean, hightech, and efficient processes. The Manufacturing Extension Partnership is a force multiplier for the manufacturing sector and is one of the few effective and non-duplicative federally funded small business assistance programs that has yielded positive results for taxpayers. "My bill will create jobs. It incentivizes the development of new, cutting edge, publicprivate manufacturing assistance programs to generate jobs, promote commercialization of environmentally focused materials and processes, increase energy efficiency, and improve competitiveness," said Murphy. "The viability of the manufacturing industry is vital nationally as well as locally, with around 300 manufacturers located in Florida's 18th district." (congress.gov, HR 1418, April 8, 2013; patrickmurphyforcongress.com) Regulations Can Help If Tailored To Fit Co-Sponsored Legislation To Increase Community Banks’ Ability To Provide Capital To More Small Businesses, Foster More Community Development Murphy Co-Sponsored A Bill To Allow Small Financial Institution Holding Companies To Carry Higher Levels Of Debt To Generate More Capital To Lend To Their Communities To Foster Economic Development And Job Growth: In October 2013, Murphy co-sponsored a bill to allow more small bank holding companies to safely be more highly leveraged than large bank holding companies, and to let savings and loan holding companies join small bank holding companies under the exemption from the leverage and risk-based capital requirements of the Dodd-Frank financial reforms. The Federal Reserve Board’s Small Bank Holding Company Policy Statement facilitates the transfer of ownership of small community-based banks in a manner consistent with bank safety and soundness. The Board discourages the use of debt by bank holding companies (BHCs) to finance the acquisition of banks because high levels of debt at a bank holding company can impair its ability to serve as a course of strength to its subsidiary banks. But since small BHCs have less access to equity financing than larger BHCs, they often require acquisition debt to buy small banks. For that reason, the Board adopted a Policy Statement that permits small BHCs to carry higher debt levels than TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 83 larger BHCs. To qualify for those higher levels, however, they must meet certain debtrelated tests and must not be engaged in significant nonbanking activities so that they do not present an undue risk to the safety and soundness of their subsidiary banks. Under current law, a small BHC in the above scenario must have assets of less than $500 million. In recognition of inflation, industry consolidation, and asset growth, this bill would raise the asset threshold to $1 billion. It would also add savings & loan holding companies as another type of company eligible for the exceptions under the Policy Statement. The companies could not be engaged in any nonbanking activities involving significant leverage or have a significant amount of outstanding debt held by the general public. Additionally, the bill would clarify that the exemption granted to small BHCs from the minimum leverage and risk-based capital requirements of Section 171 of the DoddFrank reforms (the Collins Amendment) also applies to savings and loan holding companies. Such changes would make it easier for small bank and savings and loan holding companies to raise both debt and equity so that their subsidiary banks could use the proceeds to offer capital to more people and businesses in the community, leading to job creation and community development. (CRS Summary, HR 3329, added October 23, 2013; Committee on Financial Services Memorandum on the November 14, 2013 Full Committee Markup, including HR 3329, November 8, 2013; Independent Community Bankers of America letter to Reps. Jeb Hensarling and Maxine Waters, November 8, 2013) Co-Sponsored Legislation To Ensure That Personalized Investment Advice Remains Available And Affordable To Ordinary Americans By Blocking Expensive Overregulation Of Financial Advisers Murphy Co-Sponsored The Retail Investor Protection Act To Delay Defining Broker-Dealers As Fiduciaries Under ERISA In Order To Preserve Affordable Access To Personalize Investment Advice: In September 2013, Murphy cosponsored the Retail Investor Protection Act, which would forbid the Department of Labor from finalizing a rule on who was to be defined as a fiduciary under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) until the SEC had issued its own rule on the topic in regard to the inclusion of brokers and dealers. The Dodd-Frank financial reforms authorized but did not require the SEC to extend the definition of fiduciary (currently applicable to investment advisers) to broker-dealers when they provide advice about securities to retail customers. In addition to the Department of Labor provision, this bill would also require the SEC, before it promulgated its own rule on the matter, to determine whether retail investors are actually being harmed because broker-dealers are held to a different standard than financial advisers, to determine whether holding broker-dealers to the fiduciary standard would limit retail investors’ access to personalized investment advice, and to consider the differences in the registration, supervision, and examination requirements applicable to brokers, dealers, and investment advisers. Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 Some expressed concerned that the Department of Labor’s proposed rule on this topic would make it much more expensive to provide services to pension plan sponsors and IRA accounts. In particular, many commenters indicated that Labor’s proposal would result in many institutions that currently provide services to holders of self-directed IRA accounts to abandon such accounts, given the low compensation and the higher risk of being considered to be a fiduciary. Securities and financial services industry groups have been generally supportive of the bill. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 2374, added September 9, 2013) Co-Sponsored Bill To Keep Investor Costs Down By Exempting Most Private Equity Firm Advisers From SEC Registration, Which Was Never Needed Before Murphy Co-Sponsored The Small Business Capital Access and Job Preservation Act To Exempt Most Private Equity Firm Advisers From Dodd-Frank Financial Reform Requirements That They Register With The SEC: In September 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Small Business Capital Access and Job Preservation Act, which would exempt most private equity firm advisers from SEC registration requirements. The bill would exempt advisers to certain private equity funds from the new registration requirements imposed by Title IV of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. Specifically, it would exempt from SEC registration private equity fund advisers that have not borrowed and do not have outstanding a principal amount in excess of twice their funded capital commitments. Title IV of Dodd-Frank Act required all advisers to private funds with more than $150 million in assets, including private equity funds, to register with the SEC. Murphy voted for the bill in committee. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 1105, added September 25, 2013) Co-Sponsored Legislation To Keep ESOP Appraisers Impartial Murphy Co-Sponsored A Bill To Modify The Definition Of "Fiduciary” Under ERISA To Exclude Appraisers Of Employee Stock Ownership Plans So That They Will Adhere To Impartial Appraisal Standards And Nothing Else: In July 2013, Murphy co-sponsored a bill to modify the definition of fiduciary under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) to exclude appraisers of employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs). As part of their 2010 fiduciary duty proposed rule, the Department of Labor applied the fiduciary standard (under which one must act in the client’s best financial interest) to a broad swath of financial advisers. The Department of Labor withdrew the rule after widespread industry concern and ideologically broad-based opposition from Members of Congress. One of the many troublesome features of the proposed rule was the application of fiduciary standard to appraisers of employee stock ownership plans. It is nonsensical TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 85 for an appraiser to act in the client’s best financial interest. To illustrate, would it not be in an employee’s best financial interest for the appraiser to undervalue stock holdings to strengthen the employee’s hand in compensation negotiation? An appraiser should be bound by appraisal standards not the financial interest of the client, because their job is to impartially appraise. Additionally, if ESOP appraisers were to be defined as fiduciaries, the nation’s approximately 11,000 ESOPs would incur significant compliance costs. And the appraisers themselves would be forced to purchase expensive fiduciary insurance, employ specialized ERISA counsel, and be exposed to unwarranted litigation. The AICPA supported this measure while the Department of Labor opposed it. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 2041, added July 29, 2013; aicpa.org) Co-Sponsored Bill To Prevent Unjustified Requirement For Mandatory Rotation And Forced Selection Of Auditors For Securities Firms Murphy Co-Sponsored The Audit Integrity And Job Protection Act To Prevent The Requirement That Auditors Of Security Issuers Rotate Or Be Specifically Assigned, A Plan That The GAO Already Said Was Not An Efficient Way To Enhance Audit Quality: In June 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Audit Integrity And Job Protection Act, which amends the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (SOX) to deny the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board any authority to require that audits conducted for a particular issuer of securities in accordance with SOX standards be conducted by specific auditors, or that such audits be conducted for an issuer by different auditors on a rotating basis. This legislation was drafted in response to the PCAOB’s August 16, 2011, Concept Release on Auditor Independence and Audit Firm Rotation, which sought public comment on “whether mandatory auditor rotation would significantly enhance auditors’ objectivity and ability and willingness to resist management pressure.” Opponents of mandatory rotation argue that it would impose onerous costs on issuers and that only certain audit firms may have the subject-matter expertise to understand the business models of certain industries. Further, some opponents note that since only four audit firms are responsible for 98 percent of the market share of audits of public companies with revenue of more than $1 billion, that rotation between so few firms would serve little value. The Government Accounting Office had already studied this issue in 2003 and found that "mandatory audit firm rotation may not be the most efficient way to enhance auditor independence and audit quality." Banks and auditing associations supported this bill while some consumer groups opposed it. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 1564, added June 25, 2013) CBO: Bill Would Cost $1 Million To Implement: The CBO estimates that the bill would not affect direct spending or revenues, but that implementing HR 1564 would have a discretionary cost of about $1 million for the GAO to update a Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 report completed in 2003 that reviewed the potential effects of mandatory rotation for auditing firms. (CBO Cost Estimate, HR 1564, July 3, 2013) Co-Sponsored Legislation Keep Global Derivative And Swap Data Unfragmented And Transparent For Better Monitoring Of Systemic Risk Murphy Co-Sponsored The Swap Data Repository And Clearinghouse Indemnification Correction Act To Keep US Swap Data Repositories From Being Denied Cooperation Overseas For Requiring Indemnifications That Aren’t Valid Under Foreign Laws: In March 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Swap Data Repository And Clearinghouse Indemnification Correction Act, characterized as a “technical correction” to the Dodd-Frank financial reforms, that would amend the Commodity Exchange Act, with respect to derivatives clearing organizations and swap data repositories (SDRs), to repeal the prerequisite that, before the Commodity Futures Trading Commission may share information with specified regulatory agencies abroad, such agencies must agree to indemnify the CFTC for expenses arising from litigation relating to information so provided. The Depository Trust and Clearing Corporation, a non-profit co-op created by the financial services industry to clear swaps, believes that the indemnification provision, as currently drafted, will significantly impede global regulatory cooperation, risk fragmentation of a global data set for over-the-counter derivatives, and undermine efforts to increase market transparency and mitigate risk in this market. Under current law, derivatives clearing organizations and SDRs are required to report information about swap transactions to CFTC, or in the case of security-based SDRs, to the SEC. Because the concept of indemnification is based on U.S. tort law, many regulators worldwide have indicated that they would be unable or unwilling to provide such an indemnity agreement. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 742, added March 19, 2013) Cutting And Simplifying Taxes And Regulations For Small Businesses Called For Plan To Let Businesses Expense Investment To Stimulate Growth Murphy Proposed That Companies Should Be Able To Expense All Investment For Three Years To Stimulate Job Creation: After his election, Murphy advocated for job creation for his district and across the country: "I think what we need is a plan that allows all companies of all sizes, small and large businesses, to expense all investment for the next three years." (CQ Weekly, November 24, 2012) TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 87 Co-Sponsored A Bill To Double Startup Deduction For Small Businesses Murphy Co-Sponsored The Help Entrepreneurs Create American Jobs Act Of 2013 To Double The Startup Deduction For Small Businesses: In April 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Help Entrepreneurs Create American Jobs Act Of 2013, which would make permanent a doubling of tax deduction—from $5,000 to $10,000—for new small, start-ups, directly helping to create jobs by boosting the generation of new small businesses. Any business with less than $60K in start-up costs would be eligible for $10k in deductions. The deduction ramps down linearly for companies with between $60 and $70k in start-up costs. Companies with over $70k in start-up costs are not eligible. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 1621, added April 18, 2013) Voted To Delay Obamacare Employer Mandate To Prevent Uncertainty And Extra Costs For Businesses Until The Law Is Clarified And Fixed   To Avoid Uncertainties And Extra Costs For Businesses During A Slow Economic Recovery, Murphy Supported Delay Of Employer Mandate: In July 2013, the Obama administration delayed for one year the requirement that large employers provide healthcare to their employees. Murphy applauded (and later voted to formalize) the delay saying, “no one wants to admit that their thing is not quite right, that it's not perfect." He added that businesses didn’t need "new uncertainty, taxes or costly mandates to sectors of our economy that can least afford it" during a slow economic recovery. He said that the yearlong delay would allow time to clarify unknowns for businesses impacted by the law. (The Stuart News, July 7, 2013; HR 2667, Vote #361, 07/17/13) Co-Sponsored A Bill To Simplify Tax Return Due Dates And Lengthen Automatic Extensions Murphy Co-Sponsored The Tax Return Due Date Simplification and Modernization Act of 2013: In October 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Tax Return Due Date Simplification and Modernization Act of 2013, which changes tax return due dates for partnerships (from April 15 to March 15, with a six-month extension), S corporations (from March 15 to March 31), and C corporations (from March 15 to April 15). It requires the Secretary of the Treasury, for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2013, to modify by regulation the due dates for extensions of tax returns for partnerships, trusts and estates, employee benefit plans, tax-exempt organizations, and certain trust funds. It sets a due date of April 15 for the annual information return of a foreign trust with a U.S. owner and for the report of foreign bank and financial accounts (with extensions until October 15). It extends the automatic extension for corporation income tax returns from three to six months. (CRS Summary, HR 901, added October 30, 2013) Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 Co-Sponsored Bill To Forgive Small Businesses For First-Time Paperwork Errors Murphy Co-Sponsored The Small Business Paperwork Relief Act of 2013 To Waive Fines On Small Businesses For First-Time Paperwork Mistakes: In August 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Small Business Paperwork Relief Act of 2013, which would direct agencies not to impose fines for first-time paperwork violations by small businesses unless there is potential for serious harm to the public interest, the detection of criminal activity would be impaired, the violation is not corrected within six months, the violation is a violation of law concerning the assessment or collection of any tax, or the violation presents a danger to the public health or safety. Reduced fines for insignificant paperwork violations would allow small businesses to focus on generating more jobs. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 1321, added August 2, 2013) Helping Companies Bring Jobs, Investment Capital, And Accountability Back Home To The USA Co-Sponsored A Bill To Incentivize Businesses To Repatriate Jobs And Businesses To America Murphy Co-Sponsored The Bring Jobs Home Act To Give Tax Credits For Bringing Overseas Business Branches Back Home To Create More Jobs For Americans: In August 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Bring Jobs Home Act, which would grant businesses a tax credit for up to 20% of insourcing expenses incurred for eliminating a business located outside the United States and relocating it within the United States. It would require an increase in the taxpayer's employment of full-time employees in the United States in order to claim the tax credit for insourcing expenses. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 851, added August 2, 2013) Co-Sponsored A Bill To Repatriate Profits To Guarantee $1 Trillion In Loans For Infrastructure Projects Murphy Co-Sponsored The Partnership To Build America Act To Guarantee Loans Of Up To $1 Trillion To States For Infrastructure Projects And Allow Businesses To Repatriate Up To $200 Billion To Invest In The Program: In May 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Partnership To Build America Act, which would generate a one-time, cost-free mechanism for funding up to $1 trillion in infrastructure projects such as transportation, energy, water, communications, or educational facilities. A new Office of Infrastructure Partnerships (OIP) would raise $50 billion by selling subpar bonds to corporate buyers. Corporations would be incentivized to buy these bonds because they would be allowed to repatriate four dollars in profits from abroad for every one dollar they invested in the bonds. The low rate of return (one percent) on these long-term (50-year) bonds would create an effective tax rate of about 8.75 percent on the amount repatriated. OIP would leverage its $50 billion to guarantee up to $1 trillion in loans for specific infrastructure projects. States would be required to secure at least TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 89 20 percent in private financing to be eligible for an OIP loan guarantee. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 2084, added May 22, 2013) Co-Sponsored Bill To Require Foreign Manufacturers Selling In USA To Register Here And Be Liable For Defective Products So The Aggrieved Don’t Sue A Downstream American Business Murphy Co-Sponsored The Foreign Manufacturers Legal Accountability Act Of 2013: In June 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Foreign Manufacturers Legal Accountability Act Of 2013, which would require foreign manufacturers of products sold in the United States, such as drugs, medical devices, cosmetics, biological products, drywall, chemical substances, pesticides, toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters, and household chemicals to set up a registered agent in each state where it does business. This would subject it to state and federal jurisdiction for civil and regulator claims by consumers. That would make it easier for consumers to sue foreign manufacturers in US court and put US manufacturers on a level playing field. Defective foreign drywall has made news in recent years, but due to the difficulty of suing the manufacturers, consumers have sued the US construction companies that used the drywall, including several in Florida. This law would make it possible for them to sue the responsible party instead. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 1910, added June 5, 2013) Voted For Buy America Provisions for Hydropower To Create Jobs Murphy Voted For Hydropower Equipment To Be Made In The USA: In 2013, Murphy voted for an amendment to the Bureau of Reclamation Small Conduit Hydropower Development and Rural Jobs Act that would require, when practicable, all materials used for conduit hydropower generation be manufactured in the United States. The motion was rejected 194-226. (HR 678, Vote #95, 4/10/13) Fostering More Tourism To Create More Tourism Jobs Co-Sponsored A Bill To Create Jobs In The Tourism Industry By Adjusting Policies To Make It Easier For International Tourists To Visit America Murphy Co-Sponsored The Jobs Originated Through Launching Travel (JOLT) Act To Make It Easier For Trusted International Tourists To Vacation In America And Boost Tourism Jobs: In August 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Jobs Originated through Launching Travel (JOLT) Act, which is designed to attract more international tourists to the US. It would include a pilot program for fee-based expedited visa interviews, easing of time restrictions on Canadian visitors over age 50, making information on visa appointment availability during low peak periods publicly available, expanding the Visa Waiver Program by updating eligibility requirements. It would also include more close US allies, establishing a goal for 90% of visa interviews to be conducted within 10 business days of the request, authorizing a pilot program to test the feasibility of conducting visa interviews via secure videoconference, and expand the Global Entry Program that allows pre-approved, low-risk international travelers to Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 bypass traditional customs and go through an expedited clearance process. Combined, these programs would make it easier to obtain visas, and would reduce waiting time for trusted travelers at customs. According to US Travel estimates, a 2013 expansion of the Visa Waiver Program, which allows nationals from participating countries to travel to the US without a visa, would attract an additional 602,069 travelers. (CRS Summary, HR 1354, added August 2, 2013) Keeping The Focus On Small Business Co-Sponsored Bill To Encourage Investment, Assistance For Small Businesses Murphy Co-Sponsored A Resolution Honoring National Small Business Week And Calling For Continued Investment In And Assistance For Small Businesses: In June 2013, Murphy co-sponsored a resolution honoring National Small Business Week, stressing the importance of guaranteeing access to capital, ensuring that the Small Business Administration’s management assistance programs are adequately funded, disaster assistance is provided to small businesses in a timely manner, internet access is affordable to all, duplicative regulations on small businesses are eliminated, and contracting opportunities are made available to small businesses. (H Res 265, added June 18, 2013) Co-Sponsored Bill To Designate National Entrepreneurs Day Murphy Co-Sponsored A Resolution To Designate National Entrepreneur's Day: In October 2013, Murphy co-sponsored a resolution to designate the third Tuesday of November as National Entrepreneurs Day. (CRS Summary, HRES 401, added October 10, 2013) An Accessible, Responsive Champion For District 18 Needs Worked Tirelessly To Save The Everglades, Lake Okeechobee, St. Lucie River/Estuary, Indian River Lagoon CONTEXT: Too Much Dirty Water In Okeechobee With Nowhere Safe To Go Blocking The Natural Drainage Of Lake Okeechobee For The Benefit Of Sugar Farming To The South Harms The St. Lucie River And Indian River Lagoon While Preventing The Restoration Of The Everglades: “Environmental advocates contend Lake Okeechobee discharges should be flowing naturally south toward the Everglades, right through sugar lands. Instead, the water is released east into the St. Lucie River via canals and west to the Caloosahatchee River. The freshwater dumps lower the salinity in the estuary, which can destroy seagrass and oysters, and cause algae blooms and fish kills.” (TCPalm.com June 4, 2013) TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 91 Pressed Agencies From Day 1 For Funding For Urgent District Water Projects Before Even Taking Office, Murphy Teamed Up With Local Officials To Talk Local Solutions To Waterway Problems: In December 2013 before taking office, Murphy met with Martin County Commissioner John Haddox to discuss local projects such as the C-44 Canal project, maintenance of the dike on Lake Okeechobee, beach renourishment, and St. Lucie inlet dredging. Murphy suggested teaming up with regions facing similar issues to better influence the Army Corps of Engineers to on local issues. (The Stuart News, December 21, 2012) Murphy Met With Senior Army Corps Of Engineers Officials From His First Month In Office To Fight For Funding For Waterway And Shore Project Funding In District 18: In January 2013, Murphy met with Army Corps of Engineers Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Terrence “Rock” Salt at the Army Corps headquarters at the Pentagon to express his support for projects in Martin, St. Lucie, and Palm Beach counties that were affected by Hurricane Sandy, for Everglades Restoration Projects, and in regard to the progress of the C-44 Reservoir project. On January 31 he sent Salt a letter to the same effect He then sent a letter to Assistant Secretary Jo-Ellen Darcy, the head of the Army Corps of Engineers, advocating for supplemental funding for these projects. (patrickmurphy.house.gov, March 26, 2013; Murphy letter to Salt, January 31, 2013) Murphy Went After Federal Funding To Restore The Oyster Reef In The St. Lucie Estuary: In February 2013, Murphy wrote to Lt. Gen. Thomas Bostick, Commanding General and Chief of Engineers for the Army Corps of Engineers to press for funding of the St. Lucie Estuary Oyster Reef Habitat Restoration Project, which the Martin County Engineering Department. He noted that funding the restoration of this habitat and shoreline would satisfy components of the federally authorized Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan by advancing shellfish restoration, local ecosystems, and coastal resiliency. It would also support the diverse ecosystem and the oyster-based industries on which the local economy relies. (Murphy letter to Lt. Gen Bostick, February 8, 2013) Murphy Volunteered At Reef Project To Improve Marine Life: In July 2013, Murphy volunteered at an oyster reef project at Wildcat Cove in Pepper Park Riverside. He explained that the Indian River Lagoon was essential to the ecosystem and would bring a return investment through an economic boost in industries depending on it. (The Stuart News, July 21, 2013; patrickmurphy.house.gov) Murphy Pressed The Fisheries Service For Action On An Overdue Opinion On Sea Grass In Jupiter Inlet: In March 2013, Murphy wrote a letter to Dr. Roy Crabtree, Regional Administrator of the NOAA Fisheries Service in Saint Petersburg. The Army Corps of Engineers had requested a Biological Opinion from the National Marine Fisheries Service regarding the potential effects that a permitting project in Jupiter Inlet may have on Jonson’s sea grass. However the NMFS had not responded in 245 days. Since the Corps could not act until NMFS responded, Murphy pressed Crabtree on the status of the request. (Murphy Letter to Roy Crabtree, March 12, 2013) Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 Murphy Urged Corps Of Engineers To End Polluting Discharges From Lake Okeechobee; Offered Alternative Solutions; Got Assurance Of Funding To Help Fix The Problems: On June 4, 2013, Murphy met with Assistant Secretary of the Army (Civil Works) Jo-Ellen Darcy and promoted alternative options to releasing discharges of polluted water from Lake Okeechobee into the St. Lucie Estuary and Indian River Lagoon. He noted that "there are projects out there that seem promising that will encourage farmers and other agriculture land owners around the lake to store water on their lands that can provide natural filtration, and reduce the amount of fertilizer components that feed into Lake Okeechobee.” Murphy said Darcy assured him that money was available for the first phase of the Indian River Lagoon project, having already been set aside from prior year budgets and despite not being included in President Obama’s 2014 budget proposal. The lagoon plan deals with the C-44 Canal, which connects Lake Okeechobee and the south fork of the St. Lucie River, and is part of the larger Everglades restoration project. (Press Journal, June 5, 2013; TCPalm.com June 4, 2013) Murphy Recruited Gov. Scott To Help Fight Devastating Releases Of Polluted Water Into St. Lucie Estuary: In July 2013, Murphy invited Gov. Scott to meet with him in Washington in order to recruit him to the cause of stopping the releases of polluted water from Lake Okeechobee into the St. Lucie Estuary. The two spoke on August 2 and Scott agreed to partner with Murphy on the issue. (Press Journal, August 13, 2013) Murphy Again Urged Army Corps Of Engineers To Stop Releasing Polluted Water From Lake Okeechobee That Devastates The St. Lucie River And Estuary: In September 2013, Murphy called on the Army Corps of Engineers to move water from the Water Conservation Areas (WCA) south of Lake Okeechobee to allow water to move south from the lake. He also urged the Corps to reassess the Lake Okeechobee Release Schedule (LORS) to reevaluate at what level the lake could safely retain water while balancing public safety with the extreme pollution caused by lake discharges into the St. Lucie River and Estuary. "As we recognize National Estuaries Day today, I am committed to working to better the health of the St. Lucie Estuary which has been too long plagued by discharges from Lake Okeechobee, devastating the local environment, economy, and community," said Murphy. "By moving water from these WCAs and reassessing the LORS, harmful discharges from the lake can--and should--be reduced to better the health of our vital waterways." (Congressional Documents and Publications, September 28, 2013) Murphy Sought Federal Funds To Defray Costs Of Homeowners’ Sewer Connections That Would Keep Sewage From Polluting Indian River Lagoon: In 2013, after research showed that sewage seeping from 120,000 septic tanks had tainted the entire Indian River Lagoon, Murphy sought federal grants to help pay for more sewer lines and defray homeowners' sewer line connection costs. The new lines would cost local governments tens of millions of dollars, but would cost individual homeowners between $7,000 and $20,000 to connect to the lines. (The Stuart News/Port St. Lucie News, September 29, 2013) TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 93 Murphy Met With Senior EPA Official To Discuss Solutions To Treasure Coast Water Quality Issues: In November 2013, Murphy met with EPA Deputy Administrator Bob Perciacepe at the 5th Annual Southeast Florida Regional Climate Leadership Summit to discuss solutions to the problems in Treasure Coast waterways. "I am thankful for the opportunity to have met with Deputy Administrator Bob Perciasepe last night. We spoke at length about the water quality issues in our district. We discussed short-term solutions, such as water farming and filtration, as well as long-term solutions to get water to move south," he said. "Additionally, we talked about EPA's work with the Florida DEP and coordinating ways to improve the health of our waterways. I am pleased that the EPA will be prioritizing this issue." (TCpalm.com November 8, 2013) Murphy Urged The Obama Administration To Add Funding To The Budget For The C-44 Project To Relieve The Pressure Of Polluted Discharges Of Water From Lake Okeechobee Into The St. Lucie River Where It Kills The Plant And Animals: In a November 2013 letter, Murphy and other Florida Members sent a letter to Sylvia Mathews Burwell, Director of the Office of Management and Budget, urging the President to add funding to the budget for the second phase of the C-44 Indian River Lagoon Project to clean up toxic waters along the Treasure Coast. The $750 million to $1 billion C-44 project, split 50-50 between the federal government and a combination of state and local governments, would remove nitrogen from the water as well as handle rainfall runoff and clean some of the discharges from Lake Okeechobee into the St. Lucie River that pollute it and lead to toxic algae blooms. The project is also an important component of broader Everglades restoration efforts. The project is under construction but there is currently no funding for its second phase. “The success or failure of the small businesses in the area is directly connected to the quality of the waterways. When the river is devastated by pollution, the economy suffers.” said Murphy. (WPBF 25 News, November 7, 2013 via tveyes.com; TCpalm.com, November 7, 2013; Murphy et. al. letter to OMB Director Sylvia Mathews Burwell, November 6, 2013) Convened Washington Hearing With Activists To Demonstrate To Other Members Of Congress The Urgent Need To Address The Environmental Devastation Of The St. Lucie River And Indian River Lagoon Murphy Rallied Local Residents To Join Him In Washington To Press For Urgent Action To Halt Catastrophic Pollution Discharges Into St. Lucie Estuary And Indian River Lagoon: In August 2013, Murphy invited over 200 people at a Rivers Coalition meeting to join him in Washington to lobby Congress on behalf of projects to stop catastrophic discharges from Lake Okeechobee into the St. Lucie Estuary and the lagoon. "Help me sell this case to my colleagues in D.C.," Murphy said. "Let them know that we've got to spend money on these projects." Murphy told the audience, "There's no question (the lagoon) is the most important issue in my office right now. ... This is the United States of America, and our water has declined to the point that it's toxic. We're not a Third World country. This cannot be tolerated. ... Enough’s enough." (The Stuart News/Port St. Lucie News, August 30, 2013) Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 Murphy Collected Constituent Photos Of Environmental Devastation To Demonstrate To Members Of Congress The Urgent Need For Funding: Murphy asked his constituents to send him photographs of the damage done to waterways by pollution in their area. Users sent in alarming photographs of the polluted water released from Lake Okeechobee by the Army Corps of Engineers after heavy rains, as well as pictures of dead turtles, manatees, fish, and other wildlife. Murphy planned to show the four worst at his October 3, 2013 hearing in Washington. (Huffington Post, October 2, 2013) Murphy Convened A Hearing To Push For Funding To Reduce Pollution And Its Effects On Everglades Ecosystem: On October 3, 2013, Murphy co-convened a special hearing to hear from environmental activists and push for funding for restoration projects designed to help the Everglades and limit the flow of pollution along the St. Lucie and Caloosahatchee Rivers. A regional agenda supported by Murphy sought about $1.2 billion in federal aid through the Water Resources Reform and Development Act for four major projects: upgrading the 143-mile Herbert Hoover Dike that surrounds Lake Okeechobee, restoring the Kissimmee River, completing the C-44 reservoir to the east of Lake Okeechobee, and authorizing the C-43 reservoir to the west. Parts of the project had already been authorized for funding by a House bill that was part of the water infrastructure bill, and a version had already passed the Senate in May, but a full House vote on the bill was delayed by the shutdown. The bill only authorized the TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 95 funding, however, and did not appropriate it, so Murphy called the hearing to highlight the urgency of the need for funding. "The effects of polluted water touch everyone in the community regardless of party affiliation," said Murphy. "The importance of this issue will not be ignored." (Florida Today, October 4, 2013; Palm Beach Post, October 4, 2013) Murphy Took Steny Hoyer On An Aerial Tour Of Indian River Lagoon: In October 2013, after House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-MD) attended Murphy’s congressional hearing on the problems in the Indian River Lagoon, Murphy took Hoyer on an aerial tour of the lagoon to further convince him of the urgent need to fund the restoration projects in the area. "Rep. Patrick Murphy had raised with me the critical issue of pollution from Lake Okeechobee entering the St. Lucie River and Indian River Lagoon, harming wildlife and disrupting the enjoyment of these waterways by local communities. Today, I took the opportunity to tour the affected areas with him and see the effects of this pollution firsthand," said Hoyer. "Rep. Murphy has been a tireless advocate for addressing this problem, and I am committed to working with him to help find a solution that protects Florida's beautiful, natural habitats and ensures clean water for Florida's communities." (Press Journal, October 19, 2013; Congressional Documents and Publications, October 14, 2013) Co-Sponsored Bill To Authorize Everglades Restoration Projects (CERP) Murphy Co-Sponsored The Everglades For The Next Generation Act To Greenlight Projects Under The Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan: In March 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Everglades For The Next Generation Act, which Amends the Water Resources Development Act of 2000 to authorize the Secretary of the Army, after completing a project implementation report prepared for a project under the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan and without any further congressional authorization, to carry out projects for: (1) the Caloosahatchee River (C-43) West Basin Storage Reservoir; (2) the Biscayne Bay coastal wetland; (3) Broward County water preserve areas; (4) the C-111 Spreader Canal; (5) any other project identified in the Plan for which a project implementation report is completed that is in accordance with an integrated delivery schedule approved by the Chief of Engineers and the South Florida Water Management District, provided that the report is completed not later than five years after this Act's enactment; and (6) any group of projects under the Plan that the Secretary determines will provide regional or watershed ecosystem or water supply benefits if the group of projects is constructed in accordance with a project implementation report approved by the Chief and the District within that time frame. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 913, added March 18, 2013) Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 Promise Kept: Voted For Package Of Projects To Restore And Clean Up Everglades And Surrounding Waterways (CERP) Candidate Murphy Supported The Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan: In 2012, Murphy told the Sierra Club that he supported the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration plan. (Sierra Club Candidate Questionnaire 2012) Murphy Voted For The Water Resources Reform and Development Act To Restore The Everglades: In October 2013, Murphy voted for the bipartisan Water Resources Reform and Development Act, which authorizes a suite of four restoration projects in the central Everglades as part of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan. The projects will improve the health of polluted waterways along the Treasure Coast, improve the quality of drinking water for millions of people, and allow more water to be directed south from Lake Okeechobee into the Central Everglades, Everglades National Park, and Florida Bay. (HR 3080, Vote #560, October 23, 2013; evergladesplan.org; WPTV NewsChannel 5, November 1, 2013 via tveyes.com) Fulfilled Promise On Shore Renourishment & Dredging Said He Would Go To Bat For Eroding Local Beaches Murphy Vowed To Support Local Beaches: In December 2012, Murphy met with Riviera Beach Mayor Thomas Masters to look at long term solutions to beach erosion. "We can't continue to have these Band-Aids, and while it's nice to keep putting the sand back on, that's a short-term solution and, ultimately, it's going to cost all of us, the taxpayers, a lot more money.” He added, “So we need to work in a coordinated fashion with all governments, all agencies, all groups in tandem to come up with the best solution..." (Palm Beach Post, December 7, 2012) Pressed For Funding For Shore Restoration And Dredging Murphy Pressed Federal Officials For Funds To Repair Damage From Hurricane Sandy On The Treasure Coast: In February 2013, Murphy said Hurricane Sandy was the cause of over $44 million in damage in Florida. FEMA denied funds to Gov. Rick Scott, but Congress allocated $50.4 billion in aid for Sandy relief. Murphy urged the Army Corps of Engineers to use money allocated for the erosion of beaches in his congressional district. (The Stuart News, February 2, 2013) Murphy Met With Jacksonville District Commander To Push For Shore And Dredging Project Funding In District 18: On February 20, 2013, Murphy met with the Army Corps of Engineers Jacksonville District Commander Colonel Alan Dodd to urge funding for the shore renourishment and inlet dredging projects in Martin, St. Lucie, and Palm Beach counties. (patrickmurphy.house.gov, March 26, 2013) TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 97 Murphy Met With Senior Army Corps Official In March 2013 To Push For Emergency Funding For Dredging And Shore Renourishment Projects In District 18: On March 20, 2013, Murphy hosted senior Army Corps official Mark Mazzanti and Martin County Commissioners in his Washington DC office to express the importance of inlet dredging and shore restoration. He then sent another letter to Assistant Secretary Jo-Ellen Darcy advocating for emergency funding for these important projects that were negatively affected by Hurricane Sandy. (patrickmurphy.house.gov, March 26, 2013) Secured Funding For Shore Restoration And Dredging Murphy Met With Senior Army Corps Official In March 2013 To Finalize Funding For District 18 Dredging And Renourishment Projects: On March 26, 2013, Murphy met with Army Corps Jacksonville District Commander Colonel Alan Dodd and St. Lucie County Commissioners, to discuss the announcement of funding awards for shore renourishment projects in District 18 well as other pending projects in the district. (patrickmurphy.house.gov, March 26, 2013) Murphy Secured Funding For Beach Renourishment In St. Lucie And Martin Counties After Hurricane Sandy: In March 2013 after several months of work, Murphy announced that the Army Corps had awarded funding to restore Fort Pierce Beach to its pre-Hurricane Sandy condition and that it was in the process of releasing funding for the Martin County Shore Protection Project. Said Murphy: "From day one, getting funding for beach restoration projects has been one of my top priorities. Renourishing these important areas will preserve beaches, structures, property, and sea turtle nesting areas. Furthermore, the health of our beaches is directly related to the health of our local economy. Additionally, our economy relies on the well-being of our many waterways, which is why I have also been working with the Army Corps to ensure funding for dredging and other projects on the Treasure Coast and Palm Beaches. While there are multiple projects that need funding, I have been meeting regularly with the Army Corps, the South Florida Water Management District, and the county commissioners to prioritize and support these important projects. I am pleased that we were able to all come together to get this vital funding for beach restoration in St. Lucie and Martin counties and I will continue to work to see that other outstanding projects get the funding they need and deserve." (patrickmurphy.house.gov, March 26, 2013) Voted For Funding For Dredging Of Local Inlets And Miami Harbor Murphy Voted For The Energy And Water Development Appropriations Act To Fund Energy And Water Development Including Additional Funding For Navigation Project For Miami Harbor: In July 2013 Murphy voted for appropriations for energy and water development and related agencies. It would fund Army Corps of Engineers projects such as dredging local inlets to relieve harmful lake discharges. Among many other things, the bill amends the Water Resources Development Act of 2007 to increase funding for the navigation project for Miami Harbor. "It (the budget) is Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 tight in D.C.," said Murphy of the need for this funding. "People don't want to spend dollars." But he also said, “We have to do everything we can. It's been a problem for many years.” (The Stuart News, July 21, 2013; patrickmurphy.house.gov; HR 2609, Vote #345, July 10, 2013) Co-Sponsored Legislation To Require Corps Of Engineers To Spend Harbor Trust Fund Surplus On Harbors Murphy Co-Sponsored The RAMP Act To Require The Corps Of Engineers To Spend All Of The Money In The Harbor Trust Fund On Needed Harbor Maintenance Instead Of Sitting On A $6 Billion Surplus: In February 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the RAMP Act, which would require the Army Corps of Engineers to spend on harbor maintenance all revenue received by the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund. The fund has accumulated a surplus of over $6 billion since 1987, yet many ports remain in need of maintenance—including Fort Pierce in Port St. Lucie—limiting their economic value, according to a CRS report and the St. Lucie Director of Public Works. Most harbor maintenance takes the form of dredging, which keeps ports at their congressionally mandated depths. As of 2010, full channel dimensions were available less than an average of 35% of the time at the 59 highest use US harbors, according to a CRS report. This bill could fund the restoration of the commercial port at Fort Piece. Fort Pierce’s federally designated inlet and turning basin are rated at depth of 25 feet, but a number of areas are now only 18-feet deep, which creates safety hazards and limits traffic according to the Director of Public Works in St. Lucie County. The Army Corps last conducted maintenance in 2003, and Port St. Lucie has been trying unsuccessfully to get the Corps to dredge the port—which could cost $3-5 million—for some time. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 335, added February 12, 2013) Went To Bat For Local Farmers Voted For The 2013 Farm Bill, Which Contained Assistance And Protections For Fruit And Vegetable Growers, Ranchers, Etc. Murphy Voted For 2013 Farm Bill, Which Contained Specialty Crop Insurance Programs For Farmers, Funding For Fruit & Vegetable Growers, Insurance For Livestock Producers, Etc.: In June 2013, Murphy voted with Republicans and against the great majority of Democrats for the final version of the Farm Bill, which would funded federal farm and food assistance programs through FY 2018. The bill, “would have cut projected spending in farm and nutrition programs by nearly $40 billion over the next 10 years. Just over half, $20.5 billion, would come from cuts to the food stamp program, known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.” The bill, “eliminated the $5 billion-a-year subsidies paid to farmers and landowners whether they plant crops or not. The billions of dollars saved would be directed into the $9 billion [subsidized] crop insurance program, and new subsidies would be created for peanut, cotton and rice farmers. The bill adds money to support fruit and vegetable growers, and it restores insurance programs for livestock producers, which expired in 2011, TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 99 leaving thousands of operations without disaster coverage during last year’s drought.” The bill failed 195-234. (H.R. 1947, Vote #286, 6/20/13; CQ Floor Votes, 6/20/13; New York Times, 6/21/13) Context: District 18 Currently Receives Only Disaster Subsidy Payments: In 2012, 35 recipients in Florida’s 18th Congressional District received a total of $1,549,443 in USDA farm subsidies. All of it was in the category of Disaster Subsidy payments (as opposed to conservation subsidies, commodity subsidies, or crop insurance premium subsidies). From 1995 to 2012, a total of 718 recipients have received a total of $109,916,111 in Disaster Subsidy payments, with the bulk of the payments occurring from 2004 to 2006. This accounts for nearly all of the $115,937,364 in total USDA farm subsidies of all kinds that 788 recipients in the 18th District have received in that time period, with the remainder split between conservation studies and commodity subsidies, which have declined to zero since 2007. (Environmental Working Group 2013 Farm Subsidy Database) Voted To Keep Subsidized Crop Insurance For Farmers Murphy Voted To Keep Subsidized Crop Insurance For Farmers: In June 2013, Murphy voted against an amendment to the Farm Bill to end subsidized crop insurance to farmers. The amendment, introduced by Rep. Ron Kind (D-WI), would have limited federal crop insurance premium subsidies to producers with profits of less than $250,000, limit per-person subsidies to $50,000 per year, and cap crop insurance providers' reimbursement of administrative and operating costs at $900 million and reduce their rate of return to 12%. However, that would have exempted many specialty crop insurers, which are important to Florida’s farmers. The amendment was rejected by a vote of 208-217. (Associated Press, 6/20/13; Congressional Quarterly News, 6/20/13; Property Casualty 360, 6/21/13; Congressional Record, H3908, 6/19/13; Environmental Working Group press release, 6/20/13; HR 1947, Vote #276, 6/20/13) Note: Use this item carefully. The insurance programs received a lot of criticism. Voted To Keep Safety Net For Dairy Farmers Murphy Stood With National Farmers Union To Vote Against Ending The “Permanent Law” For Dairy Farmers: In June 2013, Murphy voted against an amendment that would repeal the permanent price support authority for dairy farmers, called the “permanent law.” The amendment would prevent the suspended 1949 law from becoming reactivated for dairy farmers should Congress not pass a Farm Bill. (CQ Floor Votes, 6/19/13; Congress.gov, accessed 7/11/13) The National Farmers Union opposed the amendment. “Repealing permanent law would remove the element in the bill which would force Congress to act on a piece of legislation that provides a safety net for farmers,” said the NFU. “Maintaining the existing permanent law provision provides an incentive for Congress to be engaged in agricultural policy.” (National Farmers Union, 6/20/13, 7/11/13, 7/09/12) The amendment failed 112-309. (HR 1947, Vote #258, 6/19/13) Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 Voted To Replace Dairy Subsidies With Optional Insurance Program Murphy Voted To Replace Dairy Subsidies With Optional Insurance: In June 2013, Murphy voted with most Republicans and about half of Democrats for an amendment that would strike the dairy market stabilization program and the dairy producer margin protections program from the Farm Bill. With the amendment, farmers would have the option to enroll annually in a new insurance program at margin levels between $4 and $8 at increments of 50 cents. Support payments would be triggered when margins fall below the selected price, and coverage would be available for between 25 percent and 80 percent of a farmer's historic dairy production. (CQ Votes, 6/20/13; Grand Forks Herald, 6/20/13) The amendment passed, 291-135. (HR 1947, Vote #278, 6/20/13) Note: Use this item carefully in regard to dairy farmers. The general public hates the word “subsidy,” and so this can be counted as an accomplishment when framed and worded simplistically, or as part of a general statement about how he went after wasteful subsidies. But the dairy industry criticized the proposed insurance programs as benefitting big milk processors (cheese, butter, etc.) over milk producers (dairies), particularly smaller ones. They anticipated lower income for milk producers, a cheap supply of subsidized milk for milk processors, and no savings for consumers. Pitched at the right constituency, it could be a positive. Voted For Rural Business Opportunity Grants, Fire Suppression, And Water Assistance Murphy Voted For Rural Business Grants, Funding To Help Fight Forest Fires, And Water Assistance: In 2013, Murphy voted for rural business opportunity grants, forest fire suppression, and water assistance programs. The motion would have added an amendment to the Farm Bill to authorize $20 million per year for rural business opportunity grants from FY 2014 to 2018. The amendment also provided funding for fire suppression equipment and personnel to prevent forest fires, increased funding for water, waste disposal and wastewater facility grants by $10 million per year, and extended funding for an emergency and imminent community water assistance program. The motion failed 188-232. (HR 1947, Vote #285, 6/20/13; CQ Votes) Fought To Delay Unaffordable Flood Insurance Rate Hike Called For Halt To Steep Flood Insurance Rate Hikes Murphy Co-Authored Letter To FEMA Challenging New Flood Maps That Threatened To Devastate Local Economy: On August 1, Murphy and the other members of Palm Beach County's congressional delegation sent a letter to FEMA Administrator W. Craig Fugate urging him to give local governments more time to review the long-term financial effects of FEMA’s new flood maps, which it had just updated for the first time in 30 years. The Murphy and the others said that the current TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 101 proposal would have "far-reaching negative economic impacts" that could devastate the tax base in parts of the county by harming its real estate market and resulting in "expensive, impractical and unnecessary modification" to development rules. "These consequences will impact the county just as the local economy is showing signs of a fragile recovery," the delegation wrote. The group questioned whether things like improvements to area flood-control structures and new engineering requirements had been taken into account when making the new maps. (Palm Beach Post, August 4, 2013) Murphy Called On Congressional Leaders To Save Flood Insurance Policyholders From Steep Rate Hikes: On September 27, 2013, Murphy signed onto a bipartisan letter that called on Speaker John Boehner and Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi to take immediate action to delay implementation of steep rate increases for National Flood Insurance Program policyholders. (Congressional Documents and Publications, September 30, 2013) Co-Sponsored Legislation To Delay Flood Insurance Rate Hikes Murphy Co-Sponsored The Flood Insurance Fairness Act of 2013 To Delay Increases In National Flood Insurance Rates: In October 2013, Murphy cosponsored the Flood Insurance Fairness Act of 2013, which delays increases in flood insurance premium rates under the National Flood Insurance Program until completion of the pending study regarding the affordability of such rates and congressional consideration of reforms to make such rates affordable. (CRS Summary, HR 3218, added October 23, 2013) Murphy Co-Sponsored The Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act of 2013 To Delay Alarming Rate Hikes For Four Years And Addresses Other National Flood Insurance Program Problems: In October 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act of 2013, which helps alleviate some of the costly and unintended consequences caused by the Biggert-Waters Act of 2012, a reauthorization of the National Flood Insurance Program that led to drastic and unexpected increases in flood insurance premiums and problems and inaccuracies with the remapping of the Flood Insurance Rate Maps. Specifically it: • delays certain flood insurance rate increases for four years • stops automatic rate increases upon the sale of homes • allows for remapping process to take into account local flood control structures • allows homeowner reimbursements for successful map appeals • protects the so-called “basement exception” in 53 communities • creates a consumer advocate within FEMA to help homeowners with flood insurance and mapping concerns (CRS Summary, HR 3370, added October 29, 2013; National Association of Home Builders Talking Points for HR 3370 and S 1610) Murphy Met With FEMA Administrators To Press For Changes To Unaffordable New Flood Insurance Rates: On November 19, 2013, Murphy discussed the unaffordable proposed new National Flood Insurance rates with FEMA Administrator W. Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 Craig Fugate at a House Financial Services Committee hearing on the matter. On November 21 he and the Florida delegation met with FEMA Assistant Administrator for the Federal Insurance and Mitigation Administration, David Miller, to discuss this pressing problem. (patrickmurphy.house.gov, press release, November 21, 2013) Murphy Petitioned FEMA To Delay Flawed New Flood Maps That Would Hurt Palm Beach County Homeowners And Economy: On November 21, 2013, Murphy and fellow Florida Reps. Ted Deutch, Alcee Hastings, and Lois Frankel wrote to FEMA Administrator W. Craig Fugate to urge an extension of the deadline for submitting comments and technical data on the new flood maps for Palm Beach County. The representatives said the maps were “significantly flawed,” and would result in negative consequences for homeowners in the county and for the local economy once used to calculate flood insurance rates. Local officials and experts were still conducting studies and collecting data to submit to FEMA on this matter and needed more time in order to ensure that the final flood maps would be based on accurate information. (patrickmurphy.house.gov, press release, November 21, 2013) Worked To Keep South Florida Moving: Air, Rail, Economy Fought Closure Of Witham Field Airport And Won Candidate Murphy Opposed Changes To Air Traffic Control Facilities Without Stakeholder Collaboration: In 2012, Murphy said he opposed efforts to consolidate, split, or realign air traffic control facilities and services without collaborating with aviation stakeholders including NATCA. (National Air Traffic Controllers Association Candidate Questionnaire 2012) Murphy Co-Sponsored The Air Traffic Control Tower Funding Restoration Act To Keep Witham Field And Other Contracted Towers Funded During The Sequester: In April 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Air Traffic Control Tower Funding Restoration Act, which would reallocate unobligated FY13 FAA funds to keep open all 149 control towers that are slated to close as a result of sequestration. Additionally he and other members of Congress wrote to the chair and ranking member of the Committee on Appropriations’ Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies to press for the same. The funds—$50 million—would be taken from the Facilities and Equipment (F&E) account as well as the Research, Engineering, and Development Account. Witham Field’s tower in Martin County was slated for closure as a result of sequestration. The tower is important to maintaining the safety of the thousands of jet and prop plane flights that takeoff and land at Witham, as well as coordinating airspace with Palm Beach International airport. A significant number of the jobs and economic activity in Stuart are dependent on the functioning of Witham Field. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 1432, added April 16, 2013; Murphy et. al. letter to Reps. Latham and Pastor of the Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies, April 18, 2013) Murphy Successfully Advocated For Saving Witham Air Traffic Control Tower Funding: In March 2013, due to funding restrictions imposed by the sequester, the TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 103 Federal Aviation Administration announced plans to close 149 contracted air traffic control towers by mid-June. But in April 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Air Traffic Tower Funding Restoration Act to delay the closures until 2014. “I strenuously objected to the closing of Witham Field’s tower, because it plays a vital role on the Treasure Coast, safeguarding flights, passengers and ground structures by coordinating the hazardous mixture of jets and prop planes that use Witham Field and by keeping the airspace adjacent to Palm Beach International Airport safe,” Murphy said in a news release. “This bipartisan bill would allow Witham and 148 other towers across the country to remain open for the rest of the fiscal year while Congress works to replace the sequester with a balanced, long-term budget that cuts the deficit without sacrificing essential government services.” In May 2013 the FAA reversed course and canceled plans to close the towers after being given new budget powers to ease the impact of the sequester. (The Stuart News, May 11, 2013; CNN.com May 10, 2013; TCPalm.com April 12, 2013) Worked To Preserve, Improve South Florida’s Affordable Transportation Options Murphy Voted To Keep A Program That Subsidized Passenger Air Service Between 163 Smaller Cities And Hub Airports: On July 30, 2013, Murphy voted not to kill the Essential Air Service program by shifting its fiscal 2014 appropriation of $100 million to deficit reduction. His no vote on HR 2610 was to keep a program that subsidizes passenger service between 163 smaller cities and hub airports. The bill failed 166-248. (HR 2610, H.Amdt.422, Vote #447, July 30, 2013; The Stuart News/Port St. Lucie News, August 4, 2013) Murphy Supported South Florida Passenger And Freight Rail Enhancement: In September 2013, Murphy joined four Members of Congress and US Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx in Fort Lauderdale to laud the $13.75 million Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant for the South Florida Freight and Passenger Rail Enhancement Project. "These TIGER projects are the best argument you can make for investment in our transportation infrastructure," said Secretary Foxx. "The South Florida Freight and Passenger Rail Enhancement project will better connect the area's two major freight rail corridors, which will leave more capacity for the tens of millions of people traveling between South Florida's cities and Orlando every year. Anything we can do to give people more transportation options is a plus." Murphy added, "I'm a proud supporter of infrastructure projects that generate jobs and stimulate long-term economic growth just as this rail project will. This project will also allow commuters to move more easily through the Treasure Coast and Palm Beaches as the Tri-Rail is extended further north. Additionally, All Aboard Florida expands commuter access from Orlando through my district to Miami and more freight is moved by train, all of which will help to reduce traffic on already-congested highways throughout the region." (US Official News, September 14, 2013) Murphy Fought Successfully For South Florida’s Economy And Airline Passengers’ Pocketbooks By Urging Florida Attorney General Not To Oppose Union-Backed Merger Between US Airways And American Airlines: In September 2013, Murphy joined six of his colleagues in calling on Florida Attorney General Pam Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 Bondi to drop her support for the Obama administration’s challenge to the merger between U.S. Airways and American Airlines. The group noted that the union-backed merger would result in better pay for airline workers and would boost South Florida’s economy, while Bondi and other attorneys general sided with the Department of Justice in claiming that the merger would stifle competition and lead to higher ticket prices. In November the Department of Justice and the state attorneys general reached a settlement with the airlines to withdraw the lawsuit preventing the merger. (SaintPetersBlog, September 30, 2013; Congressional Documents and Publications, November 13, 2013) Went To Bat For Florida Citrus & Cigars Helped Stabilize And Protect The State And Local Citrus Industry Murphy Successfully Petitioned The USDA To Buy $4.3 Million Of Grapefruit Juice From The Indian River Citrus League To Help Stabilize The Beleaguered Market In A Difficult Year: In March 2013, Murphy and Rep. Tom Rooney (R-FL) wrote a letter to David Shipman, Acting Administrator for the Agriculture Marketing Service at the USDA, to support the Indian River Citrus League's request that the USDA purchase Florida grapefruit juice for the Child Nutrition and Domestic Food Assistance Programs. He recounted how the state’s citrus industry had been hit hard by invasive pests and diseases and record droppage rates. He pointed out how the purchase would help stabilize a market and an industry that was of critical importance to the state. Later that month, Murphy announced that the USDA approved the $4.3 million purchase. (Murphy Press Release, March 19, 2013) Co-Sponsored A Bill To Fund R&D On Citrus Diseases And Pests Murphy Co-Sponsored The Citrus Disease Research And Development Trust Fund Act To Use Duties On Citrus Imports To Support Research, Assistance, And Development On Citrus Diseases And Pests: In February 2013, Murphy cosponsored the Citrus Disease Research And Development Trust Fund Act, which establishes the Citrus Disease Research and Development Trust Fund, consisting of revenues from duties paid on imported citrus or citrus products, to support scientific research, technical assistance, and development activities to combat both domestic and invasive citrus diseases and pests harming the United States. (CRS Summary, CoSponsorship memo for HR 853, added February 27, 2013) Co-Sponsored A Bill To Exempt Premium Cigars From FDA Regulation And Fees Murphy Co-Sponsored Bill To Exempt Large And Premium Cigars From FDA Regulation And Fees: In May 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Traditional Cigar Manufacturing And Small Business Jobs Preservation Act Of 2013, which amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to exempt traditional large and premium cigars (as opposed to machine-made cigars such as Black & Milds) from regulation by the Food and Drug Administration and from user fees assessed on tobacco products by the FDA. The cigar industry, which as a substantial presence and customer base in South TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 105 Florida, supported the bill because they felt they would be overregulated under the FDA and feared the loss of small businesses and jobs, while public health and cancer groups opposed this bill. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 792, added May 17, 2013) Went To Bat For Postal Workers A national issue, but with a key local constituency. Campaigned On Protecting 6-Day Mail Service Candidate Murphy Supported Six-Day Postal Service: In 2012, Murphy said he supported continuing six-day USPS mail delivery. (National Association of Postal Supervisors Candidate Questionnaire 2012) Candidate Murphy Opposed Closing Post Offices: In 2012, Murphy said he opposed closing mail processing and post office facilities across the country. (National Association of Postal Supervisors Candidate Questionnaire 2012) Co-Sponsored Resolution To Support Continued 6-Day Mail Service Murphy Co-Sponsored A Resolution In Support Of 6-Day Delivery: In February 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the resolution in support of 6-day delivery, expressed the sense of the House that the United States Postal Service should take all appropriate measures to ensure the continuation of its 6-day mail delivery service. (H Res 30, added February 13, 2013) Rallied With Local Postal Workers For 6-Day Mail Service Murphy Lent His Support To Letter Carrier Rally For Six Day Mail Service: In March 2013, Murphy joined about 150 letter carriers in West Palm Beach in a rally for continued six day mail delivery service. The letter carriers argued that eliminating Saturday delivery would harm small businesses, rural communities, and the elderly, who rely on mail delivery for medications. Murphy said that 80% of the postal service’s debt is due to a congressional mandate to pre-fund its pension program 75 years in advance. It is the only government agency required to do so. (Palm Beach Post, March 24, 2013) Co-Sponsored Bill To Keep 6-Day Mail Service And Relax Extreme Pension Funding Requirement Murphy Co-Sponsored The Postal Service Protection Act To Preserve Saturday Delivery And Stop Requiring Pension Overpayments: In April 2013, Murphy cosponsored the Postal Service Protection Act, which would: (1) Fix the immediate fiscal problem of the Postal Service by ending the pre-funding mandate and allowing the Postal Service to recover pension overpayments. (2) Protect 6-day delivery. Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 (3) Ensure the timely delivery of mail and protect mail-processing facilities. (4) Protecting Rural Post Offices. (5) Establish new ways the Postal Service can generate revenue (6) Provide USPS More Pricing Flexibility in Setting Postal Rates. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 630, added April 9, 2013) Co-Sponsored Bill To Relax Extreme USPS Pension Funding Requirement Candidate Murphy Supported Eliminating Pre-Funding Requirement For Postal Service Retiree Health Care Benefits: In 2012, Murphy said he supported eliminating the pre-funding requirement for the USPS retiree health care benefits plan. (National Association of Postal Supervisors Candidate Questionnaire 2012) Murphy Co-Sponsored The USPS Stabilization Act of 2013 To Remove The Extreme Pension Funding Requirements That Have Been Placed Only On The Post Office: In July 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the USPS Stabilization Act of 2013, which amends provisions concerning the Federal Employees' Retirement System (FERS), with respect to employees of the U.S. Postal Service (USPS), to: (1) provide a new formula for calculating employee pension contributions using the normal-cost percentage method multiplied by the aggregate amount of basic pay payable to employees of USPS and the Postal Regulatory Commission, and (2) provide for the use of excess FERS contributions to pay USPS debt obligations and make pension contributions. (CRS Summary, HR 961, added July 25, 2013) Engaged District Constituents: Access, Inclusion, Support Murphy Planned St. Lucie County’s First Congressional Office: Upon election, Murphy planned to open an office in Port St. Lucie that would offer convenient access to him and his office’s resources, a first for the county. He pointed out that 100% of his constituents should have access. “I will have an open door and be accessible to all those in the Treasure Coast and Palm Beaches, regardless of who they voted for, or which county they live in,” he said. (The Stuart News, December 13, 2012) Murphy Reached Out To Constituents Via Telephone Town Hall Meeting: On August 1, 2013, Murphy hosted his first "telephone town hall" meeting with constituents, a large teleconference that allowed him to connect with about 9,000 listeners. Murphy’s spokesperson Erin Moffet Hale said, "The congressman chose the telephone town hall format because it allowed him to reach almost 10,000 while at the same time affording constituents across the Treasure Coast and Palm Beaches the convenience of being able to participate without having to travel, and even from their dinner tables." (Palm Beach Post, August 5, 2013) Murphy Helped Constituents Understand Budget Process: In August 2013, Murphy held public budget-balancing exercises in Palm Beach and Fort Pierce designed to engage constituents in fiscal decision making. With the help of the Concord Coalition, a nonpartisan organization that advocates responsible fiscal policy, Murphy guided TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 107 members of the public in mock spending decisions and cuts in an attempt to balance a simulated budget. (SaintPetersBlog, August 24, 2013; Palm Beach Post, August 14, 2013) Murphy Led Local Prayer Walk: In May 2013, Murphy led an interdenominational prayer walk called, “God Belongs In My City,” attended by more than 1,000 people from 35 churches in Port St. Lucie, Ft. Pierce and Stuart. The event had a special focus on youth and poverty in the Treasure Coast. (The Stuart News, May 11, 2013) Working To Delay And Fix Flawed Obamacare Supports Obamacare And Wants To Save The Good Parts Said Obamacare Was A Good Step Forward Overall Despite Some Flaws   Murphy Said Obamacare Was Flawed In Part, But Liked Parts Of It And Felt It Was A Step Forward Overall: In June 2012, Murphy said that parts of Obamacare were flawed, such as 1099 form requirements for small businesses. But he said many problems such as that were being fixed. He praised other parts of the law, such as offering people up to 26 years old the opportunity to stay on their parents’ coverage, fixing the doughnut hold for seniors, the end of denials of coverage for pre-existing conditions, and the health care exchanges. He said that most pieces of legislation that come out of Congress were not perfect, but that he thought it was a big step forward. (Stuart News/Port St. Lucie News, June 15, 2012) Praised Obamacare Savings And Efficiency   Candidate Murphy Criticized Paul Ryan’s Medicare Overhaul Plan And Touted Obamacare Provisions That Eliminated Waste And Inefficiencies And Used The Savings To Improve Care For Seniors: At an October 2012 debate against Allen West, Murphy criticized the Ryan plan to overhaul Medicare and highlighted instead cost-related solutions included in the Affordable Care Act centered finding waste and inefficiencies. “Under the Affordable Care Act, they’ve found inefficiencies, waste and fraud and they’ve put that money and taken it away from insurance executives, and away from the pharmaceuticals and given it back to seniors in the form of preventive treatments and in the form of closing the doughnut hole and this is what we need to do to start bringing down the long-term costs code that is driving our costs through the roof.” (The Stuart News, October 20, 2012) Murphy Said Obamacare Incentivizes Doctors To Make Healthcare More Efficient, Cost Effective, And Safer Since They Are The Ones On The Front Lines Of Delivery: Murphy said in July 2013 that the goal of health care reform was to make the health care system more efficient, more cost effective, and safer, and that one of the best ways to do that was to change how medical providers are compensated. “That's one of the major objectives of Obamacare, to move to a pay-for-performance system, and what it's done is incentivize doctors to go out on a limb and come up with Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 improvements." He noted that doctors were in the best position to see what needs doing and to implement it. He pointed out that technology-based improvements would help reduce costs, which were the fastest-rising set of costs in the federal budget and which drove the effort to pass health care reform. (Sun-Sentinel, July 15, 2013) Voted Not To Repeal Obamacare In Order To Preserve Coverage For 3.5 Million Floridians Murphy Voted Not To Repeal Obamacare: On July 7, 2013, Murphy voted against repealing the Affordable Care Act. It was the 37th time House Republicans voted to repeal all or parts of the law. According to the New York Times, the vote would be “at least the 43rd day since Republicans took over the House that they have devoted time to voting on the issue…That means that since 2011, Republicans have spent no less than 15 percent of their time on the House floor on repeal in some way.” (New York Times, 5/14/13) In 2012, CBS News reported that the 30 attempts by House Republicans to repeal all or part of the law had cost taxpayers over $50 million. (CBS News, 7/11/12) The measure passed, 229-195. (HR 45, Vote #154, 5/16/13) In Florida, Repeal Of Obamacare Would Increase Drug Costs For Seniors, Kick Over 200,000 Young Adults Off Of Parents’ Coverage, Eliminate Free Preventive Care For Millions Of Seniors And Disabled, Eliminate Insurance Rebates, And Leave 3.5 Million Without Coverage: According to a staff report from the Energy and Commerce committee, a repeal of Obamacare would have the following effects on Florida: • Drug costs for over 237,000 seniors would have been $378 million higher • 224,000 young adults would not have had coverage through their parents’ plans • 2.5 million women and 1.8 million seniors and people with disabilities would not have had access to free preventive care • 1.3 million people would not have received $124 million in rebates from their insurance companies • And next year, 3.5 million people will not have access to quality, dependable health insurance coverage. (Energy and Commerce committee, May 2013) Voted Not To Block The IRS From Enforcing Obamacare   Murphy Voted Not To Overturn Obamacare By Blocking The IRS From Enforcing The Law; Voted To Preserve Tax Credits To Help Middle Class Families Buy Health Care Insurance And Small Businesses To Provide Coverage For Workers: In August 2013, Murphy voted against all Republicans and with all but four Democrats against HR 2009, another in the string of more than 40 attempts by House Republicans to curb or repeal Obamacare. The Keep the IRS Off Your Health Care Act of 2013 would have prohibited the IRS from enforcing the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act or the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010. Bloomberg Government analysis stated that “The IRS plays a lead role in the law because many of TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 109 its provisions were additions to the Internal Revenue Code, including the individual and employer mandates and the tax credits intended to help individuals afford coverage through the health exchanges being established under the law.” The White House opposed the bill, stating that the bill “would cost millions of hard working middle class families the security of affordable health coverage and care they deserve and will drive up premiums for an estimated 20 million people by more than $4,000 a year on average,” according to a statement. “Rather than attempting once again to repeal the Affordable Care Act, which the House has tried nearly 40 times, it is time for the Congress to stop fighting old political battles and join the President in an agenda focused on providing greater economic opportunity and security for middle class families and all those working to get into the middle class.” The bill passed the House 232-185. (HR 2009, Vote #447, August 2, 2013; bgov.com; The Stuart News/Port St. Lucie News, August 4, 2013) Murphy Voted To Protect Middle Class Families’ And Small Businesses’ Ability To Pay For Health Care: In July 2013, Murphy voted for an amendment to HR 2009 that would have immediately amended the bill to prohibit the bill from altering, impacting, delaying or weakening section 1401 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act which provides tax credits to middle class families to purchase health insurance or section 1421 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act which provides tax credits to small businesses for the purchase of health insurance coverage for employees. His yes vote was to preserve the tax credits. The motion to recommit failed 186-230. (HR 2009, Vote #446, August 2, 2013; bgov.com; The Stuart News/Port St. Lucie News, August 4, 2013) Voted Not To Block Obamacare Subsidies For Lower Income People Murphy Voted Not To Block Obamacare Subsidies For Lower Income People: In September 2013, Murphy voted against all Republicans and with all but five Democrats against the No Subsidies Without Verification Act, a bill that would block all health insurance subsidies under Obamacare until a better system could be implemented to verify who was eligible for those subsidies. The bill was a response to a July regulation issued by the Department of Health and Human Services that gave state-run health insurance exchanges a degree of flexibility in determining qualifications for insurance subsidies. When a person claimed that their income was significantly lower than what it appeared to be based one government data, states were given the flexibility to attempt to verify the claim on some, but not all, of those people by randomly sampling whom to check. The administration argued that the flexibility in the rule only applied to a small subset of people and would not affect eligibility checks, and that any subsidies received by ineligible people would retroactively be taken back the next year when the person’s income was known. The bill passed 235-191. (HR 2775, Vote #458, 09/12/13; The Hill, September 12, 2013) Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 Lambasted Gov. Scott’s Implementation Of Obamacare In Florida   Murphy Challenged Gov. Scott’s Phony Obamacare Insurance Rate Hike Forecast And Labeled The State’s Overall Plan Of Obfuscation An Abdication Of Responsibility: In summer 2013, Murphy, Rep. Lois Frankel, and Rep. Ted Deutch coauthored a letter to the Department of Health and Human Services to intervene in what they characterized as an abdication of responsibility on the part of Florida Gov. Rick Scott’s administration’s handling of Obamacare’s implementation in the state. The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation had recently released data on insurance premiums under the health care law that forecasted average hikes of about 35 percent using a method that included creating a hypothetical plan to compare with the new offerings. Murphy’s group said that the data was a self-fulfilling prophecy, the product of a state motivated by politics to hamper the federal health care law at every turn. "This is not a coincidence, but rather the product of a cynical and intentional effort by Governor Scott and the Florida Legislature to undermine the Affordable Care Act and make health insurance premiums on the Florida Health Insurance Marketplace more expensive by refusing to allow the Insurance Commissioner either to negotiate lower rates with companies or refuse rates that are too high. Florida legislators also directed the Office of Insurance Regulation to ignore the significant tax credits for Floridians that will make health insurance even more affordable," read the letter. (Palm Beach Post, August 2, 2013) Acknowledged Obamacare’s Flaws; Committed To Fixing It Criticized Obamacare Timing When The Focus Should Have Been On Jobs   Candidate Murphy Said Healthcare Reform Came Too Soon; Focus Should Have Been On Jobs And Economy: In 2012, Murphy said he supported the Affordable Care Act, but questioned its timing. “With the president, for example, something that I differed with was health care reform. I support it. But the timing of it to me wasn't the best. You know, we were still in this recession,” said Murphy. "I think the focus of the president and the administration, and Democrats and Republicans, everyone else, should have been jobs and the economy, doing everything in our power to get us out of that recession.” (Palm Beach Post, July 2, 2012) Called Obamacare Rollout An Embarrassment, Called For Investigation   Murphy Called For Investigation Of Technical Failure Of Obamacare Rollout: In October 2013, as the Healthcare.gov website continued to be overwhelmed by technical glitches, Murphy demanded answers. "I think there needs to be an investigation. I think we need to get all the stats, all the facts, and take it from there," he said. (Agence France Presse, October 23, 2013) TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 111 Murphy: Obamacare Rollout “A Complete Embarrassment” And Said There Were “No Excuses”: IN November 2013, Murphy called the rollout of Obamacare a “complete embarrassment” and said there were “no excuses for what happened here.” (WPBF 25 News Mornings, November 13, 2013 via tveyes.com) Acknowledged Obamacare’s Problems And Said He Wanted To Fix It   Murphy Called Obamacare Imperfect, Said He Wanted To Mend It, Not End It: On an August 1, 2013 telephone town hall meeting with his constituents, Murphy sympathized with one of his constituents’ concerns about Obamacare, saying, "The Affordable Care Act is not perfect. The focus should be improving it. Look, no legislation this big is perfect. And I came to Congress, it was already done, you know, it had already passed. ... Let's work on improving it." He said that repealing the law would harm millions of people with pre-existing medical conditions and young adults allowed to remain on their parents' policies. And he praised its closure of the Medicare "doughnut hole" for prescription drug purchases. (Palm Beach Post, August 2, 2013) Murphy Said Obamacare Delays Were A Good Opportunity To Fix The Things Wrong With The Law, Which Also Had Good Parts: On July 17, 2013, after Murphy bucked his party to vote with Republicans to delay the implementation of Obamacare’s employer mandate, he said he was not for a “wholesale repeal” of the law and suggested Congress work towards improving it. "While I believe these delays are important, I do not support a wholesale repeal of the Affordable Care Act, which is already providing important protections and security to individuals and families who previously didn't have access to affordable, quality health insurance," Murphy said. (Palm Beach Post, July 18, 2013) Working To Fix Obamacare Piece By Piece Co-Sponsored And Voted For A Bill To Let People Keep Their Preferred Individual Health Insurance Plan For First Year Of Obamacare Murphy Co-Sponsored And Voted With Republicans To Force Obama To Honor His Promise That People Could Keep Their Existing Individual Health Insurance Plans Under Obamacare: In November 2013, Murphy co-sponsored a Republican bill to let people keep their current individual insurance plans under Obamacare for another year. Prior to the law’s passage, President Obama had told the American people that “If you like your health insurance, you can keep it.” However, once the enrollment period opened on the health care insurance exchanges, insurance companies began dropping coverage for millions of their customers, including about 300,000 individuals on Florida Blue plans, because the plans did not meet the minimum requirements for plans under the Affordable Care Act. In regard to President Obama’s administrative fix that would allow insurers to keep offering plans that don’t meet the bill’s requirements through the end of 2014, Murphy said it was “the right thing to do,” but said he would continue to support the bill he co-sponsored. “Whether it’s a Republican or Democrat that’s got a solution, I’m on board for it. Whether it’s legislatively or through the administration….the Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 bottom line is, we’ve got to get it right,” he said. On November 15, 2013, Murphy was one of only 39 Democrats to vote with all but four Republicans for the bill, which passed 261-157. (CRS Summary, HR 3350, added November 13, 2013; TCPalm.com, November 13, 2013; HR 3350, Vote #587, November 15, 2013; NBCnews.com, November 15, 2013; Post on Politics, November 14, 2013) Voted To Delay The Employer Mandate And The Individual Mandate Murphy Voted With Republicans For Legislation To Delay Implementation Of Obamacare’s INDIVIDUAL Mandate: In July 2013, Murphy was one of only 35 Democrats to vote with Republicans for the Fairness for American Families Act, a companion bill to the Authority for Mandate Delay Act. The Fairness for American Families Act would delay until 2015 implementation of Obamacare’s mandate that individuals maintain minimal essential health care coverage, just as the Authority for Mandate Delay Act sought to delay it (or rather sought to legalize Obama’s delay of it) for large employers. (HR 2668, Vote #363, 07/17/13; The Hill, June 12, 2013; New York Times, July 9, 2013) Murphy Voted With Republicans To Authorize The Delay In Implementation Of Obamacare’s EMPLOYER Mandate: In July 2013, Murphy was one of only 22 Democrats to vote with Republicans for the Authority for Mandate Delay Act, a bill that would amend the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to delay until 2015 enforcement of requirements that large employers offer their full-time employees the opportunity to enroll in minimum essential coverage. It would delay the effective date of related reporting requirements for such employers and for providers of minimum essential coverage. On July 2, the Obama administration had already announced this delay, but Republicans argued that the move was illegal and that this legislation was necessary to make it formal and legal. They argued that Obama was undermining Congress’ authority by selectively implementing the laws it passed. The bill passed the House 264-161. (HR 2667, Vote #361, 07/17/13; The Hill, June 12, 2013) Co-Sponsored A Bill To Delay Obamacare Individual Mandate And Fines Until Healthcare.gov Fixed Murphy Co-Sponsored The Health Care Access Fairness And Penalty Delay Act Of 2013 To Delay The Individual Mandate And Fines For Violating It Until Healthcare.gov Is Fully Operational: In October 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Health Care Access Fairness and Penalty Delay Act of 2013, which amends the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to delay the individual health insurance mandate and any penalties for violating the individual mandate until after there is a certification that the healthcare.gov website is fully operational. (CRS Summary, HR 3425, added October 30, 2013) TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 113 Promise Kept: Co-Sponsored A Bill To Repeal Obamacare’s Premium Tax On Health Insurers Candidate Murphy Opposed Taxing Health Insurance Providers: In 2012, Murphy told the National Education Association that he opposed taxation of employersponsored health insurance. (National Education Association Candidate Questionnaire 2012) Murphy Co-Sponsored A Bill To Repeal Obamacare’s Annual Fee On Health Insurance Providers To Keep Premiums Lower And Save Jobs: In May 2013, Murphy co-sponsored a bill to repeal the premium tax on health insurers, which the CBO estimates will be passed directly on the consumers in the form of higher premiums. This would prevent premiums from going up 2% in 2014 and would reduce federal government revenue by $102 billion over ten years. NFIB estimates that the tax would cost 146,000 jobs. The Joint Committee on Taxation estimates that repeal of the tax would save families $350 in 2016. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 763, added May 16, 2013) Co-Sponsored And Voted For Bills To Repeal Obamacare Tax On Medical Device Manufacturers Murphy Co-Sponsored The Protect Medical Innovation Act To Repeal The Obamacare Tax On Medical Device Manufacturers: In May 2013, Murphy cosponsored the Protect Medical Innovation Act, which would repeal Obamacare’s 2.3% excise tax on medical device manufacturers and importers. The $30 billion tax was designed to help finance the Affordable Care Act under the thinking that 32 million newly insured (customers) at taxpayer expense should not be a windfall for any industry. The issue is that some medical suppliers (such as of heart stents) have emergency-only customers, so their business would not increase if 32 million Americans gained insurance. On the other hand, orthopedic supplies manufacturers will gain more customers. All Republicans oppose this Obamacare tax. Democratic opposition to the tax is driven by members from states with significant medical device manufacturing like Minnesota and Pennsylvania. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 523, added May 17, 2013) Murphy Voted With Republicans To Repeal A Medical Device Tax That Helped Pay For Obamacare: On September 29, 2013, Murphy was one of only 17 Democrats to vote with all Republicans to repeal a tax on many medical devices put in place to help pay for Obamacare. The amendment passed 248-174. (HJ Res 59, Vote #497, September 29, 2013; Associated Press via Politico.com, October 1, 2013) Co-Sponsored A Bill To Repeal Funding Mechanism For Obamacare Transitional Reinsurance Program, Which Forces Providers Who Won’t Benefit To Pay For It Murphy Co-Sponsored A Bill To Repeal Obamacare's Funding Mechanism For The Transitional Reinsurance Program In The Individual Coverage Market: In November 2013, Murphy co-sponsored a bill to repeal the current funding mechanism Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 for the Transitional Reinsurance Program authorized by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. According to an IRS FAQ, “Section 1341 of the Affordable Care Act establishes a Transitional Reinsurance Program to help stabilize premiums for coverage in the individual market during the years 2014 through 2016. The statute requires all health insurance issuers and third-party administrators on behalf of self-insured group health plans to make contributions under this program to support payments to individual market issuers that cover high-cost individuals (payment-eligible issuers).” According to the National Electrical Contractors Association, a supporter of HR 3489, “Currently, the program’s funding source falls on the backs of the self-insured, employer-sponsored health insurance plans, including many of the multiemployer health and welfare plans that NECA contractors contribute to. This program is expected to collect $25 billion over a three year period. The fee is set for $63 per covered life in 2014 and is estimated to be $42 in 2015 and $26.50 in 2016. Selfinsured, not-for-profit health plans provided by responsible employers are unfairly subject to this fee and will reap no benefit from the program.” According to the Washington Post’s WonkBlog, “The Transitional Reinsurance Program is undoubtedly one of the most important and most boring parts of the Affordable Care Act. It's a huge reason why health plans are even participating in the health law's marketplaces. [...]The health law's reinsurance program was thought up as a way to coax insurance companies into the insurance marketplaces that launched on Oct. 1. Jumping into these new markets was a big risk; insurance plans had no clue whether they'd get people who were really sick, really healthy or somewhere in the middle. If one plan unintentionally got all the sick people, perhaps because they structured their benefit package in a certain way, that could drive them out of business. The reinsurance program is essentially protection against that, where the government collects $10 billion in 2014 to redistribute to the insurance plans that get super sick enrollees. […]Nearly all health insurance plans are required to pay into the reinsurance plan, even big employer plans that don't sell on the new marketplaces. For each subscriber, the health plans are charged $63 per enrollee annually or $5.25 per member per month. This is why the reinsurance program wasn't especially popular with health plans that focus on the group market, who wouldn't see much in the way of benefit from this program.” (CRS Summary, HR 3489, added November 14, 2013; irs.gov; Washington Post WonkBlog, October 15, 2013) TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 115 Co-Sponsored A Bill To Exempt Orphan Drugs For Rare Diseases From Obamacare User Fee Murphy Co-Sponsored The Preserving Access To Orphan Drugs Act To Fix The Unintentional Omission Of Certain Drugs For Very Rare Diseases From The Exemption From Obamacare’s User Fee On Prescription Drugs: In August 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Preserving Access To Orphan Drugs Act. Obamacare included a user fee on prescription drugs to help fund the expansion of coverage. “Orphan” drugs/therapies (which treat rare diseases in fewer than 200,000 people, such as hemophilia) were exempt from this user fee due to the extremely small population served, but only as long as the manufacturer took the Orphan Drug Act tax credit for that drug. However not all orphan drugs and therapies qualified for that tax credit, such as plasma protein therapies, and their manufacturers instead took a research and development tax credits. So some kinds of orphan drug would be exempt from Obamacare’s prescription drug fee while others would not. But orphan drugs of any kind were never intended to incur the user fee, so this bill clarifies that the exemption from the user fee is based on whether or not a drug is an orphan drug, not on whether it qualifies for the Orphan Drug Tax credit. The change would have no cost since the fee is fixed and would be shifted to non-orphan therapies. The shift is so small that nonorphan therapies are agnostic on the bill. Drug manufacturers along the Research Coast and the plasma collection facility in Port St. Lucie would be affected. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 2315, added August 1, 2013) Co-Sponsored A Bill To Eliminate “Use It Or Lose It” For Flexible Spending Accounts Under Obamacare Murphy Co-Sponsored The Medical FSA Improvement Act Of 2013 To Get Rid Of The “Use It Or Lose It” Flexible Spending Account Model And Let People Have Their Money Back To Help Offset Obamacare’s Lower FSA Contribution Limit: Lowering the annual contribution limit to tax-free flexible spending accounts (FSA) was one of the ways Obamacare raised revenue. So in May 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Medical FSA Improvement Act Of 2013, which would allow any leftover balance in an FSA to be disbursed as taxable income, whereas, current law employs a “use it or lose it” model. Current law incentivizes beneficiaries to set aside the minimum expected amount, so they do not lose money they put in. This change would incentivize beneficiaries to set aside the maximum expected amount, resulting in greater spending on medical products and services and lower tax revenue. The bill is somewhat controversial because taxpayers would be spending more on FSA, which is more of an upper-middle class benefit. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 1634, added May 16, 2013) Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 Co-Sponsored A Bill To Exempt Religious Objectors From Obamacare Mandate Murphy Co-Sponsored The Equitable Access To Care And Health Act (EACH) Act To Exempt From The Obamacare Individual Mandate People Whose Faith Prohibits Medical Treatment, Such As Christian Scientists: In July 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Equitable Access To Care And Health Act (EACH) Act. A key tenet for Christian Scientists is objection to medical health care. Without an exemption for individuals whose sincerely held religious beliefs would forego the need for health insurance, the individual mandate of ACA amounts to a religion tax for Christian Scientists. The bill would waive the individual mandate tax if an individual submits a sworn statement that “the individual’s sincerely held religious beliefs would cause the individual to object to medical health care.” The individual loses the ability to waive the tax if the person received medical care at any point in the year (vaccinations and required physical examinations are excluded from “medical care”). By contrast, a group such as Southern Baptists would not qualify. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 1814, added July 29, 2013) Keeping America Healthy: Medicare, Medicaid, And More Protect And Improve Medicare Ran On A Platform Of Leaving Medicare Alone Candidate Murphy Supported Democratic Stance Of Leaving Medicare Untouched: In an October 2012 debate, Murphy supported the Democratic position to leave Medicare largely untouched. (The Stuart News, October 21, 2012) Ad: Candidate Murphy Said He Would Focus On Protecting Medicare: In 2012, Murphy ran a television ad in which he said his focus in Congress, unlike Allen West’s, would be to work together to analyze and solve problems, not act like a playground bully. He said he would work focus on important issues such as growing jobs and protecting Social Security, Medicare, and a woman’s right to choose. (Murphy ad, “Kids Playground,” 10/29/2012) Candidate Murphy Said He Would Protect Medicare And Leave It Alone: In 2012, Murphy took several questionnaires in which he stated his plans and positions on different aspects of Medicare, all of which would protect the program from privatization, funding cuts, benefit cuts, eligibility changes, and other major changes: • opposed privatizing Medicare and converting it to a voucher program • opposed cuts in funding for Medicaid • opposed any changes in Social Security or Medicare that would reduce benefits or retirement income • opposed raising the age in which retirees may collect Social Security or Medicare benefits TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 117 • • • supported raising the cap on the amount of taxable income for Social Security and Medicare opposed means testing for Social Security and Medicare benefits supported the creation of a Medicare-operated prescription drug negotiation plan (National Committee to Protect Social Security and Medicare Candidate Questionnaire 2012; United Steel Workers Candidate Questionnaire 2012) Supported Medicare Negotiating Drug Prices With Pharmaceutical Companies Candidate Murphy Supported Medicare Negotiating With Pharmaceutical Companies: During his 2012 campaign, Murphy said he supported Medicare negotiating drug prices with pharmaceutical companies. (Palm Beach Post, September 23, 2012) Opposed Paul Ryan’s Medicare Overhaul Plan Candidate Murphy Called Paul Ryan’s Medicare Plan “The End Of Medicare As We Know It”: At an October 2012 debate, Murphy’s opponent Allen West said he supported Rep. Paul Ryan’s plan to overhaul Medicare for recipients 55 and younger. Murphy said that Ryan’s overhaul would be the end of Medicare as we know it. (TC Palm, October 4, 2012) Voted Against Ryan Budget That Would Make Medicare A Voucher Program Murphy Voted Against The Ryan Budget, Which Would Have Turned Medicare Into A Voucher Program, Gutting Funding And Eliminating The Guarantee: In March 2013, Murphy voted against the Republicans’ main budget, put forward by Republican Rep. Paul Ryan. It would cut $885 billion from Medicare and Medicaid spending over the following 10 years, eliminating the Medicare guarantee, and turning it into a voucher program. The bill passed the House 221-207. (H Con Res 25, Vote #88, 03/20/13; Forbes.com March 12, 2013 and March 20, 2013; The Stuart News, Port St. Lucie News, March 24, 2013) Voted Against RSC Budget That Would Make Medicare A Voucher Program Murphy Answered “Present” On Extreme Republican Study Committee Budget: In March 2013, Murphy answered “present” with a majority of Democrats when the Republican Study Committee substitute budget put forward by Republican Rep. Woodall came to a vote. Supporters said the budget would balance the budget in four years, remove the fiscal cliff tax increases, and cut discretionary spending to FY2008 levels. Opponents, including even the Heritage Foundation, said it was even worse than the Ryan budget, since it eliminated the spending provisions of Obamacare, which it effectively repealed, but left in the associated revenues. Therefore the claim of balancing the budget in four years was said to be fallacious. It also cut taxes for millionaires, raised taxes on the middle class, and eliminated the Medicare guarantee. The amendment failed 104-132. (H Con Res 25, Vote #86, 03/20/13) Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 RSC Budget Would Turn Medicare Into a Voucher Program for Those 59 and Younger: According to The Hill: “The key difference between the two proposals [the RSC and Ryan budgets] is the plan to overhaul Medicare. While Ryan calls for implementing his ‘premium support’ plan for future beneficiaries age 54 and younger, the RSC budget would start the change for people 59 and below.” (The Hill, 3/15/13) Endorsed Principle Of Protecting Current Medicare Beneficiaries While Reforming The Program Over The Long Term Murphy And Bipartisan “United Solutions Caucus” Said Current Medicare Beneficiaries Must Be Protected While The Program Undergoes Long Term Reform: In February 2013, Murphy and a group of 31 other freshman representatives called the United Solutions Caucus endorsed a bipartisan statement of principles on reducing the deficit. The group issued a statement and letter to Speaker John Boehner and Minority Leader Pelosi which addressed, among other things, Social Security and Medicare. The group said that current beneficiaries had to be protected while the programs underwent long-term reform that addressed rising health care costs and demographic shifts. "The common good of the country demands good faith negotiation, compromise, and immediate and significant action," the group's statement said. (Palm Beach Post, February 15, 2013; Murphy et. al. letter to Speaker John Boehner and Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, February 13, 2013) Led Charge To Protect Medicare Participants During Shutdown Murphy “Leading Florida’s Charge To Protect Medicare Open Enrollment” During Government Shutdown: Medicare open enrollment, during which Medicare participants can make changes to their coverage for the year, was scheduled to start on October 15. Yet as of just two days before, the government remained shut down, which would block anyone from making such changes. Murphy released a statement in response, saying, “While Congress continues to work to reopen the government, one thing is certain. Medicare must remain strong.” WPBF 25 News in West Palm Beach characterized Murphy as “leading the charge to protect Medicare open enrollment.” Murphy also led a letter from Florida members of Congress to Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Marilyn Tavenner urging her to make sure that Medicare open enrollment was not impacted by the government shutdown. (WPBF 25 News Mornings, October 13, 2013 via tveyes.com; Congressional Documents and Publications, October 12, 2013) TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 119 Co-Sponsored Bill To Add An Alzheimer’s Screening And Planning Benefit To Medicare Murphy Co-Sponsored The Health Outcomes, Planning, And Education (HOPE) For Alzheimer's Act To Add A Medicare Benefit For An Alzheimer’s Evaluation And Planning Services: In July 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Health Outcomes, Planning, And Education (HOPE) For Alzheimer's Act, which would add a Medicare benefit for an Alzheimer’s diagnostic evaluation. Additionally, if the beneficiary is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, the bill would cover care planning services including assistance understanding the diagnosis as well as the options for ongoing treatment, services, and supports, and information about how to obtain such treatments, services, and supports. Care planning services would address other co-morbid chronic conditions. Individuals facing a diagnosis and family members facing a diagnosis of a loved one are forced to begin considering end of life, long-term care, and treatment options. Medical professionals familiar with this process and the disease would be greatly beneficial to families and patients. FL-18 likely has one of the highest number of Alzheimer’s patients and caregivers. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 1507, added July 29, 2013) Murphy Supported Congressional Action To Improve Diagnosis Of Alzheimer’s And Access To Information On Care And Support: In September 2013, Alzheimer's Association advocates from Palm Beach, Martin and St. Lucie counties thanked Murphy for his commitment to co-sponsor the Health, Outcomes, Planning and Education (HOPE) for Alzheimer's Act (HR 1507), which would improve diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease and increase access to information on care and support for newly diagnosed individuals and their families. (Palm Beach Post, September 3, 2013) Co-Sponsored Bill To Expand Medicare’s Medication Compatibility Benefit To Single-Disease Patients Murphy Co-Sponsored The Medication Therapy Management Empowerment Act: In July 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Medication Therapy Management Empowerment Act. Medication Therapy Management (MTM) is a service provided by licensed pharmacists in which a beneficiary’s entire prescription regimen is analyzed for adverse interactions, efficacy, and regimen adherence. This is a particularly valuable benefit for individuals with multiple chronic or complex diseases that require management – preventing costly hospitalizations and reduction in quality of life. Under current law, seniors with multiple chronic conditions are entitled to MTM benefits under Medicare Part D. This bill would extend the benefit to seniors with a single chronic disease – only if the Chief Actuary of The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services determines that the new benefit would reduce total Medicare costs over five years. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 1024, added July 10, 2013) Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 Co-Sponsored Bill To Restore Post-Acute Nursing Facility Benefit For Inpatients Murphy Co-Sponsored The Improving Access To Medicare Coverage Act So That Medicare Patients Who Spend Three Days In The Hospital Can Once Again Be Classified As Inpatient And Get The Medicare Benefit Of Post-Acute Care In A Skilled Nursing Facility: Medicare patients who spend three days in a hospital under the inpatient classification qualify for a post-acute stay in a skilled nursing facility. Recently, hospitals have been attempting to lower costs by reclassifying certain patients under outpatient observation status. They are still staying in the hospital. They are just no longer “inpatient”. Medicare beneficiaries assumed that after three nights in the hospital, they would get the Skilled Nursing Facility benefit – only to learn that they failed to meet the three day “inpatient” requirement. So in July 2013, Murphy cosponsored the Improving Access To Medicare Coverage Act, which would count days in outpatient observation status as inpatient for purposes of qualifying for post-acute care in skilled nursing facilities under Medicare. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 1179, added July 26, 2013) Co-Sponsored Bill To Prevent Sequester Cuts To Cancer Drugs Murphy Co-Sponsored The Cancer Patient Protection Act To Keep Cancer Drug Reimbursement Under Medicare From Being Cut By The Sequester: Certain drugs and biologics used to treat cancer patients are covered under Part B of Medicare instead of Part D like other drugs. Part B reimbursements were cut 2% due to the sequester. So in May 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Cancer Patient Protection Act, which would repeal sequestration of cancer drug reimbursement. (CRS Summary, CoSponsorship memo for HR 1416, added May 16, 2013) Co-Sponsored Bill To Clarify And Streamline Standards For Injured Workers On Medicare Murphy Co-Sponsored The Medicare Secondary Payer And Workers’ Compensation Settlement Agreements Act To Clarify And Streamline Standards For Injured Workers On Medicare: In October 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Medicare Secondary Payer and Workers’ Compensation Settlement Agreements Act, which would provide clear and consistent standards for injured workers on Medicare. Medicare is typically the first payer when a beneficiary has an emergency or medical condition. However, when a Medicare beneficiary receives medical care due to an accident on the job or in a car, Medicare is the secondary payer behind workers’ comp or car insurance. In order to protect the integrity of this second payer status, Medicare administrators require a “set-aside” of damages awarded to cover potential future medical costs associated with the incident. Requiring settlement money to sit in an account to possibly cover future expenses is inconvenient for beneficiaries and discourages the settlement process. TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 121 The Medicare Secondary Payer and Workers’ Compensation Settlement Agreement Act would provide clear and consistent standards for an administrative process that offers reasonable protections for injured workers and Medicare. Currently, workers’ compensation settlements that overlap with Medicare coverage are subject to a lengthy, cumbersome review by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to determine appropriate “set-aside” coverage amounts for future medical expenses. This proposal would: • Establish clear criteria for when a future medical set-aside may be reviewed by Medicare; • Create certainty for calculating the amounts to be included in set-asides; • Provide a reasonable time frame in which CMS is to review set-aside submissions; • Provide an appeals process for parties to CMS determinations; • Provide an optional direct payment of set-aside amounts to Medicare; • Assure that settlements that meet the terms of federal statute at the time of settlement are not disapproved based on later changes in law, regulations or administrative interpretations by CMS; • Provide for an alternative “safe harbor” option under which the parties to a workers’ compensation settlement could make payment of a percentage of a total settlement amount directly to CMS to cover Medicare set-aside responsibilities related to the settlement. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 1982, added October 2, 2013) Co-Sponsored Bill To Delay Medicare Competitive Bidding For Equipment To Assess Effectiveness Murphy Co-Sponsored The Transparency And Accountability In Medicare Bidding Act To Delay Medicare’s Competitive Bidding: In June 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Transparency And Accountability In Medicare Bidding Act, which would delay the Medicare durable medical equipment competitive bidding program for six months and require the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to convene an auction team to evaluate and report on competitive bidding implementation so far. (CRS Summary, CoSponsorship memo for HR 2375, added June 18, 2013) Protect Medicaid From Rick Scott Opposed Rick Scott’s Privatized Medicaid Plan For Florida Murphy And Fellow Florida Democrats Voiced Skepticism On Gov. Rick Scott’s Medicaid Waiver Plan: In January 2013, Murphy and fellow Florida House Democrats sent a letter to Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius urging her to be wary of Gov. Rick Scott's Medicaid waiver plan. The letter cited concerns for those in need of long-term care, seniors, and those with disabilities. It cited the HMO-run Medicaid program in five Florida pilot counties and noted that there was no conclusive Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 evidence that it saved money or better coordinated care, and that there was anecdotal evidence of loss of access to care. (Congressional Quarterly, January 17, 2013) Murphy And Fellow Florida Democrats Called For Increased Scrutiny And Protections Under Gov. Scott’s Medicaid Privatization Plan: In March 2013, Murphy and nine other Florida members of Congress wrote to Cindy Mann, Director of the Center for Medicaid, CHIP, and Survey & Certification, to urge the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to require strong and effective terms and conditions for Florida’s Medicaid Privatization Waiver and to continue the Low Income Pool Funding Source. They urged CMS to require much greater transparency and effectiveness in the state’s Agency for Health Care Administration as a condition to approve the state’s Medicaid Managed Care waiver. They had objected to approval of moving the five-county pilot statewide, but since CMS approved it, they urged strong terms and conditions to guarantee that AHCA and the HMOs providing service are held accountable under the new system and that taxpayers and vulnerable populations such as pregnant women, children, and seniors have safeguards in place. Additionally they stressed the importance of continuing the Low Income Pool, a part of the original pilot waiver that had become a critical source of support for providers caring for Medicaid recipients, but had not been a part of the most recent waiver negotiations. (Murphy et. al. letter to Cindy Mann, March 13, 2013) Other Health Policy Improvements Advocated For Mental Health After Sandy Hook Tragedy, Murphy Called For Mental Health Funding To Be Protected From Cuts: After 20 children and six adults were shot at a school in Connecticut in December 2012 by a young man reportedly suffering from Asperger’s syndrome, Murphy said mental health funding should remain intact. (The Stuart News, December 21, 2012) Co-Sponsored Bill To End Breast Cancer Sooner Murphy Co-Sponsored The Accelerating the End of Breast Cancer Act of 2013: In October 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Accelerating the End of Breast Cancer Act of 2013, which directs the President to establish the Commission to Accelerate the End of Breast Cancer to help end breast cancer by January 1, 2020. It directs the Commission to: (1) identify opportunities and ideas within government and the private sector that are key components in achieving the end of breast cancer and which have been overlooked, yet are ripe for collaboration and investment; (2) recommend projects to leverage such opportunities and ideas in the areas of the primary prevention of breast cancer and the causes and prevention of breast cancer metastasis; and (3) ensure that its activities are coordinated with, and do not duplicate the efforts of, programs and laboratories of other government agencies. (CRS Summary, HR 1830, added October 8, 2013) TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 123 Co-Sponsored Bill To Prevent And Better Treat Eating Disorders Murphy Co-Sponsored The Federal Response To Eliminate Eating Disorders (FREED) Act: In May 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Federal Response To Eliminate Eating Disorders (FREED) Act, which would create a comprehensive federal response to eating disorders by increasing research to improve understanding and treatment, providing for evidence-based standards of care, establishing education and prevention grant programs for the training of health professionals and school personnel, and enhancing access to care for those who suffer from eating disorders. (CRS Summary, CoSponsorship memo for HR 2101, added May 7, 2013) Co-Sponsored Bill To Create Tax Exempt Accounts For Pay For Disability Expenses Murphy Co-Sponsored The Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act of 2013 To Authorize Tax Exempt Accounts For Disabled People To Use To Pay For Disability Expenses: In October 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act of 2013, which establishes tax-exempt ABLE accounts to assist an individual with a disability in building an account to pay for qualified disability expenses such as for education, residence, transportation, obtaining and maintaining employment, health and wellness, and other personal support expenses. It treats a qualified ABLE program and an ABLE account in the same manner as a qualified tuition program for income tax purposes (i.e., allowing a tax exemption for such program and an exclusion from gross income of amounts attributable to a contributor to or a beneficiary of a program account). (CRS Summary, HR 647, added October 4, 2013) Co-Sponsored Bill To Tighten Controls On Hydrocodone Murphy Co-Sponsored The Safe Prescribing Act To Reclassify Hydrocodone From A Schedule III Drug To A Schedule II Drug: In March 2013, Murphy cosponsored the Safe Prescribing Act, which amends the Controlled Substances Act to reclassify dihydrocodeinone (hydrocodone) from a schedule III controlled substance to a schedule II controlled substance. It directs the Attorney General to immediately allow manufacturers and distributors to store hydrocodone compound products in accordance with the physical security requirements for schedule III, IV, and V controlled substances for three years beginning on the date enactment of this Act. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 1285, added March 20, 2013) Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 A Balanced Approach To Transforming Our Energy Profile While Protecting Our Environment Starting Now On Long-Term Green Energy Transition Acknowledged Global Warming; Pledged Support For Climate Change Legislation Murphy Had No Doubts About Dangers Of Global Warming And Rising Sea Levels; Pledged To Support Climate Change Legislation: In December 2012, Murphy appeared at the Southeast Florida regional climate leadership summit in Jupiter to pledge to support legislation to address climate change. He said he had no doubts about the risks posed by rising sea levels. "Unfortunately we have far too many politicians who continue to bury their heads in the sand and pretend it’s not happening," he said. The annual conference convenes political leaders, planners and others from seven counties. (Miami Herald, Naked Politics blog, December 6, 2012) Called For Realistic And Gradual Transition To Green Energy Murphy Called For Realistic, Longer-Term Transition To A Green Energy Economy: Murphy, with a business background and a concern for the environment, called for moderate balance of the two. "I think you have to be realistic. We have to acknowledge that, with energy specifically, you have to have a long-term plan and longterm goals. You have to start transitioning to a greener-energy economy," he said. (CQ Weekly, November 24, 2012) Murphy Supported Renewable Fuels As Part Of Formula For Energy Independence: At an October 2012 debate, Murphy said that renewable fuel sources should be pursued as part of a path toward energy independence. (TC Palm, October 4, 2012) Murphy Looked To Small Business Innovation As The Engine of Progress In The Energy Industry, Both For Fossil Fuel Use And Renewables: Witnesses told a House Small Business subpanel in June 2013 that domestic energy production growth would help increase job creation. Murphy pointed out, “Whether [small businesses are] working to develop new sources of energy, rethinking how we use existing fossil fuels or making improvements to the electrical grid, these entrepreneurs have become agents of change in the energy industry, generating new ideas and the jobs that come with them.” (Environment and Energy Daily, June 21, 2013) Promise Kept: Co-Sponsored Bills To Disincentivize Big Oil & Gas Exploration And Production And Incentivize Development Of Renewable Energy Candidate Murphy Supported Repealing Oil & Gas Subsidies: In 2012, Murphy told the Sierra Club that he supported the repeal of subsidies to oil and gas companies. (Sierra Club Candidate Questionnaire 2012) TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 125 Murphy Introduced A Bill To End Subsidies For The Oil And Gas Industry To Reduce The National Debt By $2.4 Billion Per Year: In August 2013, Murphy introduced HR 2956, the End Welfare for Big Oil Act of 2013, a bill to remove oil tax credits and subsidies for major oil companies in an effort to reduce the national debt. The bill would eliminate a variety of tax breaks -- such as the intangible drilling costs deduction and section 199 domestic manufacturing deduction -- for the five largest oil companies. It emerged from a competition he held among constituents to suggest ways to save the government money. "This bill is a common sense solution to cut wasteful spending and reduce our nation's deficit while evening the playing field for other energy sectors, including renewable energy," Murphy said in a statement. He said the changes would amount to about $2.4 billion per year. The bill was referred to was the House Committee on Ways and Means and House Committee on Natural Resources. (HR 2956, National Law Review, August 20, 2013; congress.gov, HR 2956, August 9, 2013; Targeted News Service, August 7, 2013; Greenwire, August 2, 2013) Murphy Co-Sponsored The End Big Oil Tax Subsidies Act Of 2013: In July 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the End Big Oil Tax Subsidies Act Of 2013, which denies certain tax benefits to any taxpayer that is not a small, independent oil and gas company, including: (1) the tax credits for producing oil and gas from marginal wells and for enhanced oil recovery (2) expensing of intangible drilling and development costs in the case of gas wells and geothermal wells (3) percentage depletion (4) the tax deduction for qualified tertiary injectant expenses (5) the exemption from limitations on passive activity losses (6) the tax deduction for income attributable to domestic production activities It limits or denies the foreign tax credit and tax deferrals for amounts paid or accrued by a dual capacity taxpayer to a foreign country or U.S. possession for any period with respect to combined foreign oil and gas income. Defines "dual capacity taxpayer" as a person who is subject to a levy of a foreign country or U.S. possession and receives (or will receive) directly or indirectly a specific economic benefit from such county or possession. (CRS Summary, HR 609, added July 31, 2013) Murphy Co-Sponsored The Prioritizing Energy Efficient Renewables Act Of 2013 To Shift Incentives From Fossil Fuels To Renewables: In August 2013, Murphy cosponsored the Prioritizing Energy Efficient Renewables Act Of 2013, which Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) make permanent the tax credit for producing electricity from wind, geothermal and solar energy, hydropower, and marine and hydrokinetic renewable energy facilities (2) repeal the tax deduction for intangible drilling and development costs for oil and gas wells (3) repeal the tax deduction for income attributable to the production, refining, transportation, or distribution of oil, natural gas, or any primary product thereof (4) repeal the percentage depletion allowance for oil and gas wells. (CRS Summary, HR 2539, added August 1, 2013) Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 Promise Kept: Voted To Invest In Green Energy To Create Jobs Murphy Supported Increased Investment In Infrastructure And Green Energy: In 2012, Murphy told the SEIU that he supported increased investment in infrastructure and green technology. (Service Employees International Union Candidate Questionnaire 2012) Murphy Co-Sponsored The SEAM Act Of 2013 To Encourage Manufacture Of Parts And Equipment For Clean Energy Technologies: In April 2013, Murphy cosponsored the SEAM Act Of 2013, which would extend the Advanced Energy Manufacturing Tax Credit program, also known as the 48C program, by $5 billion. This program provides a 30% tax credit to companies that are constructing, expanding or retrofitting their manufacturing facility to build parts and equipment that are used in the production of energy from a renewable source, such as solar, wind, fuel cells, and other green technologies. If a company does not have a tax liability, it gets a grant in lieu of tax credits. The first allocation of funding for this tax credit was awarded to manufacturing facilities and proved successful in leveraging private capital and giving companies an incentive to open up their manufacturing in the US. The 48C program generated far more interest than anticipated. Clean energy advocates and environmental groups would likely support the bill, but it is not only a stimulus-funded program, but also a tax expenditure that benefits a special interest group, complicates the tax code, and reduces revenue. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 1424, added April 11, 2013) Murphy Voted For Hydropower Equipment To Be Made In The USA To Create Jobs: In 2013, Murphy voted for an amendment to the Bureau of Reclamation Small Conduit Hydropower Development and Rural Jobs Act that would require, when practicable, all materials used for conduit hydropower generation be manufactured in the United States. The motion was rejected 194-226. (HR 678, Vote #95, 4/10/13) Moving To Energy Independence Safely And Cleanly Called For Energy Independence But Not At The Expense Of The Environment Murphy Opposed Fossil Fuel Extraction From Sensitive Areas: At an October 2012 debate, Murphy said that he opposed opening any more areas, such as the Everglades, to fossil fuel exploration. (TC Palm, October 4, 2012) Murphy Joined Bipartisan Call For Federal Intervention To Protect Marine Life From Oil Exploration: In May 2013, Murphy joined a bipartisan group of south Florida members of Congress to express concerns over the introduction of seismic air guns used for oil exploration off the coast. The blasts are 100,000 stronger than jet engine and could deafen or even kill thousands of dolphins and whales. (South Florida Times, May 9, 2013; Miami Herald, April 20, 2013) TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 127 Promise Kept: Voted Against Offshore Drilling Candidate Murphy Opposed Oil & Gas Exploration On Outer Continental Shelf: In 2012, Murphy told the Sierra Club that he opposed oil and gas exploration in the Outer Continental Shelf. (Sierra Club Candidate Questionnaire 2012) Murphy Voted Against Opening 50% Of The Coast To Offshore Drilling: In 2013, Murphy voted against a bill that would direct the Interior secretary to develop a five-year offshore leasing plan that would make at least 50 percent of the unleased coastal areas with the most potential for energy production available for oil and gas exploration and development. Under the bill, drilling would be allowed off the coasts of California, South Carolina and Virginia. It also would require the Interior secretary to prepare a multi-sale environmental impact statement in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act for all lease sales authorized by the bill. As amended it would require that claims arising from projects covered by the bill be filed within 60 days and resolved within six months. (CQ Votes, 6/28/13) The bill passed, 235-186. (HR 2231, Vote #304, 6/26/13) Offshore Energy And Jobs Act Would Put Local Coastal Communities At Risk: The Offshore Energy and Jobs Act would expand drilling in US waters and would “put the local coastal communities at risk from ecological and economic harm. The US coasts provide billions of dollars in economic revenue through recreation, tourism, and healthy seafood,” according to Surfer Today. (Surfer Today, 6/26/13) Voted For States Rights To Restrict Off-Shore Development And Use: In 2013, Murphy voted for an amendment preventing the underlying oil leasing measure from affecting states’ authority to restrict leasing and natural-resource development beneath states’ navigable waters. The vote failed 209-210. (HR 2231, Vote #301, 6/28/13) Voted To Protect Great Lakes From Oil & Gas Drilling Murphy Voted To Ensure Ban On Drilling In Great Lakes: In 2013, Murphy voted for an amendment that would ensure the prohibition of new offshore oil and gas drilling permits under any of the Great Lakes. While the underlying offshore drilling bill did not mention the great lakes, the language was broad enough that it might later be interpreted as allowing drilling on the lakes. The motion failed 195-225. Murphy then voted against the underlying bill, which passed 235-186. (HR 2231, Vote #303 and #304, 6/28/13; Wisconsin State Journal, 6/29/13) University of Michigan: Great Lakes Provide 1.5 Million Jobs: “The Great Lakes provide 1.5 million jobs in the U.S., and $62 billion in wages every year, according to a study by Michigan Sea Grant at the University of Michigan. The study said Michigan has the most jobs related to the Great Lakes, with 525,886.” (Grand Rapids Press, 2/24/11) Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 Voted For Safety And Accountability Standards For Oil Drilling Murphy Voted For Safety Standards To Prevent Another Deepwater Horizon Spill And Make The Polluter Pay For The Cleanup If Not: In June 2013 Murphy voted with Democrats for an amendment that would prevent another BP oil spill by imposing safety standards for drilling based on lessons learned from the 2010 BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. If such a disaster were to happen again, the amendment would also make sure that the polluter paid for the cleanup. The measure failed 194232. (HR 1613, Vote #292, 06/27/13) Letting Environmental Regulators Do Their Job Promise Kept: Letting The EPA Enforce The Clean Air And Clean Water Acts Candidate Murphy Opposed Measures That Would Limit The EPA’s Ability To Enforce The Clean Air And Clean Water Acts: In 2012, Murphy told the Sierra Club that he opposed measures that would weaken the Environmental Protection Agency’s ability to enforce the Clean Air and Clean Water Acts. (Sierra Club Candidate Questionnaire 2012) Voted Not To Let Department Of Energy Block EPA Rules Murphy Voted Not To Give The Department Of Energy The Power To Block EPA Rules: On August 1, 2013, Murphy voted against HR 1582, a bill that would give the Department of Energy the power to block or delay proposed Environmental Protection Administration rules. The bill passed 232-181. (HR 1582, Vote #432, August 1, 2013; The Stuart News/Port St. Lucie News, August 4, 2013) Voted Not To Neuter The EPA’s Ability To Protect The Environment From CarbonBased Pollution And Emissions Murphy Voted Against Opening 50% Of The Coast To Offshore Drilling: In 2013, Murphy voted against a bill that would direct the Interior secretary to develop a five-year offshore leasing plan that would make at least 50 percent of the unleased coastal areas with the most potential for energy production available for oil and gas exploration and development. Under the bill, drilling would be allowed off the coasts of California, South Carolina and Virginia. It also would require the Interior secretary to prepare a multi-sale environmental impact statement in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act for all lease sales authorized by the bill. As amended it would require that claims arising from projects covered by the bill be filed within 60 days and resolved within six months. (CQ Votes, 6/28/13) The bill passed, 235-186. (HR 2231, Vote #304, 6/26/13) TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 129 Murphy Voted Against Requiring The EPA To Send Any Regulation Involving Fossil Fuels Or Carbon Or Emissions Through Congress For Approval, Which Would Effectively Neuter The Agency’s Ability To Regulate In Those Areas: In August 2013, Murphy voted against an amendment to the REINS act that would block the EPA from issuing any regulatory fee, levy, or price (“tax”) related to carbon and carbon emissions without sending it through Congress for approval. The broad language of the amendment meant that fees on emissions of any kind, not limited to carbon dioxide emissions, or directly on coal, natural gas or oil based on emissions therefrom would be blocked no matter how small. If left open to such interpretation, it could conceivably apply to things such as enforcement on oil spills, greenhouse gas regulations, water quality standards, etc. It could effectively neuter the EPA’s ability to do its job of protecting the environment. Murphy voted against the amendment to prevent that. The underlying bill, the Regulations from the Executive In Need of Scrutiny (REINS) Act would require congressional approval for any major federal regulation, where “major” was defined as having a total impact of at least $100 million. The Scalise amendment would expand that to include “any rule that implements or provides for the imposition or collection of a tax on carbon emissions.” However, the underlying bill would already cover any carbon-related regulation above $100 million, so the amendment would only apply to regulations with impact less than that. Meanwhile a bona fide carbon tax, such as that in the American Clean Energy and Security Act has an impact of hundreds of billions of dollars. So in that perspective, this amendment would have applied only to very comparatively small actions. The amendment passed 237 to 176. Murphy voted against the underlying bill as well, which passed 232 to 183, but had not emerged from Senate committee as of late November 2013. (HR 367, H.Amdt.448, August 1, 2013; HR 367, th Vote #437 and Vote #445, August 2, 2013; Congressional Record, 113 Congress, page H5317) Promise Kept: Voted Not To Block EPA’s Ability To Regulate Coal Ash Candidate Murphy Supported Federal Standards For Coal Ash: In 2012, Murphy told the Sierra Club that he supported federal standards for coal ash. (Sierra Club Candidate Questionnaire 2012) Murphy Voted Not To Blunt The EPA’s Ability To Regulate Coal Ash As A Hazardous Waste, Not To Let Coal Ash Continue To Pollute Water Supplies And Threaten Human Health: In July 2013, Murphy voted with a great majority of Democrats and against Republicans against a bill that would give states the ability to regulate coal ash. Republicans pushed the bill in response to the Environmental Protection Agency's threat to regulate coal ash, a by-product of burning coal, as hazardous waste by 2014. Republicans said the EPA’s plans had caused uncertainty in industries that used coal ash, such as in the manufacture of shingles, wallboard, and concrete among other things. "This debate is about whether or not we're going to allow coal ash disposal sites to contaminate our water supplies and threaten human health," said Rep. Henry Waxman (D). "If this bill is enacted, coal ash disposal sites will continue to pollute our groundwater, and once contamination is confirmed, well this bill would allow them to continue for another 10 years." The bill passed the House 265-155. (HR 2218, Vote #418, 07/25/13; The Hill, July 25, 2013) Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 Voted Not To Limit Government’s Ability To Block Mining Destruction Or Limit Legal Rights Of Mining Opponents To Sue Murphy Voted Against A Giveaway To Mining Companies That Would Limit The Ability Of The Government To Block Environmental Destruction And Limit The Legal Rights Of Parties To Sue To Block Mining: In September 2013, Murphy voted against all Republicans and with all but fifteen Democrats against the National Strategic and Critical Minerals Production Act of 2013, a bill that would accelerate the federal approval process for mineral mining and exploration. Republicans claimed it was needed to ensure the country had domestic sources of strategic minerals, because the government had in the past delayed mining permits for several years, which forced the country to rely on imported strategic minerals for defense applications and other uses. The bill would limit the government to 30 months to deliberate on permits and would limit parties’ ability to use lawsuits to stop mining. Democrats opposed the bill because they said it would erode environmental protections and because its definition of strategic minerals was so broad that even sand and gravel could be included. "Under the guise of promoting the development of minerals critical to the United States' national security, this legislation would reshape mining decisions on public lands for almost all minerals," said Rep. Rush Holt (D-NJ). The bill passed 246-178. (HR 761, Vote #471, 09/18/13; The Hill, September 18, 2013) Voted For Keystone Pipeline For Jobs And Economic Growth Voted To Bypass The President To Approve Keystone Pipeline Murphy Voted To Bypass The President And Approve Keystone XL Pipeline Permit: In 2013, Murphy was one of only 19 Democrats who voted with all Republicans for a bill that would bypass the president and approve the permit for the Keystone XL pipeline. Murphy noted that it would create jobs and potentially boost businesses. The bill passed 241-175. (HR 3, Vote #179, 5/22/13; Sun-Sentinel, September 24, 2013) 65% Support Keystone XL Pipeline 65% Of Americans Support The Keystone XL Pipeline: A national Pew Research poll of 1,506 adults in September 2013 found that 65% of Americans favor building the Keystone XL pipeline, while 30% oppose and 5% don’t know. Among Republicans, 82% favor it while 13% oppose. Among Democrats, 51% favor it and 43% oppose. Among independents, 64% favor it and 32% oppose. Among those aged 50-64, 70% support it, while among those over 65, 69% support it. (Pew Research, September 26, 2013) TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 131 Voted To Keep Keystone Oil In The USA Murphy Voted To Require Keystone Pipeline Oil To Be Used In The USA And Not Exported: In 2013, Murphy voted for an amendment that would prohibit approval and construction of the Keystone XL pipeline until the president determined that the oil and refined fuels transported through it is used in the United States and not exported. An exception would exist if the president found that an exception was in the national interest or required by law. The amendment failed 162-255. (HR 3, Vote #177, 5/22/13) Voted To Require Keystone XL Pipeline Developer to Pay for Spills Murphy Voted To Make Keystone Pipeline Developer Pay For Any Oil Spills: In 2013, Murphy voted for a measure to require TransCanada, the developer of the Keystone XL pipeline, to pay for oil spills. The motion would certify that the oil through the pipeline would be treated similarly to conventional crude for the purposes of determining contributions that fund the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund. The motion failed 194-223. (HR 3, Vote #178, 5/22/13) Conserve, Preserve, And Protect Habitats And Wildlife Co-Sponsored Bill To Incentivize Land Conservation Murphy Co-Sponsored The Conservation Easement Incentive Act Of 2013 To Make A Permanent Tax Deduction For Donating Land For Conservation Purposes: In July 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Conservation Easement Incentive Act Of 2013 to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to make permanent the tax deduction for charitable contributions by individuals and corporations of real property interests for conservation purposes. (CRS Summary, HR 2807, added July 24, 2013) Murphy Co-Sponsored The Farmland Preservation And Land Conservation Act To Exempt Farmland From The Estate Tax And Gift Tax: In May 2013, Murphy cosponsored the Farmland Preservation And Land Conservation Act, which allows an estate and gift tax exclusion for property which at the time of a decedent's death was being used for farming purposes or exclusively for conservation purposes. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 47, added May 7, 2013) Voted Not To Require Half Of Federal Forestlands To Start Timber Production Murphy Voted Against Requiring Timber Production On At Least Half Of Federal Forestlands: In September 2013, Murphy voted against all but one Republican and with all but 17 Democrats against the Restoring Healthy Forests for Healthy Communities Act, a bill that would establish at least one Forest Reserve Revenue Area within each unit of the National Forest System designated for sustainable forest management for the production of national forest materials (the sale of trees, portions of Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 trees, or forest products from System lands) and forest reserve revenues (to be derived from the sale of such materials in such an Area). It would require timber production on at least half of federal forestlands. The bill said that the purpose of an Area was to provide economic activity for the surrounding county and payments to states for public schools and public roads of beneficiary counties. Supporters said the move would help reduced fuel on forest floors that can exacerbate wildfires and that increased timber harvests would create over 200,000 jobs. The bill passed 244-173. (HR 1526, Vote #483, 09/20/13; The Hill, September 20, 2013) Co-Sponsored Bill To Require Government To Conserve Energy And Water Murphy Co-Sponsored The Energy Savings Through Public-Private Partnerships Act Of 2013 To Require Government Agencies To Implement Energy And Water Conservation Measures: In July 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Energy Savings Through Public-Private Partnerships Act Of 2013, which amends the National Energy Conservation Policy Act to direct each federal facility energy manager to consider, not later than two years after completion of a comprehensive energy and water evaluation of a federal agency's facilities: (1) implementing any energy- or water-saving or conservation measure that the agency identified in the evaluation that is life cycle costeffective, and (2) bundling individual measures of varying paybacks together into combined projects. (Under current law, the energy manager is not required to consider such actions.) (CRS Summary, HR 2689, added July 18, 2013) Co-Sponsored Bill To Protect Animals From Abuse Murphy Co-Sponsored The PAST Act To Protect Horses From Cruel And Painful Treatment: In May 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Prevent All Soring Tactics Act, which prohibits the use of cruel and painful methods to exaggerate the gait of walking horses. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 1518, added May 2, 2013) Murphy Co-Sponsored The Puppy Uniform Protection And Safety Act To Regulate Standards Of Care For Dog Breeders: In April 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Puppy Uniform Protection And Safety Act, which requires all breeders who sell more than 50 dogs annually -- whether through pet stores or online -- to undergo inspections and meet USDA standards for caring for the dogs. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 847, added April 17, 2013) Murphy Co-Sponsored The Animal Fighting Spectator Prohibition Act To Make It Illegal To Attend Animal Fighting Events: In July 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Animal Fighting Spectator Prohibition Act, to prohibit any person from knowingly attending an animal fighting venture or causing a minor to attend such a venture. (CRS Summary, HR 366, added July 30, 2013) Murphy Co-Sponsored The End All Shark Finning Resolution: In July 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the End All Shark Finning Resolution, which calls for the US to end the importation of shark fins from foreign fisheries that practice shark finning. (H Res 285, added July 30, 2013) TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 133 Murphy Co-Sponsored The Safeguard American Food Exports Act To Prevent The Sale Of Horses For Food: In March 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Safeguard American Food Exports Act to prohibit the sale or transport of equines and equine parts in interstate or foreign commerce for human consumption. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 1094, added March 18, 2013) Co-Sponsored Bill To Protect Against Invasive Species Murphy Co-Sponsored The Invasive Fish And Wildlife Prevention Act: In March 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Invasive Fish And Wildlife Prevention Act, which would give the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service streamlined authority to utilize modern scientific approaches to prevent species invasions. The bill also creates a category of “Injurious II” species, which are not suited as private pets or aquarium species but can be held safely by qualified zoos, aquaria, research facilities, and other institutions without a need for a Federal permit. This exemption is broader than current law, which requires a Federal permit for transactions in all listed species, a requirement that is becoming unworkable as more animals are listed. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 996, added March 6, 2013) Pursuing Practical Solutions To Immigration Americans Support Immigration Reform   Fox News Poll: 76% Of Americans Want Immigration Reform This Year: A June 2013 Anderson Robbins Research / Shaw & Company Research nationwide poll of 1019 registered voters commissioned by Fox News found that 76% (+/-3%) of Americans want major immigration reform this year (81% of Democrats, 73% of Republicans, 74% of Independents), while 74% favor a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants already in the country if they meet certain financial, legal, and citizenship requirements. (Fox News, June 13, 2013) Numerous other recent polls show majorities favoring reform, a path to citizenship, EVerify, keeping DREAMers, stronger borders, criminal background checks, and other key components of immigration reform. More than 50% of people nationwide and in Florida would be more likely to vote for candidates who back reform while less than 20 would be less likely. Reverse the numbers when the candidate opposes reform. Poll examples: • • • November 2013 poll by Republican pollster Jon Lerner October 2013 poll by Republican Pro-Immigration Reform Groups October 2013 poll by Republican firm Magellan Strategies Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 Supported Comprehensive Immigration Reform, Senate Immigration Bill   Candidate Murphy Supported Immigration Reform With A Path To Citizenship: In 2012, Murphy said he supported the comprehensive immigration reform plan that includes a path to citizenship for non-documented workers residing in the U.S. (Service Employees International Union Candidate Questionnaire 2012) Murphy Called For House To Take Up Senate’s Bipartisan Immigration Reform Bill: In June 2013, the Senate passed a sweeping bipartisan immigration reform bill after agreeing on border security improvements. Murphy, who supports the DREAM Act, a version of which was included in the Senate bill, said in a statement “the House must swiftly take up this important comprehensive immigration reform bill that will not only strengthen our economy, but our nation as a whole.” House Republican leadership said it would not take up the bill and would focus instead on a much narrower bill that would not provide a path to citizenship for the 11 million illegal immigrants in the country (Saint Peters Blog, June 27, 2013; New York Times, June 27, 2013) Murphy Advocated For Comprehensive Immigration Reform: On an August 1, 2013 telephone town hall meeting with his constituents, Murphy chided House Republican leaders for failing to schedule a vote on a comprehensive immigration reform bill that the Senate had passed. (Palm Beach Post, August 2, 2013) Murphy Supports Path To Citizenship: In August 2013, Murphy met with participants in the "Remember In November Farmworker Caravan" organized to urge House members to support a Senate bill to create a pathway to citizenship for millions of immigrants who are in the country illegally. Murphy had indicated his support of the Senate bill. (Palm Beach Post, August 15, 2013) Co-Sponsored A Bill To Enact Comprehensive Immigration Reform Minus The Militarization Of The Border In The Senate Version Of The Bill Murphy Co-Sponsored The Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act: In October 2013 Murphy co-sponsored the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act, an immigration reform bill addressing border security, legalization of the undocumented, interior enforcement of immigration laws, and offers fixes for legal immigration programs. The bill is based on S.744, the bipartisan bill passed by the Senate in June 2013. However, it replaces the controversial Corker-Hoeven "border surge" border security amendment, criticized for militarizing the border, with the bipartisan House border security bill, H.R. 1417, which takes a more measured approach involving regular reporting on surveillance and control, a strategy to gain control over the southwestern border in five years, and either a biometric entry-exit system or a feasible alternative of an equivalent level of security. (HR 15, added October 2, 2013; immigrationpolicy.org guide to HR 15) TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 135 Co-Sponsored A Bill To Allow Foreign Students With Postgraduate Degrees In STEM Fields To Stay Here Murphy Co-Sponsored The Startup Act 3.0 To Let Foreign Students Who Get Masters Or Doctorates In Science, Tech, Engineering, Or Math Become Permanent Residents If They Go Into Those Lines Of Work: In March 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Startup Act 3.0, which amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to authorize the Secretary of Homeland Security to adjust to conditional permanent resident status up to 50,000 aliens who have earned a master's or doctorate degree in a science, technology, engineering, or mathematics field (STEM field) and permit such an alien to remain in the United States: (1) for up to one year after the expiration of the alien's student visa, if the alien is searching for STEM field employment; and (2) indefinitely if the alien remains actively engaged in a STEM field. It removes a STEM alien's conditional status after five years of maintaining eligibility during the entire fiveyear period. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 714, added March 19, 2013) Co-Sponsored A Bill To Protect “Permanent Partners” From Discrimination In Immigration Decisions Murphy Co-Sponsored The Uniting American Families Act To Recognize “Permanent Partners” As A Class To Be Recognized For The Purposes Of Visa Sponsorship: In March 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Uniting American Families Act, which amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to include a "permanent partner" within the scope of such Act. Defines a "permanent partner" as an individual 18 or older who: (1) is in a committed, intimate relationship with another individual 18 or older in which both individuals intend a lifelong commitment; (2) is financially interdependent with the other individual; (3) is not married to, or in a permanent partnership with, anyone other than the individual; (4) is unable to contract with the other individual a marriage cognizable under this Act; and (5) is not a first, second, or third degree blood relation of the other individual. It defines: (1) "permanent partnership" as the relationship existing between two permanent partners, and (2) "alien permanent partner" as the individual in a permanent partnership who is being sponsored for a visa. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 519, added March 20, 2013) Voted Not To Restart Deportations Of Eligible DREAMers Murphy Voted Against Amendment To Restart Deportations Of Young Illegal Immigrants: In June 2013, Murphy voted against an amendment to HR 2217, a Homeland Security funding bill, which would restart deportations of young, undocumented immigrants brought to the United States as children. The King amendment (H.Amdt.136) to the homeland security appropriations bill would prohibit the use of funds to implement President Obama’s order that would protect approximately 800,000 eligible individuals. The amendment was sponsored by the extreme antiimmigration Rep. Steve King of Iowa. It passed 224-201. (HR 2217, H.Amdt.136, Vote #208, 6/6/13) Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 • Headline: House votes to resume deporting young DREAM Act immigrants • Headline: House Republicans vote to defund immigration program (ABC • Headline: GOP backs amendment to deport ‘DREAMers’ (Roll Call, 6/6/13) (Associated Press, 6/6/13) News/Univision, 6/6/13) Voted To Increase Funds For Customs And Border Protection Murphy Voted To Reallocate Funds From A Costly, Ineffective, Controversial ICE Program To Customs And Border Protection: In June 2013, Murphy voted for an amendment that would increase by $10 million funds for salaries and expenses at the U.S. Customs and Border Protection. The $10 million would be reallocated from expenses and salaries for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, with $3 million specifically coming from I.C.E.’s 287(g) program. Democrats argued that the 287(g) program, which gives some immigration enforcement authority to state and local officials, was increasingly costly but not effective. Democrats also charged that the program added to racial tensions between local police and residents, with Congressman Jared Polis stating that the program had “trained local law enforcement officials to use racial profiling.” (The Hill, 6/05/13; CQ Floor Votes, 6/05/13) The amendment failed, 186-236. (HR 2217, Vote #197, 6/05/13) A Champion For Equal Rights And Fair Treatment For All A Strident Advocate For Fair Treatment Of LGBT Americans Polls Show A Majority Of Americans Support Fair Treatment Of LGBT Couples Gallup 2012 Poll: 77% Of Americans Favor Employee Benefits For Same Sex Partners And Spouses: In a November 2012 Gallup poll, respondents were asked, “Do you think there should or should not be health insurance and other employee benefits for gay and lesbian domestic partners or spouses.” 77% said there should be, 20% said there should not be, and 3% had no opinion. (gallup.com, November 26-29, 2012) Gallup 2013 Poll: 54% Of Americans Favor Marriage Benefits For Federal Employees In Same Sex Marriages: A March 2013 Gallup poll found that 54% of American adults would support a law that would give marriage benefits to federal government employees who are legally married to a same-sex partner, including insurance, tax benefits, and Social Security rights. (gallup.com, March 22, 2013) AP 2012 Poll: 63% Of Americans Favor Same Marriage Benefits For Same Sex Couples As Opposite Sex Couples: According to Gallup, “an AP-National Constitution Center poll from August 2012 found 63% of Americans saying couples of the same sex should be "entitled to the same government benefits as married couples of the opposite sex," while 32% disagreed and said "the government should distinguish between them." (gallup.com, March 22, 2013) TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 137 Quinnipiac 2011 Poll: 59% Of Americans Favor Repealing Law That Denies Federal Benefits To Same Sex Spouses: According to Gallup, “In July 2011, a Quinnipiac University poll showed 59% of Americans saying the federal law that denies eligibility for federal benefits to spouses in same-sex marriages "should not remain in existence," while 35% believed it should.” (gallup.com, March 22, 2013) Lundry 2013 Poll: 68% Of Americans Support A Federal Law To Protect LGBT Americans From Discrimination In The Workplace, 63% Of Floridians: According to a September 2013 national survey of 2,000 registered voters (+/-2%) conducted by Republican pollster Alex Lundry of TargetPoint Consulting, “An overwhelming majority of Americans – including Republicans – support a federal law that protects gays, lesbians and transgender Americans from discrimination in the workplace. Here – unlike other surveys on similar topics – we asked specifically about federal legislation: 68% of registered voters support federal protection, with only 21% oppose. And indeed, intensity here very much lies with the supporters, as 46% strongly favor the law while only 15% strongly oppose it. When it comes to Republicans, 56 % support a federal anti-discrimination law, while only 32% oppose.” Among Floridians, the percentage supporting a law like the Employment Non Discrimination Act was estimated at 63%, with the 95% confidence interval stretching from the high 50s to the high 60s. Additionally, 8 in 10 respondents thought a law like the Employment Non Discrimination Act already existed. (Politico, September 30, 2013 [1], [2]) Will Keep Pushing On DOMA Until All Americans Have Full And Equal Rights Murphy Supported Repeal Of DOMA: In 2012, Murphy told eQuality Giving that he supported repealing the Defense of Marriage Act, which barred the federal government from recognizing same-sex partnerships and marriage. (eQuality Giving Candidate Questionnaire 2012) Murphy Lent His Voice To Opposition Against DOMA: In March 2013, Murphy joined 211 members of Congress to file an amicus brief in the case that challenged the Defense Of Marriage Act in the Supreme Court. (The Hotline, March 1, 2013) Murphy Pledged To Fight On After Supreme Court’s Striking Of Unconstitutional Portions Of DOMA Left Florida’s Gay Marriage Ban In Place: In June 2013, the Supreme Court struck down struck down as unconstitutional provisions of the Defense of Marriage Act that denied federal benefits to married gay and lesbian couples in 12 states. But the ruling left in place a Florida constitutional ban on same-sex marriage. Murphy applauded the ruling, but added, “I will continue to fight so that all Americans are afforded equal rights -- including the rights to marry, adopt, and be free from discrimination.” (Post on Politics, June 26, 2013; Huffington Post, June 27, 2013) Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 Co-Sponsored Bill To Repeal Rest Of DOMA; All States Honor Legal Same-Sex Marriages Murphy Co-Sponsored The Respect For Marriage Act To Repeal The Rest Of DOMA: In June 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Respect For Marriage Act, which would repeal the remainder (Section 2) of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) and require that all fifty states respect marriages performed legally in other states, by providing equal rights, benefits, and protections, under federal law. It would provide a uniform rule for recognizing couples under the federal law, no matter where they live. Senator Feinstein (CA) explained: “[It is] necessary because inequities in the administration of more than 1,100 federal laws affected by DOMA—including Social Security and veteran benefits—will still need to be fixed.” (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 2523, added June 27, 2013) Co-Sponsored Bill To Ensure Legally Married Same-Sex Federal Employees Get Same Employment Benefits As All Murphy Co-Sponsored The Domestic Partnership Benefits And Obligations Act To Ensure That Legally Married Same-Sex Federal Employees Get The Same Employment Benefits As Anyone: In September 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligations Act, which would ensure that the Supreme Court’s ruling in United States v. Windsor striking down Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act of 1996 as unconstitutional applies equal benefits for LGBT Federal employees across the country. It would require the Office of Personnel Management to effectively eliminate discriminatory practices in Federal employment by providing employees with same-sex spouses or same-sex domestic partners access to the same basic rights, benefits, and protections under Federal law afforded to heterosexual Federal employees. It would enable Federal employees to live in, or move to, states that do not recognize same-sex marriages as necessitated by their job. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 3135, added September 19, 2013) Co-Sponsored Bill To Ensure Legally Married Same-Sex Military Couples Get Same VA Benefits As All Murphy Co-Sponsored The Military Spouses Equal Treatment Act To Ensure That Legally Married Same-Sex Military Couples Get The Same VA Benefits As Anyone: In July 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Military Spouses Equal Treatment Act, which would allow same-sex couples that legally marry in one state to go to live in another state that does not recognize gay marriage and receive benefits from the VA. Under current law, the VA will likely not recognize a marriage if a veteran and their spouse live in a state that does not recognize their marriage either at the time of the marriage or at the time the benefits kick in. The bill would include lawfully-married lesbian and gay military spouses in the definition of “spouse” in relevant sections of the United States Code, ensuring they receive the same family benefits already provided to service members and veterans with different-sex spouses. Thus, under this bill if a veteran has a spouse of the same-sex, then their spouse will be afforded the same TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 139 benefits as their heterosexual counterparts. This is especially important because these service members and spouses may be required to relocate to other states as part of their service. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 683, added July 30, 2013) Co-Sponsored Bill To Ensure Legally Married Same-Sex Couples Get Same Social Security Benefits As All Murphy Co-Sponsored The Social Security Equality Act of 2013 To Ensure That Legally Married Same-Sex Couples Get The Same Benefits As Anyone: In August 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Social Security Equality Act of 2013, which would eliminate the discriminatory policy of the Social Security Administration that prevents same-sex couples from receiving the same benefits as their heterosexual counterparts. Currently, same-sex couples are not eligible to receive the same spousal, survivor, and death benefits that married heterosexual couples do from Social Security. Twelve states and the District of Columbia recognize same-sex marriages, and six recognize civil unions. The bill would provide couples in relationships that have been recognized by their state of residence—whether it is a domestic partnership, civil union, or marriage— the equal access to these benefits. The goal of the bill would be economic fairness. The legislation would provide economic relief and security to elderly individuals as well as alleviate the poverty of a group of individuals who have been targeted solely for their sexual orientation. Statistics show that gay couples receive 18% less in Social Security benefits than heterosexual couples; lesbian couples receive 31% less than heterosexual couples; on average, couples are denied $8,000 per year in survivor benefits upon the death of their higher earning spouse. From the standpoint of Florida, it would mean that couples residing in the state, whose same-sex marriage was recognized by another state, would get equal access to benefits. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 3050, added August 2, 2013) Co-Sponsored Bill To Prohibit Employment Discrimination On Basis Of Sexual Orientation Or Gender Identity; Prohibit Preferential Treatment And Retaliation Murphy Co-Sponsored The Employment Non-Discrimination Act To Protect: In April 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, which prohibits employment discrimination on the basis of actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity by covered entities (employers, employment agencies, labor organizations, or joint labor-management committees). It prohibits preferential treatment or quotas. It prohibits related retaliation. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 1755, added April 25, 2013) Co-Sponsored Bill To Restore Honorable Status To Service Members Dismissed For Sexual Orientation Murphy Co-Sponsored The Restore Honor To Service Members Act To Ensure That People Discharged From The Military For Their Sexual Orientation Would Have Their Record Corrected To Reflect Honorable Service: In July 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Restore Honor To Service Members Act, which would provide Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 members of the armed forces who served honorably, but were discharged and were given a penal discharge solely based on their sexual orientation, to have their records corrected to reflect their honorable service. This would then allow them to access all the benefits normally given to veterans, including health and burial rights. (CRS Summary, CoSponsorship memo for HR 2839, added July 25, 2013) Promise Kept: Co-Sponsored Bill To Protect Public School Students From Discrimination Based On Sexual Orientation Candidate Murphy Supported Legislation To Protect LGBTQ Children From Harassment: In 2012, Murphy told eQuality Giving he supported legislation to protect LGBTQ youth from discrimination and harassment in schools, foster care, and juvenile justice system. (eQuality Giving Candidate Questionnaire 2012) Murphy Co-Sponsored The Student Non-Discrimination Act To Protect Public School Students From Discrimination Based On Sexual Orientation: In April 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Student Non-Discrimination Act, which prohibits public school students from being excluded from participating in, or subject to discrimination under, any federally-assisted educational program on the basis of their actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity or that of their associates. It considers harassment to be a form of discrimination. Prohibits retaliation against anyone for opposing conduct they reasonably believe to be unlawful under this Act. It authorizes federal departments and agencies to enforce these prohibitions by cutting off the educational assistance of recipients found to be violating them. Allows an aggrieved individual to assert a violation of this Act in a judicial proceeding and recover reasonable attorney's fees should they prevail. It deems a state's receipt of federal educational assistance for a program to constitute a waiver of sovereign immunity for conduct prohibited under this Act regarding such program. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 1652, added April 23, 2013) Co-Sponsored A Bill To Protect “Permanent Partners” From Discrimination In Immigration Decisions Murphy Co-Sponsored The Uniting American Families Act To Recognize “Permanent Partners” As A Class To Be Recognized For The Purposes Of Visa Sponsorship: In March 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Uniting American Families Act, which amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to include a "permanent partner" within the scope of such Act. Defines a "permanent partner" as an individual 18 or older who: (1) is in a committed, intimate relationship with another individual 18 or older in which both individuals intend a lifelong commitment; (2) is financially interdependent with the other individual; (3) is not married to, or in a permanent partnership with, anyone other than the individual; (4) is unable to contract with the other individual a marriage cognizable under this Act; and (5) is not a first, second, or third degree blood relation of the other individual. It defines: (1) "permanent partnership" as the relationship existing between two permanent partners, and (2) "alien permanent partner" as the individual in a permanent partnership who is being sponsored for a visa. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 519, added March 20, 2013) TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 141 Working To Protect All From Violence And Discrimination Co-Sponsored Bill To Prevent And Disclose Bullying And Harassment In Schools Candidate Murphy Supported A Federal Role In Children’s Health And Safety Standards In Schools: In 2012, Murphy told the American Federation of Teachers that he supported a federal role in developing children’s health and safety standards in schools. (American Federation of Teachers Candidate Questionnaire 2012) Murphy Co-Sponsored The Safe Schools Improvement Act of 2013 To Crack Down On Bullying: In October 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Safe Schools Improvement Act of 2013, which requires states to direct their local educational agencies (LEAs) to establish policies that prevent and prohibit bullying and harassment. It requires LEAs to also provide students and parents with notice of prohibited conduct and of grievance procedures, and to provide the public with annual reports on such activities. It requires a biennial evaluation of programs to combat bullying and harassment in schools and the collection of data to determine the scope of such problem behavior nationwide. (CRS Summary, HR 1199, added October 28, 2013) Co-Sponsored Bill To Condemn Violence And Discrimination Against Sikhs Murphy Co-Sponsored A Resolution Condemning Violence And Discrimination Against Sikhs: In August 2013, Murphy co-sponsored a resolution condemning the discrimination, hate crimes, racism, bigotry, bullying, and brutal violence perpetrated against Sikh-Americans, and all acts of vandalism against Sikh Gurdwaras in the United States, and remembering the tragedy that occurred at the Sikh Gurdwara of Wisconsin a year prior. It called for educational efforts to prevent bullying of Sikhs, supported outreach by law enforcement to prevent violence and hate crimes, and urged the FBI and Department of Justice to track hate crimes against Sikhs and other groups. (H Res 328, added August 2, 2013) Advocating For Protection Of Women’s, Children’s Rights Consulted And Was Endorsed By Women’s Rights Advocates Women’s Rights Advocate Sandra Fluke Supported Murphy: In 2012, women’s rights advocate Sandra Fluke touted Murphy as the pro-woman candidate. Fluke, a Georgetown University law grad famously insulted by radio host Rush Limbaugh for her pro-contraception congressional testimony, also spoke at the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, N.C. That's where she met Murphy, who was one of two men at a Planned Parenthood event. The other was her fiancé. (Press Journal, October 3, 2012) Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 Planned Parenthood Endorsed Murphy In The 2012 Primary: In April 2012, Planned Parenthood endorsed Murphy in the Democratic primary. "The race to the bottom on women's health issues over the past few months has shown, yet again, how crucial it is to send advocates for women's health to the U.S. House of Representatives," said Cecile Richards, president of the Planned Parenthood Action Fund. (Palm Beach Post, May 29, 2012) Candidate Murphy Sought Guidance From Gloria Steinem On Priority Legislation For Women: At an October 2012 Q&A session, Murphy asked feminist icon Gloria Steinem, if he were elected, what piece of legislation he should bring to the floor that both parties most likely would agree on. She recommended “The Violence Against Women Act” (VAWA), which sought to improve criminal justice and community-based responses to domestic violence, dating violence and sexual assault in the United States. (The Stuart News, October 25, 2012) Worked To Protect Women From Violence Co-Sponsored A Bill And Voted To Reauthorize The Violence Against Women Act Murphy Co-Sponsored The Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act Of 2013 To Better Combat Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, And Stalking: In January 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act Of 2013, which amends the Violence Against Women Act of 1994 (VAWA) to add or expand definitions of several terms used in the Act. It strengthens the ability of the federal government, the states, law enforcement, and service providers to combat domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. As with the previous reauthorizations of VAWA in 2000 and 2005 , this bill responds to the realities and needs reported by those who work with victims every day to make VAWA work better for all victims. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 11, added January 22, 2013; Rep. Rick Larsen memo on HR 11) Murphy Voted To Reauthorize The Violence Against Women Act: In February 2013, Murphy voted to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act. The bill would reauthorize the Act for five years, having previously expired in 2011. The bill would authorize funds for law enforcement training programs, prosecution and victim services. It would also give American Indian tribal courts additional authority over non-tribal domestic violence offenders, and make it illegal for victim services organizations that receive grant funding through the law to discriminate on the basis of gender identity or sexual orientation. (CQ, 2/28/13) The bill passed with bipartisan support, 286-138. (S. 47, Vote #55, 2/28/13) Voted Not To Deny Protections For LGBT Victims Or Native American Women On Reservations: Before final passage of the Senate version of the Violence Against Women Act, Murphy voted against the House version of the bill, which, according to the New York Times, “excluded specific protections for gay, bisexual, or transgender victims of domestic abuse – eliminating ‘sexual orientation’ and ‘gender identity’ from a list of ‘underserved populations’ that face TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 143 barriers to receiving victim services – and stripped certain provisions regarding Native American women on reservations.” (New York Times, 2/28/13) The substitute amendment failed, 166-257. (S. 47, Vote #54, 2/28/13) Hosted Roundtable On Domestic Violence Prevention Murphy Hosted Roundtable On Domestic Violence Prevention On International Women’s Day At A Shelter That Later Could Not Get Funding During The Government Shutdown: On International Women's Day, March 8, 2013, Murphy hosted a roundtable discussion on domestic violence prevention at a shelter in District 18 called SafeSpace, where he heard from survivors and advocates about the challenges they faced to keep women and children safe and the importance of federal funding to keep programs operating. In October he highlighted that one of the lesser known effects of the shutdown was its impact on shelters and services like SafeSpace that were forced to close their doors and suspend services for more than a week because Violence Against Women Act funds were inaccessible. “Let me repeat,” he said, “the government shutdown directly prevented women and children who were facing the threat of domestic violence from receiving services and shelter. This is unconscionable.” (States News Service, October 30, 2013) Co-Sponsored A Bill To Lower Burden Of Proof For Women Traumatized Into Mental Illness By Sexual Assault; Make It Easier For Them To Get Treatment For Those Issues Murphy Co-Sponsored The Ruth Moore Act To Lower The Burden Of Proof For Women Who Have Been Traumatized Into Mental Illness By Sexual Assault And Make It Easier For Them To Collect Benefits For Those Mental Issues: In April 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Ruth Moore Act, which would allow women who experience diagnosed mental ailments as a result of sexual assault to have a lesser burden of proof, and would allow the survivors to more easily collect benefits for these mental issues. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 671, added April 11, 2013) CBO: Bill Would Cost $4 Million To Implement And Save $15 Million By Rounding Down: According to the CBO, “H.R. 671 would extend provisions of current law that require increases in monthly rates of certain education assistance be rounded down to the next lower whole dollar. The bill would also require the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to submit annual reports about disability claims for military sexual trauma (MST) to the Congress and to veterans who file MST claims. CBO estimates that enacting H.R. 671 would reduce direct spending by $15 million over the 2014-2023 period. Also, CBO estimates that implementing H.R. 671 would have a discretionary cost of $4 million over the 2014-2018 period, subject to the availability of appropriated amounts… Enacting the bill would have no effect on revenues. (CBO Cost Estimate, HR 671, May 16, 2013) Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 Co-Sponsored A Bill To Create Council To Oversee Military’s Responses To Sexual Assault Murphy Co-Sponsored The STOP Act To Create An Independent Council To Oversee The Military’s Responses To Sexual Assault: In May 2013, Murphy cosponsored the Sexual Assault Training Oversight and Prevention Act or STOP Act, which establishes a Sexual Assault Oversight and Response Council, composed mainly of civilians, as an independent entity from the chain of command of the Department of Defense. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 1593, added May 22, 2013) Voted To Ban Sex Offenders From The Military Murphy Voted For A Defense Funding Bill That Barred Sex Offenders From The Military: In July 2013, Murphy voted with for a Department of Defense appropriations bill that prohibits people convicted of rape or other sex-related crimes from enlisting in the military. The bill passed 315-109. (HR 2397, Vote #414, 07/24/13; The Hill, July 24, 2013) Co-Sponsored A Bill To Require Inspector General Investigations Into Retaliation For Reporting Sexual Assault Murphy Co-Sponsored A Bill To Require An Inspector General Investigation Into Retaliatory Personnel Actions Against Those Reporting Sexual Assault: In June 2013, Murphy co-sponsored a bill to require an Inspector General investigation of allegations of retaliatory personnel actions taken in response to making protected communications regarding sexual assault. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 1864, added June 3, 2013) Worked To Ensure Equal Rights For Women Voted To Consider The Paycheck Fairness Act Against Sex-Based Discrimination Murphy Voted To Consider Bill To Provide More Protection And Remedies For Those Who Experience Sex-Based Pay Discrimination: In 2013, Murphy cosponsored and voted to consider the Paycheck Fairness Act, which would amend the Equal Pay Act to enhance remedies for people who experience pay discrimination on the basis of sex and ensure employers who try to justify paying a man more for the same job must show the disparity is not sex-based. The Paycheck Fairness Act would prohibit employers from retaliating against employees who discuss or disclose salary information with their co-workers, and would make it easier for women to file class-action lawsuits against employers they accuse of sex-based pay discrimination. The bill would also strengthen the available remedies to include punitive and compensatory damages, bringing equal pay law into line with all other civil rights laws. Lastly, it would direct the Secretary of Labor to conduct studies TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 145 and provide information to employers, labor organizations, and the general public regarding the means available to eliminate pay disparities between men and women. Recent Census Bureau data shows that full-time working women make 77 cents for every dollar men make per year. The Paycheck Fairness Act, which DeLauro has introduced in eight consecutive Congresses, would expand the Equal Pay Act to close certain loopholes and allow employees to share salary information with their coworkers. It would also require employers to show that pay disparities between their male and female employees are related to job performance, not gender. (Huffington Post, 4/11/13) The previous question was approved 226-192 and the bill was not considered. Murphy’s vote against the motion to order the previous question was therefore effectively a “yes” vote to consider the Paycheck Fairness Act. (H Res 146, Vote #97, 4/11/13; patrickmurphyforcongress.com) Co-Sponsored A Bill To End Sex-Based Pay Discrimination Murphy Co-Sponsored The Paycheck Fairness Act To Eliminate Sex-Based Pay Discrimination: In February 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Paycheck Fairness Act, which would amend the Equal Pay Act to revise remedies for, enforcement of, and exceptions to prohibitions against sex discrimination in the payment of wages. It would strengthen prohibitions against employer retaliations for employee complaints and for inquiring or discussing wages. It would expand training on matters involving wage discrimination and require studies regarding the means available to eliminate pay disparities. It also would require the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to collect employee demographic data for use in the enforcement of federal laws prohibiting pay discrimination. In Florida women make 76 cents to every dollar that men make and 47 percent of women in Florida are the primary breadwinners for their families. Additionally, many of the labor and women’s groups that support this legislation have a strong presence in Florida and in the district. Various business and industry groups oppose it on the belief that it will lead to increased litigation over claims of wage discrimination that may be caused by other market factors. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 377, added February 25, 2013) Co-Sponsored A Bill To Extend ERA Ratification Window Indefinitely Murphy Co-Sponsored A Bill Removing The Deadline For The Ratification Of The ERA: In July 2013, Murphy co-sponsored a bill removing the deadline for the ratification of the ERA, which eliminates the time limit for ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment (prohibits discrimination on account of sex) proposed to the states in House Joint Resolution 208 of the 92nd Congress, as agreed to in the Senate on March 22, 1972. It declares that such amendment shall be part of the Constitution whenever ratified by the legislatures of three-fourths of the several states. (CRS Summary, HJ Res 43, added July 30, 2013) Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 Worked To Protect A Woman’s Right To Choose Candidate Murphy Stated Firm Pro-Choice Stance: At an October 2012 debate, Murphy said he firmly supported a woman’s right to choose. "I support a woman's right to choose. This is an area where my opponent and I are at opposite ends of the spectrum," he said He attacked West’s stances and votes on abortion, labeling them “anti-women”. (TC Palm, October 4, 2012; Palm Beach Post, October 20, 2012) Ad: Murphy Said He Would Focus On Growing Jobs And Protecting Social Security, Medicare, And A Woman’s Right To Choose: In 2012, Murphy ran a television ad in which he said his focus in Congress, unlike Allen West’s, would be to work together to analyze and solve problems, not act like a playground bully. He said he would work focus on important issues such as growing jobs and protecting Social Security, Medicare, and a woman’s right to choose. (Murphy ad, “Kids Playground,” 10/29/2012) Voted Against A 20-Week Abortion Ban Murphy Voted Against 20-Week Abortion Ban That Challenged Roe V. Wade: In 2013, Murphy voted against a national abortion ban after 20 weeks of pregnancy, which would challenge the 1973 Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision on a woman’s right to abortion. While being considered in the House Judiciary Committee, sponsor Trent Franks caused a firestorm by saying that cases of “rape resulting in pregnancy are very low.” The remark referred to a Democratic amendment, defeated by Republicans, that would have made exceptions to the ban in cases involving rape and incest. House Republicans later modified the bill to include exceptions for rape and incest. (Associated Press, 6/14/13) The bill passed, 228-196. (HR 1797, Vote #251, 6/18/13) Franks: “Incidence of Rape Resulting in Pregnancy Very Low”: In a House Judiciary Committee meeting, Rep. Trent Franks (R-AZ) said, “Before, when my friends on the left side of the aisle here tried to make rape and incest the subject — because, you know, the incidence of rape resulting in pregnancy are very low.” (Washington Post, 6/12/13) All-Male House Republican Subcommittee “Voted to Approve a Blatantly Unconstitutional Bill That Would Ban All Abortions Performed After 20 Weeks of Pregnancy”: The New York Times reported: “On Tuesday [June 4, 2013], all six G.O.P. members of the all-male Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice voted to approve a blatantly unconstitutional bill that would ban all abortions performed after 20 weeks of pregnancy, with only a narrow exception to save a pregnant woman’s life. It contains no exception for rape or incest victims, to protect a woman whose health is endangered, or for cases of severe fetal anomalies.” (New York Times, Editorial, 6/10/13) All House Republican Judiciary Members Are Male: (House Judiciary Committee, accessed 6/11/13) TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 147 Abortion Bill Would Defy Laws In Most States: The Associated Press reported that HR 1797 “would restrict almost all abortions to the first 20 weeks after conception, defying laws in most states that allow abortions up to when the fetus becomes viable, usually considered to be around 24 weeks.” (Associated Press, 6/18/13) Women’s Health Groups argued that HR 1797 and Similar Laws were Patently Unconstitutional: Politico reported: “Women’s health groups argue that the laws are patently unconstitutional, because they directly conflict with Supreme Court precedent that says states can’t outlaw abortions prior to viability, which is now usually considered to be around 23 to 24 weeks into a pregnancy.” (Politico, 6/18/13) Co-Sponsored A Bill To Overturn Global Gag Rule So Foreign NGOs Aren’t Disqualified For US Funding For Providing Legal Abortions Or Information About It In Their Countries Murphy Co-Sponsored The Global Democracy Promotion Act To Ensure That Foreign NGOs Aren’t Disqualified For Assistance If They Provide Health Services That Are Legal In Their Country: In July 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Global Democracy Promotion Act, which would prohibit restrictions on US assistance to foreign organizations that would be unconstitutional if applied to organizations in our own country. It is intended to combat the “Global Gag Rule,” which stipulates that nongovernmental organizations receiving U.S. assistance cannot use separately obtained non-U.S. funds to inform the public or educate their government on the need to make safe abortion available, provide legal abortion services, or provide advice on where to get an abortion. It prohibits the restriction of aid to organizations on the basis of health or medical services provided by those organizations which do not violate the laws of their own countries and which wouldn’t violate U.S. federal law if provided in the United States. (CRS Summary, HR 2738, added July 18, 2013; genderhealth.org; plannedparenthood.org, July 18, 2013) Worked To Put Children In Families And Keep Them Safe Co-Sponsored Bill To Refocus State Dept. Activities On Orphans And Displaced Children Abroad To Ensure That Children Worldwide Can Grow Up In A Family Murphy Co-Sponsored The Children In Families First Act of 2013 To Help Children Around The World Grow Up In A Family: In October 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Children in Families First Act of 2013, which calls for programs to focus on reducing the number of children around the world living without families and increasing the capacity of other governments to better protect their own children. Specifically, it: • Establishes a bureau in the Department of State to serve as the foreign policy and diplomatic hub on international child welfare, tasked with building international capacity to implement effective child welfare systems, with focus on Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 • • • family preservation and reunification, and kinship, domestic, and intercountry adoption. Streamlines, simplifies and consolidates processing of intercountry adoption cases and accrediting adoption service providers by moving these functions to United States Citizen and Immigration Services (USCIS). Establishes a Center of Excellence within USAID to implement the 2012 National Action Plan on Children in Adversity, A Framework for International Assistance, and provides for a demonstration program in target countries. By ensuring systems are in place to help children remain in their family of birth, be reunited with family or be adopted locally or internationally, it promotes a holistic and preventative approach to strengthening child protections, including decreasing children’s exposure and vulnerability to trafficking, exploitation, violence and neglect. (CRS Summary, HR 3323, added October 23, 2013; childreninfamiliesfirst.org) Co-Sponsored A Bill To Pressure States To Make Stronger Child Abuse Laws Murphy Co-Sponsored The Kilah Davenport Child Protection Act To Pressure States To Make Stronger Laws Against Child Abuse: In April 2013, Murphy cosponsored the Kilah Davenport Child Protection Act, which prohibits the Secretary of Health and Human Services from making grants to a state for specified child abuse or neglect prevention and treatment programs until the state's laws provide for a criminal punishment, including a prison term of at least 3,800 days, for any individual who: (1) is a parent or any other individual providing care to or supervision of a child under age 16; and (2) intentionally inflicts on that child any serious bodily injury, or commits an assault upon that child which results in any serious bodily injury or permanent or protracted loss or impairment of any of the child's mental or emotional function. It amends the federal criminal code to subject to penalties for domestic assault by a habitual offender any person who commits three or more assaults, acts of sexual abuse, or serious violent felonies against a child of the person or in the person's care. (CRS Summary, CoSponsorship memo for HR 1311, added April 12, 2013) A Champion For Education And Students Voted To Consider Bill To Prevent A Doubling Of Student Loan Rates Murphy Voted To Consider Preventing A Doubling Of Student Loan Interests Rates: In May 2013, Murphy voted to consider the Student Loan Relief Act to extend student loan interest rates at 3.4 percent. The bill would have prohibited the automatic doubling of student loan rates on July 1, 2013. The previous question was approved 223-194. A vote against the motion would have allowed for consideration of the student loan bill. (H Res 202, Vote #138, 5/08/13; Congressional Record, H2501, 5/08/13) TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 149 Co-Sponsored Bills To Freeze Student Loan Rates Until 2015, 2017 Murphy Co-Sponsored The Student Loan Relief Act Of 2013 To Extend The 3.4% Interest Rate For Subsidized Stafford Loans Through 2015: In May 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Student Loan Relief Act Of 2013, which amends title IV (Student Assistance) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to extend the 3.4% interest rate on Federal Direct Stafford loans through July 1, 2015. The CBO estimated it would cost $5.98 billion. Fifty one percent of students at Florida colleges and universities receive federal student loans. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 1595, added May 23, 2013) Murphy Co-Sponsored The Stability To Ensure The American Dream For Youth (STEADY) Act To Extend The 3.4% Interest Rate For Subsidized Stafford Student Loans Through 2017: In May 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Stability To Ensure The American Dream For Youth (STEADY) Act, which amends title IV (Student Assistance) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to extend the 3.4% interest rate on Federal Direct Stafford loans to July 1, 2017. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 1876, added May 22, 2013) Co-Sponsored Bill To Protect Public Employees And Service Members From Higher Student Loan Rates Murphy Co-Sponsored The Student Loan Forgiveness Verification Act To Protect Public Service Employees And Military Service Members From Higher Student Loan Rates Due To Unqualified Loan Consolidation: In July 2013, Murphy cosponsored the Student Loan Forgiveness Verification Act, which would require the Department of Education to verify up front that borrowers are eligible for the benefits of reduced or forgiven loan debt before allowing them to consolidate and transfer private student loans to the government. Currently, there exist $390 billion in outstanding privately held student loans. The criteria for being eligible to transfer loans to the government—which DOE does a poor job of verifying prior to transferring loans—is that borrowers must be in default or in danger of default, must work in a public service job that would qualify them for debt forgiveness, or must be a member of the armed forces. Once their loans are consolidated and transferred to government, individuals who meet one or more of these criteria can benefit from lower payments or rates as well as loan forgiveness. However, because borrowers’ qualifications are not being verified before consolidation, many unqualified individuals have consolidated their loans but then have been unable to reap the benefits of the program. Without these benefits, consolidated loans often end up costing more with a higher interest rate. Since DOE verifies borrowers before providing benefits anyway, it would be little extra cost or work to simply verify them earlier in the process before they consolidate and transfer their loans. Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 The goal of the bill is to protect these borrowers from those higher costs and trouble. However since it would slow the rate of loan transfers from private borrowers to the government, it could be portrayed as a benefit to private student loan providers, which progressive and student groups often cast as predatory. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 1991, added July 30, 2013) Called For Congress To Reverse Student Loan Interest Rate Hike Murphy Called For Deal To Reverse Student Loan Rate Hike: On July 1, 2013, subsidized federal student loan rates doubled from 3.4 to 6.8 percent. At a meeting with teachers, students and parents at Palm Beach State College's Palm Beach Gardens campus the next week, Murphy said that fixing the loan rates shouldn’t be a partisan issue. He called on Congress to reach a deal to pass legislation that would retroactively keep rates low. (Palm Beach Post, July 11, 2013; patrickmurphy.house.gov, July 8, 2013) Voted Against “Students Pay More Act” Murphy Voted Against A Bill That Would Blunt A Student Loan Rate Hike In The Short Term, But Lead To Higher Rates Down The Road: In 2013, Murphy voted with all but four Democrats against HR 1911, a bill that would ultimately lead to higher interest rates on certain government student loans, based on projections from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office. On July 1, interest rates for new subsidized Stafford loans were set to double from 3.4 percent to 6.8 percent. Under the Republican proposal, student loan rates would be reset every year based on 10-year Treasury notes, plus an added percentage. “Using Congressional Budget Office projections, that would translate to a 5 percent interest rate on Stafford loans in 2014, but the rate would climb to 7.7 percent for loans in 2023. Stafford loan rates would be capped at 8.5 percent, while loans for parents and graduate students would have a 10.5 percent ceiling under the GOP proposal,” reported the Associated Press. The bill was similar to a plan President Obama had offered the month before, which would tie interest rates to the yield on the 10-year Treasury bill rather than Congress setting them. Obama’s plan would allow the rate to fluctuate in that way from year to year but would freeze the rate for a given student once he or she took the loan out. The bill Murphy voted against would allow that rate to continue to fluctuate after the loan was taken out. (Washington Post, May 23, 2013; Associated Press, 5/16/13) The bill passed, 221-198. (HR 1911, Vote #183, 5/23/13) AP: House Republican Plan Would Raise Student Loan Interest Rates Up to 8.5 Percent. According to the Associated Press: “Under the GOP proposal, student loans would be reset every year and based on 10-year Treasury notes, plus an added percentage. For instance, students who receive subsidized or unsubsidized Stafford student loans would pay the Treasury rate, plus 2.5 percentage points. Using Congressional Budget Office projections, that would translate to a 5 percent interest rate on Stafford loans in 2014, but the rate would climb to 7.7 percent for loans in 2023. Stafford loan rates would be capped at 8.5 TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 151 percent, while loans for parents and graduate students would have a 10.5 percent ceiling under the GOP proposal.” (Associated Press, 5/16/13) • Headline: Republicans move forward with student loan plan that could mean higher rates later. (Associated Press, 5/16/13) Under the “Students Pay More” Act, Graduates Would Pay Almost $5,000 More in Student Loan Interest. The Associated Press reported: “In real dollars, the GOP plan would cost students and families heavily, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service. The office used the CBO projections for Treasury notes’ interest rates each year. Students who max out their subsidized Stafford loans over four years would pay $8,331 in interest payments under the Republican bill, and $3,450 if rates were kept at 3.4 percent. If rates were allowed to double in July, that amount would be $7,284 over the typical 10-year window to repay the maximum $19,000.” If the Republican plan were implemented, college graduates would pay $4,881 more in interest, compared to the current rate. (Associated Press, 5/16/13) The Average College Graduate Has $26,600 in Student Loan Debt; Total National Student Loan Debt Exceeds $1.1 Trillion. According to the Washington Post: “A recent report from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau estimates that there 38 million student loan borrowers in the United States and the total debt load has passed $1.1 trillion. The Project on Student Debt has estimated that 66 percent of graduating college seniors in 2011 had some student loan debt, with an average balance of $26,600.” (Washington Post, 5/20/13) CBO: Federal Government Turns $51 Billion Profit on Student Loans. According to the Huffington Post: “The Obama administration is forecast to turn a record $51 billion profit this year from student loan borrowers, a sum greater than the earnings of the nation's most profitable companies and roughly equal to the combined net income of the four largest U.S. banks by assets. Figures made public Tuesday by the Congressional Budget Office show that the nonpartisan agency increased its 2013 fiscal year profit forecast for the Department of Education by 43 percent to $50.6 billion from its February estimate of $35.5 billion.” (Huffington Post, 5/14/13) Voted For Student Loan Rate Plan That Was Market Based, But Capped And Predictable For The Life Of The Loan Murphy Voted To Base Student Loan Interest Rates On Market Rates But With Caps: On July 31, 2013, Murphy voted for HR 1911, the Bipartisan Student Loan Certainty Act of 2013, a bill which tied student loan interest rates to 10-year Treasury note rates. It: Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 Sets the annual interest rate on Direct Stafford loans and Direct Unsubsidized Stafford loans issued to undergraduate students at the rate on high-yield 10-year Treasury notes plus 2.05%, but caps that rate at 8.25%. • Sets the annual interest rate on Direct Unsubsidized Stafford loans issued to graduate or professional students at the rate on high-yield 10-year Treasury notes plus 3.6%, but caps that rate at 9.5%. • Sets the annual interest rate on Direct PLUS loans at the rate on high-yield 10year Treasury notes plus 4.6%, but caps that rate at 10.5%. • Fixes the interest rate on Direct Stafford loans, Direct Unsubsidized Stafford loans, and Direct PLUS loans for the period of the loan. • Sets the annual interest rate on Direct Consolidation loans for which an application is received on or after July 1, 2013, at the weighted average of the interest rates on the loans consolidated, rounded to the nearest higher oneeighth of 1%. Murphy’s yes vote was to adopt market-based but capped rates for student loans. Unlike a prior version of the bill that he had voted against, this bill reflected President Obama’s proposal, which let the rates fluctuate with the market, but locked in the rate for the life of the loan once the loan was taken out. The bill passed 392-31 and was signed into law on August 9, 2013. (The Stuart News/Port St. Lucie News, August 4, 2013; HR • 1911, Vote #426, July 31, 2013; thomas.gov, HR 1911 summary) Voted To Retain Federal Government’s Ability To Set Education Policy Murphy Voted Not To Dismantle The Federal Government’s Ability To Set Education Standards And To Protect Students, Including Disadvantaged Populations: In July 2013, Murphy voted with all Democrats against a bill “that would dramatically limit the federal government's power to set education standards across the country”. It reversed many provisions of the 2002 No Child Left Behind program. The bill was in part a response to the Obama administration’s granting of waivers to dozens of states from NCLB’s performance requirements, which Republicans charged gave the president leverage over states to pursue their own policies. The White House called the bill a step backwards: “Among other things, the bill would not support State efforts to hold students to standards that will prepare them for college and careers; would not support our international economic competitiveness; would virtually eliminate accountability for the growth and achievement of historically underserved populations," read a statement from the White House. Many Democrats agreed that the accountability standards needed to be altered, but felt the bill went too far by dismantling basic federal protections for students, including disadvantaged populations. The bill passed the House 221-207. (HR 5, Vote #374, 07/19/13; The Hill, July 19, 2013) TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 153 Protecting And Caring For Seniors See also Keeping America Healthy section for Medicare issues. Advocated For Alzheimer’s Care Murphy Co-Sponsored The Health Outcomes, Planning, And Education (HOPE) For Alzheimer's Act To Add A Medicare Benefit For An Alzheimer’s Evaluation And Planning Services: In July 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Health Outcomes, Planning, And Education (HOPE) For Alzheimer's Act, which would add a Medicare benefit for an Alzheimer’s diagnostic evaluation. Additionally, if the beneficiary is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, the bill would cover care planning services including assistance understanding the diagnosis as well as the options for ongoing treatment, services, and supports, and information about how to obtain such treatments, services, and supports. Care planning services would address other co-morbid chronic conditions. Individuals facing a diagnosis and family members facing a diagnosis of a loved one are forced to begin considering end of life, long-term care, and treatment options. Medical professionals familiar with this process and the disease would be greatly beneficial to families and patients. FL-18 likely has one of the highest number of Alzheimer’s patients and caregivers. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 1507, added July 29, 2013) Murphy Supported Congressional Action To Improve Diagnosis Of Alzheimer’s And Access To Information On Care And Support: In September 2013, Alzheimer's Association advocates from Palm Beach, Martin and St. Lucie counties thanked Murphy for his commitment to co-sponsor the Health, Outcomes, Planning and Education (HOPE) for Alzheimer's Act (HR 1507), which would improve diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease and increase access to information on care and support for newly diagnosed individuals and their families. (Palm Beach Post, September 3, 2013) Targeted ID Theft And Fraud Against Seniors Murphy Called For More Oversight To Protect Seniors From Direct Deposit Fraud And Social Security Identity Theft: In February 2013, Murphy and Rep. Bill Posey (RFL) called on the Treasury Department to exercise more oversight on Social Security fraud via identity theft. Murphy noted that the main problem “is the ease with which thieves are able to impersonate seniors to redirect their benefit checks.” He also noted that he would alert constituents, especially seniors, to identity theft scams. (The Stuart News, February 25, 2013; TCPalm.com, February 24, 2013) Murphy Co-Sponsored The Seniors Fraud Prevention Act Of 2013 To Protect Seniors From Things Such As Investment, Charity, And Sweepstakes Scams: In May 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the bipartisan Seniors Fraud Prevention Act Of 2013, which directs the Bureau of Consumer Protection to advise the Federal Trade Commission on the prevention of fraud targeting seniors and to assist the FTC in Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 monitoring the market for mail, television, Internet, and telemarketing fraud including recorded message telephone calls (robocalls) targeting seniors. It would guard against things such as fraudulent investment plans and asset management offers, sweepstakes, and charity scams. District 18 has a significant number of seniors and Florida has a hotbed of fraud. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 1953, added May 21, 2013) Voted To Protect Jobs Programs For Seniors And Other Vulnerable Populations Voted To Protect Jobs Programs For Seniors And Other Vulnerable Groups And To Raise The Minimum Wage: In 2013, Murphy voted for the full reauthorization of the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) and explicitly prohibiting any cuts to the program. WIA provides employment protections, employment or training opportunities for seniors, disabled veterans, women in nontraditional occupations, youth, or people with disabilities. The motion would also raise the minimum wage, in increments over the course of two years, to $10.10 and increase the minimum wage for tipped employees to 70 percent of the minimum wage. (Congressional Research Service, 3/02/06; Huffington Post, 3/15/13) The measure failed, 184-233. (HR 803, Vote #74, 3/15/13) Murphy Offered Amendment To Protect Seniors From Budget Cuts And Privatization Of Social Security And Medicare: In January 2013, Murphy proposed an amendment to a debt ceiling bill to shield veterans and military members from budget cuts as well as seniors, such as in the form of the privatization of Medicare and Social Security. The amendment failed 151-277. The underlying bill then passed 285144. (Press Journal, February 7, 2013; HR 325, Vote #29 and Vote #30, January 23, 2013; th Congressional Record, 113 Congress, page H248) Fought Misguided Regulation That Would Degrade Home Care For Seniors Murphy Spoke Out Against A Proposed Overtime Provision For Home-Care Caregivers That Would Hurt Both Caregivers And Their Elderly And Disabled Patients: In March 2013, Murphy and a bipartisan group of members of Congress wrote to Boris Bershteyn, Acting Administrator of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs in the Office of Management and Budget, to express their concern over the Department of Labor’s proposed rule on applying the Fair Labor Standards Act to domestic service, and specifically what they felt would be its overtime pay requirement’s adverse effect on the companionship exemption to the FLSA. They were concerned that Labor’s analysis of the economic impact of the rule relied on an inappropriate data set, that it overstated the proposal’s benefit while understating its cost, and that the sources of funding for the home care services, such as long-term care insurance and programs such as Medicaid, simply did not have the funding to pay overtime. Since none of the current funding sources would change in conjunction with the new overtime requirement, they asserted that the actual effect of the rule would not be to TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 155 benefit the home care workers, but rather to cause their hours to be curtailed to avoid overtime, resulting in less work for them and either less care for the patients or disruptions to the continuity of care by virtue of the need to rotate caregivers to avoid overtime. They urged Labor to do a better and more rigorous impact analysis and for changes to the current provision to be reserved to the Congress. (Murphy et. al. letter to Boris Bershteyn, March 19, 2013) See “Sold Out Workers” in vulnerabilities section of this document for negative framing of this issue as an attack on fair labor standards and overtime. A Defender Workers’ Rights Stood With Labor On Labor Day Murphy Joined Labor Leaders And Members For Labor Day: In September 2013, Murphy joined members of his local AFL-CIO at their annual Labor Day picnic. "Labor Day is so much more than just a day off from work and school -- it's a day to honor the hardworking men and women who make our nation so great," he said. "I am dedicating to fighting for working families in Washington so that our middle class is strengthened and our economy remains strong for generations to come." (Congressional Documents and Publications, September 2, 2013) Voted To Raise The Minimum Wage Murphy Voted To Increase Minimum Wage To $10.10: In March 2013, Murphy voted for the full reauthorization of the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) and explicitly prohibiting any cuts to the program. WIA provides employment protections, employment or training opportunities for seniors, disabled veterans, women in nontraditional occupations, youth, or people with disabilities. The amendment would also raise the minimum wage in increments over the course of three years from $7.25 to $10.10 and increase the minimum wage for tipped employees to 70 percent of the minimum wage. The measure failed, 184-233. (HR 803, Vote #74, 3/15/13) Voted To Protect Jobs Programs For Seniors, Veterans, And Disadvantaged Groups And To Raise The Minimum Wage: In 2013, Murphy voted for the full reauthorization of the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) and explicitly prohibiting any cuts to the program. WIA provides employment protections, employment or training opportunities for seniors, disabled veterans, women in nontraditional occupations, youth, or people with disabilities. The motion would also raise the minimum wage, in increments over the course of two years, to $10.10 and increase the minimum wage for tipped employees to 70 percent of the minimum wage. (Congressional Research Service, 3/02/06; Huffington Post, 3/15/13) The measure failed, 184-233. (HR 803, Vote #74, 3/15/13) Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 Raising the Minimum Wage Would Benefit as Many as 30 Million Americans... According to the Economic Policy Institute, “Increasing the federal minimum wage to $10.10 by July 1, 2015, would raise the wages of about 30 million workers, who would receive over $51 billion in additional wages over the phase-in period.” (Economic Policy Institute, 3/13/13) … and Generate 140,000 Net New Jobs: According to the Economic Policy Institute, “Across the phase-in period of the minimum-wage increase, GDP would increase by roughly $32.6 billion, resulting in the creation of approximately 140,000 net new jobs (and 284,000 job years) over that period.” (Economic Policy Institute, 3/13/13) At the Time, 71 Percent of Americans Favored Increasing Minimum Wage: A Pew Research/USA Today poll in February 2013 found that 71 percent of Americans favored increasing the minimum wage. (Pew Research/USA Today poll, 2/13-18/13) Promise Kept: Voted Not To Gut The NLRB Candidate Murphy Opposed Limiting The NLRB’s Ability To Enforce The Law Or Make Rules: In 2012, Murphy said he opposed efforts to limit the National Labor Relations Board to enforce the law or engage in rulemaking. (AFL-CIO Candidate Questionnaire 2012) Murphy Voted Not To Freeze The NLRB Or Overturn Its Decisions: In 2013, Murphy voted against HR 1120, a bill that would prevent the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) from taking most official actions until the Senate confirmed new members, the Supreme Court upheld President Obama’s recess appointments, or the first session of the 113th Congress ended. It would also invalidate every action taken since January 2012 that required a quorum. The bill was approved 219-209 and received bipartisan opposition. (HR 1120, Vote #101, 4/12/13) Murphy Voted Not To Protect Companies That Ship Jobs Overseas, Violate Child Labor Laws, Discriminate, Hurt Veterans: In 2013, Murphy voted for an amendment to HR 1120 to prohibit the invalidation of NLRB decisions involving any former member of the Armed Services; any attempt by a U.S. employer to outsource jobs; any violation by a foreign-owned company against the rights of an American worker; workers seeking to bargain on issues related to health and safety; workers seeking to bargain the addressing of discrimination based on age, sex, disability, race, religion, or other personal characteristics; and any employer found to have violated child labor laws in the 5 years prior to the case being brought to the Board. The motion was rejected 197-229. (HR 1120, Vote #100, 4/12/13) TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 157 Promise Kept: Voted Against Bill That Would Threaten Overtime Pay With A Paid Time Off Alternative Candidate Murphy Opposed Legislation That Would Weaken Worker Access To Overtime Pay In Lieu Of “Comp Time”: In 2012, Murphy said he opposed legislation that would weaken workers’ access to overtime pay in lieu of “comp-time” or “flex-time. (United Food and Confectionary Workers Candidate Questionnaire 2012) Murphy Voted Against What Could Be Called The “Pay Working Families Less Act” That Threatened Overtime Pay And The 40-Hour Work Week: In 2013, Murphy voted against the Working Families Flexibility Act, derided variously as the Pay Working Families Less Act and the Family Unfriendly Act, a bill that would undermine the 40hour work week, cut workers’ pay, and provide no guarantee of paid vacation days for employees when they need them. The bill would give private sector workers the option of paid time off in lieu of cash wages for overtime hours worked. However, opponents noted that low-paid workers who accrued overtime would “effectively give his or her employer an interest-free loan” and would only be able to take time off with the consent of the employer. (Huffington Post, Appelbaum post, 4/16/13) The White House released a statement of policy saying the president’s advisers would recommend a veto of the bill. The White House noted that the bill “would not prevent employers from cutting the overtime hours and reducing the take-home pay of employees who currently have the right to overtime compensation. The legislation does not provide sufficient protections for employees who may not want to receive compensatory time off in lieu of overtime pay.” (Statement of Administration Policy, HR 1406, 5/06/13) The bill passed 223-204. (HR 1406, Vote #137, 5/08/13) Voted To Protect Time Off For Medical Appointments Or Sick Family Members: Before final passage of the bill, Murphy voted for a measure to ensure that employees could not be denied the use of compensatory time for certain events. The measure would ensure compensatory time to attend medical appointments; to care for a sick family member or if the employee is sick; or to attend counseling or rehabilitation appointments for injuries sustained by the employee as a member of the Armed Forces. The measure failed 200-227. (HR 1406, Vote #136, 5/08/13) Center For Economic And Policy Research: Bill Would “Undermine the 40Hour Work Week” And Would Provide “Employers With A Powerful Incentive To Increase Workers’ Overtime Hours.” According to the Center for Economic and Policy Research: “The proposed legislation undermines the 40hour work week that workers have long relied on to give them time to spend with their kids. The flexibility in this comp time bill would have employees working unpaid overtime hours beyond the 40-hour workweek and accruing as many as 160 hours of compensatory time. A low-paid worker making $10 an hour who accrued that much comp time in lieu of overtime pay would effectively give his or her employer an interest-free loan of $1,600 – equal to a month’s pay. That’s a lot to ask of a worker making about $20,000 a year. Indeed, any worker who accrues 160 hours of comp time will in effect have loaned his or her employer a month’s pay. This same arithmetic provides employers with a powerful incentive to increase workers’ overtime hours.” (The Hill, 4/08/13) Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 Center for Economic and Policy Research: Proposal Would “Likely Increase Overtime Hours For Those Who Don’t Want Them and Cut Pay For Those Who Do.” In an op-ed submitted to the Huffington Post a senior economist with the Center for Economic and Policy Research wrote: “Touted by Republicans as a new comp time initiative that will give hourly-paid workers the flexibility to meet family responsibilities, it is neither new nor about giving these workers much needed time off to care for their families. The bill rehashes legislation Republicans passed in the House in 1997, some 16 years ago, and that they introduced again in most subsequent Congresses. Its major effect would be to hamstring workers -- likely increasing overtime hours for those who don’t want them and cutting pay for those who do.” (Huffington Post, 4/16/13) National Partnership for Women and Families: “You Have No Ability to Take That Leave When You Need It. The Employer Can Decide.” In a statement to the Chicago Tribune, a senior adviser for the National Partnership for Women & Families said: “It should be called the Employer Flexibility Act, because at every turn here, the employer gets to decide… It pretends to provide a set of options to employees. But even if they elect to take the comp time instead of wages, when they can take it is fully at the discretion of the employer. You have no ability to take that leave when you need it. The employer can decide.” (Chicago Tribune, 4/22/13) 9to5: Bill is a “Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing” That Would “Ensure Workers Have Less Time, Less Flexibility and Less Money.” In a statement, the executive director of 9to5 said: “Much like a wolf in sheep’s clothing, the falsely cloaked Working Families Flexibility Act would hurt, not help, families. The Working Families Flexibility Act, a true misnomer, would in reality ensure workers have less time, less flexibility and less money.” (9to5, 4/11/13) House Republicans Have Unsuccessfully Pushed To Gut The Fair Labor Standards Act for More Than a Decade. According to New York Magazine: “Similar legislation has been bouncing around Capitol Hill for years; one recent attempt died in committee in 2003. In the past, Democrats argued that the proposed legislation would only weaken overtime rights, because the comp time will be controlled by employers, who may also discriminate against employees who want to be paid their overtime wages in cash. Democrats also have an alternate plan for making sure moms ‘don’t have to choose between work and family’: Demand employers offer family-friendly leave policies and pay overtime wages.” (New York Magazine, 4/30/13) Voted Not To Freeze Funding For Workforce Program Or Cut Labor Out Of It Murphy Voted Not To Freeze Funding For Workforce Investment Program: In 2013, Murphy voted not to freeze Workforce Investment Act funding for FY2014-2020 while consolidating or eliminating 35 programs into state block grants. The bill would TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 159 also limit the role of organized labor in Workforce Investment Boards. The bill passed 215-202. (HR 803, Vote #75, 3/15/13) Voted To Make Sure Federal Workers And Military Got Paid For Shutdown Period Murphy Voted To Retroactively Compensate Furloughed Federal Employees For The Government Shutdown Period: On October 5, 2013, Murphy voted with a unanimous house to provide back pay to furloughed federal workers once the shutdown ended. (HR 3223, Vote #525, October 5, 2013) Murphy Voted To Make Sure Federal Workers Still Working During The Shutdown Were Paid On Time: On October 8, 2013, Murphy voted with a unanimous house to ensure paychecks for government employees who were still working during the shutdown were issued on time. (HJ Res 89, Vote #535, October 5, 2013; The Hill, October 8, 2013) Murphy Voted To Continue Military Pay In the Event Of A Shutdown: On September 29, 2013, Murphy voted with a unanimous House to continue paying the military in the event of a government shutdown. (HR 3210, Vote #499, September 29, 2013) Co-Sponsored Resolution To Urge Banks To Give Furloughed Employees A Break And Government To Ensure They Got Paid Murphy Co-Sponsored A Resolution To Urge That Financial Institutions Work With Customers Affected By The Government Shutdown And That Furloughed Government Employees Be Retroactively Compensated For The Shutdown Period: In October 2013, Murphy co-sponsored a bill that expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) financial institutions should work with their customers affected by the shutdown of the federal government that began on October 1, 2013; and (2) employees furloughed due to the shutdown should be compensated at their standard rate of compensation for the period beginning on such date through the date on which the lapse in appropriations ends, consistent with the principle adopted by the House when it passed H.R. 3223. (CRS Summary, H Con Res 60, added October 10, 2013) Co-Sponsored A Bill To Prevent Employers From Demanding Employees’ Personal Passwords Murphy Co-Sponsored The Password Protection Act Of 2013 To Prevent Employers From Demanding Employees’ Personal Passwords: In June 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Password Protection Act Of 2013, which would make it illegal for an employer to demand that employees disclose their confidential passwords to systems and websites not owned by the employer (such as Facebook) or to discipline or terminate an employee for failing to do so. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 2077, added June 12, 2013) Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 Co-Sponsored A Bill To Prevent States From Taxing Traveling Workers Who Only Work In The State Briefly Murphy Co-Sponsored The Mobile Workforce State Income Tax Simplification Act To Prevent States From Taxing Workers Who Are Only In The State Briefly: In May 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Mobile Workforce State Income Tax Simplification Act, which prohibits the wages or other remuneration earned by an employee who performs employment duties in more than one state from being subject to income tax in any state other than: (1) the state of the employee's residence, and (2) the state within which the employee is present and performing employment duties for more than 30 days during the calendar year. It exempts employers from withholding of tax and information reporting requirements for employees not subject to income tax under this Act. Allows an employer, for purposes of determining penalties related to employer withholding or reporting requirements, to rely on an employee's annual determination of the time such employee will spend working in a state in the absence of fraud or collusion by such employee. Exempts from the definition of "employee" for purposes of this Act professional athletes, professional entertainers, and public figures who are persons of prominence who perform services for wages or other remuneration on a per-event basis. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 1129, added May 14, 2013) A Champion For Veterans And Their Families There are about 30,000 veterans in the 18th District according to census records. Protected Funding, Benefits, And Jobs For Veterans Called For Veterans Benefits To Be Funded Even If Government Shut Down Murphy Joined Letter To Obama To Fund Veterans Benefits Even If The Government Shut Down: On September 23, 2013, a week before the government shut down, Murphy and other members of Congress wrote a letter to President Obama asking him to deem veterans benefits “essential” in the event of a government shutdown so that they would still be funded. The group was concerned that a shutdown would impact vital functions like medical requests, education and other resources. (Murphy et. al. letter to Obama, September 23, 2013) Voted To Fund Veterans Benefits, Including Independently Of The Government Shutdown Murphy Broke With Democrats To Vote To Fund Veterans Benefits Independently Of The Government Shutdown: On October 1, 2013, Murphy was one of only 33 Democrats to vote to fund veterans benefits independently of the government shutdown, Murphy voted with every Republican to fund them. Requiring a 2/3 majority to pass under a suspension of the rules, the bill failed 264-164. (HJ Res 72, Vote #506, TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 161 On October 3 when the bill came up again under normal rules, and all but 35 Democrats voted against it, Murphy again voted with every Republican to fund them. October 1, 2013) (HJ Res 72, Vote #518, October 3, 2013) Murphy Voted To Fund Military Construction And Veterans Affairs: In 2013, Murphy voted for an appropriations bill to fund military construction and veterans benefits. The bill passed 421-4. (HR 2216, Vote #193, 6/04/13) Co-Sponsored Bills To Help Exiting Service Members Get Better Civilian Jobs Murphy Co-Sponsored The Troop Talent Act Of 2013 To Help Service Members Leaving The Military Get Better Civilian Jobs: In June 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Troop Talent Act Of 2013, which would improve translation of military skillsets to civilian credentials or licenses, and increase access to high-demand career fields for Service members. The bill would also allow Military Tuition Assistance (MTA) and Post 9-11 GI Bill to be used on courses and programs that guarantee a credential or industry certification after successful completion. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the unemployment rate for recent Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans was 9.4 percent in February 2013, compared with 7.6 percent in February 2012. Because of this, there is a significant need to assist military members as they transition to the civilian workforce. This bill would also help prepare veterans for careers in information technology. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a need for 110,000 computer support specialists over the next decade. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 1796, added June 12, 2013) Murphy Co-Sponsored The Veteran Employment Transition Act To Expand And Make Permanent Tax Credits To Help Veterans Transition To Civilian Jobs: In May 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Veteran Employment Transition Act, which amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) revise the definition of "qualified veteran" for purposes of the work opportunity tax credit to include recently discharged veterans, and (2) make permanent the work opportunity tax credit for qualified veterans. (CRS Summary, CoSponsorship memo for HR 2056, added May 20, 2013) Voted To Protect Funding And Jobs Programs For Veterans And Others Murphy Offered Amendment To Protect Veterans, Military And Seniors From Budget Cuts: In January 2013, Murphy proposed an amendment to a debt ceiling bill to shield veterans and military members from budget cuts as well as seniors. The amendment failed 151-277. The underlying bill then passed 285-144. (Press Journal, February 7, 2013; HR 325, Vote #29 and Vote #30, January 23, 2013; Congressional Record, 113 Congress, page H248) th Voted To Protect Jobs Programs For Veterans And Other Vulnerable Groups: In 2013, Murphy voted for the full reauthorization of the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) and explicitly prohibiting any cuts to the program. WIA provides employment protections, employment or training opportunities for seniors, disabled veterans, women in nontraditional occupations, youth, or people with disabilities. The motion would also raise the minimum wage, in increments over the course of two years, to $10.10 and Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 increase the minimum wage for tipped employees to 70 percent of the minimum wage. (Congressional Research Service, 3/02/06; Huffington Post, 3/15/13) The measure failed, 184-233. (HR 803, Vote #74, 3/15/13) Mounted Sustained Attack On VA Disability Claim Backlog Murphy Led Bipartisan Push To End Veteran Disability Claim Backlog: As of 2013, Veterans Affairs disability claims had risen more than 2,000% over the prior four years. Meanwhile the agency’s budget had increased only 40%. Murphy urged the president to “take direct action” to reduce the large backlog of claims. (Law Firm Newswire, July 16, 2013) Co-Sponsored And Voted For Bills To Reduce And Repair Claims Backlog Murphy Voted To Consider Bill To Pay Backlogged Veterans’ Claims Provisionally: In 2013, Murphy voted to consider the Veterans Backlog Reduction Act, which would direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to pay provisional benefits for certain non-adjudicated claims. The previous question was approved 224-195, so the bill was not considered. Murphy’s “no” vote against the motion to order the previous question therefore was effectively a “yes” vote to consider the veterans bill. (H Res 232, Vote #180, 5/23/13; Congressional Record, H2925, 5/23/13) Murphy Voted For Amendment To Pay For Claims Processors To Reduce Veterans Disability Claims Backlog: In 2013, Murphy voted for an amendment that would help reduce the backlog of disability claims for veterans. The amendment would add $9.2 million in funding (double the funds in the underlying appropriations bill) to hire an additional 94 claims processors to help reduce the veterans disability claims backlog. The amendment failed 198-227. (HR 2216, Vote #192, 6/04/13) Murphy Co-Sponsored A Bill To Require The VA To Report On Its Performance In The Processing Of Disability Claims: In May 2013, Murphy co-sponsored a bill to require the Veterans Administration to submit quarterly reports on the processing of disability claims, which would direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide notice of average times for processing claims and percentage of claims approved. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 1809, added May 17, 2013) Murphy Co-Sponsored A Bill To Require The VA To Report On Response Times From Other Government Agencies In Processing Veterans Disability Claims: In June 2013, Murphy co-sponsored a bill to require the Veterans Administration to submit to Congress quarterly reports on the number of, and average response time to, requests made by the Secretary to the head of another federal department or agency for information required in adjudicating a claim for veterans' disability compensation. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 1759, added June 17, 2013) Murphy Voted To Establish A Commission To Evaluate Veterans Disability Claims Backlog: In 2013, Murphy voted for a bill that would establish a commission or task force to evaluate the backlog of disability claims of the Department of Veterans Affairs. The bill passed 404 to 1. (HR 2189, Vote #561, October 28, 2013) TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 163 Made Substantial Progress On Backlog The VA Significantly Reduced The Backlog Time For Veterans’ Disability Claims: Following six months of focus to address the massive backlog in processing veterans’ disability claims, the Veterans Administration had made significant progress through overtime work and a new computer system. Though its goal had been to eliminate the backlog of those waiting a year or more by October, and though 401,000 claims remained officially backlogged as of Veterans Day, November 11, meaning that the applicants had been waiting at least four months, the number of veterans waiting two years for benefits had dropped 99% to less than 500, the number waiting a year or more had dropped 87% to 34,000, and the average waiting time had dropped from 280 days to 168 days. At the current rate, the VA will eliminate the backlog by mid-December 2014. (The Daily Beast, November 11, 2013) Co-Sponsored Bills To Standardize, Share, And Make VA And DoD Records Electronic To Prevent Future Backlogs Murphy Co-Sponsored The 21st Century Health Care For Heroes Act To Upgrade Information Technology At The DoD And The VA To Make Claims Processing Faster And More Efficient And Prevent Future Backlogs: In July 2013, Murphy cosponsored the 21st Century Health Care For Heroes Act, which would amend the Wounded Warrior Act to establish a specific timeline for the implementation of integrated electronic health records between the Departments of Defense and Department of Veterans Affairs. The DoD and the VA are using an outdated approach to providing healthcare. The bill would provide technology upgrades as well as more timely access to information. This bill would implement the use of ‘cloud storage’ (a secure, remote, network-accessible computer storage system), as well as upgrades of graphic user interfaces (data display) to facilitate the acceleration of real-time data exchange between departments. It would also set up a timeline of one year for implementing seamless integration of personal health care information between the Departments. It would require the standardization of data, make personal health care information more readily available, and create the ability for both Departments to download the patient’s medical records. Implementing would also ensure that there will not be a future backlog for veterans’ benefits by requiring streamlined electronic health records. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 2590, added July 11, 2013) Murphy Co-Sponsored The VA CORE Act To Streamline VA Health Care By Making Military Service Records Available To The VA In Electronic Format: In May 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the VA Claims, Operations, and Records Efficiency Act, which directs the Secretary of Defense to make the service treatment records, personal records, unit records, and medical records (service records) of each member of the Armed Forces available to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs in an electronic format. It provides post-discharge or release timelines for such availability. It requires each service record provided to include a DoD certification of the record's completeness. It deems such service record release a permitted disclosure under requirements of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 1729, added May 20, 2013) Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 Worked To Ensure Vets And Surviving Spouses Got Benefits Co-Sponsored A Bill To Prioritize Vets Who Need Mental Health Care, Put Older Vets On Equal Footing Murphy Co-Sponsored The Veterans Mental Health Accessibility Act To Prioritize Vets In Need Of Mental Health Care And Put Older Vets On Equal Footing With Younger Ones: In May 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Veterans Mental Health Accessibility Act, which would give all veterans the same priority status with the VA to receive mental health care. Currently, veterans who served within the last five years are prioritized to receive all health services more quickly than older vets. Of the 22 veterans who commit suicide each day, men aged 50-59 were the most prevalent, suggesting that recently discharged vets should not be prioritized over older vets for mental health care. In addition, the current average veteran wait time to receive health benefits is 273 days, suggesting that this waiting period is much longer for veterans who served over five years ago. This bill would shift veterans seeking mental health care into higher-priority VA service groups, taking advantage of the VA’s increasing mental health care capacity, thereby possibly having an overall positive impact on the VA’s backlog of veterans seeking care. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 1725, added May 23, 2013) Co-Sponsored A Bill To Ensure Military Surviving Spouses Get All Benefits And Compensation Due Murphy Co-Sponsored The Military Surviving Spouses Equity Act To Ensure That Surviving Military Spouses Get All Of The Survivor Benefits And Compensation They Are Entitled To: In April 2013, Murphy co-sponsored a bill Military Surviving Spouses Equity Act, which would repeal the law that prevents surviving military spouses from receiving both survivor benefits and indemnity compensation for their deceased veteran spouse. Survivor benefits are retirement annuities for which servicemembers pay during their military career to have transferred to their surviving spouses if/when they die. Indemnity compensation is provided to a surviving spouse when a servicemember’s cause of death is related to their military service (e.g. killed in action, long-term effects of exposure to carcinogens, etc.). Currently, spouses are limited to receiving only the greater amount of the two, but not both, even though the two are not related (retirement benefit vs. compensation for service-related death). (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 32, added April 22, 2013) TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 165 Worked To Safeguard Veteran Status And Eligibility Co-Sponsored A Bill To Include Those Who Served In Vietnam’s Territorial Seas As Eligible For Benefits Related To Diseases Causes By Exposure To Herbicide Agents During The War Murphy Co-Sponsored The Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2013: In September 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2013, which recognizes as part of the Republic of Vietnam its territorial seas for purposes of the presumption of service connection for diseases associated with exposure by veterans to certain herbicide agents while in Vietnam. (CRS Summary, HR 543, added September 18, 2013) Co-Sponsored A Bill To Punish Those Who Attempt Fraud By Lying About Combat Medals Murphy Co-Sponsored The Stolen Valor Act To Punish Those Who Lie About Having Received Combat Medals And Fraudulently Try To Profit From It: In April 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Stolen Valor Act, which would make individuals who fraudulently claim to have received combat medals with the intent to obtain money or property subject to a fine, imprisonment, or both. A similar bill criminalizing false claims to combat medals was passed in 2005 and struck down by the Supreme Court in 2012 as violating the First Amendment. This version of the bill modifies the original to criminalize false claims of military service specifically designed to fraudulently garner some tangible benefit, thereby moving from restricting freedom of speech to preventing fraud. This bill became law. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 258, added April 11, 2013) Co-Sponsored A Bill To Clarify Definition Of Veteran Not To Include Those Who Only Went To Preparatory Schools For Service Academies Murphy Co-Sponsored The Support Earned Recognition for Veterans (SERV) Act To Clarify That People Who Attended Preparatory Schools For Service Academies Are Not Veterans: In November 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Support Earned Recognition for Veterans (SERV) Act, which amends titles 5 and 38, United States Code, to clarify that people who attended preparatory schools for service academies may not be considered veterans for the purposes of claiming benefits, disabled veteran status, preference eligible, etc. (CRS Summary, HR 3469, added November 13, 2013) Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 Honored Veterans For Service Co-Sponsored A Bill To Award Medal Of Honor To Vietnam Veterans Murphy Co-Sponsored A Bill To Award The Medal Of Honor To Vietnam Vets Bennie Adkins And Donald Sloat: In October 2013, Murphy co-sponsored a bill to award the Medal of Honor to Bennie G. Adkins and Donald P. Sloat of the U.S. Army for acts of valor in the Vietnam War. The bill passed the House. (CRS Summary, HR 3304, added October 22, 2013) Co-Sponsored A Bill To Award Congressional Gold Medals To WWII Veterans Murphy Co-Sponsored A Bill To Award Gold Medals To The WWII First Special Service Force, The Forerunners Of Today’s Special Forces: In March 2013, Murphy co-sponsored a bill to award gold medals to the First Special Service Force, a covert, joint American-Canadian World War II volunteer military unit. The FSSF conducted ultra-high risk military missions in the Aleutian Islands, Italy, and southern France. Once sent into action, the FSSF never failed a combat mission. The FSSF was the forerunner to today’s special forces. The medals would be presented collectively, in recognition of their World War II service. One medal would be given to the Smithsonian Institution and the other to the First Special Service Force Association in Helena, Montana. The bill became law. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 324, added March 25, 2013) Murphy Co-Sponsored A Bill To Award A Congressional Gold Medal To The WWII Doolittle Tokyo Raiders: In July 2013, Murphy co-sponsored a bill to award a Congressional gold medal to the WWII Doolittle Tokyo Raiders for outstanding heroism, valor, skill, and service to the United States in conducting the bombings of Tokyo. These volunteers embarked on an extremely dangerous mission when their carrier was discovered prematurely by the Japanese. Some did not return. The unit had trained extensively in Florida. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 1209, added July 31, 2013) Murphy Co-Sponsored The American Fighter Aces Congressional Gold Medal Act: In October 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the American Fighter Aces Congressional Gold Medal Act to award a single gold medal in honor of the American Fighter Aces, collectively, in recognition of their heroic military service and defense of our country's freedom, which has spanned the history of aviation warfare. (CRS Summary, HR 685, added October 2, 2013) Murphy Co-Sponsored A Bill To Award A Congressional Gold Medal To The World War II Members Of The Civil Air Patrol: In June 2013, Murphy co-sponsored a bill To award a congressional gold medal to the World War II members of the Civil Air Patrol in recognition of their military service and exemplary record during World War II. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 755, added June 20, 2013) TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 167 Co-Sponsored A Bill To Honor Living And Fallen Service Members Murphy Honored Fallen SEALs On Memorial Day: On May 27, 2013, Murphy and retired Navy Capt. Pete Van Hooser honored fallen SEALs in front of a standing-room only crowd at the National Navy UDT-SEAL Museum in Fort Pierce. The ceremony honored all the branches of the military and included the adding of seven names to the Memorial Wall. (The Stuart News, May 28, 2013) Murphy Welcomed Home Fort Pierce National Guardsmen From Afghanistan Deployment: In August 2013, Murphy was on hand to welcome home 130 members of the National Guard’s 806th Military Police Company based in Fort Pierce, who were responsible for guarding prisoners for 322 days in Afghanistan as part of Operation Enduring Freedom. "It is great to see such support here for our troops. Thank you for your service. You put your life on the line for this country," said Murphy to the troops. (The Stuart News/Port St. Lucie News, August 31, 2013 Saturday) Co-Sponsored A Bill To Rename VA Medical Center After C.W. Bill Young Murphy Co-Sponsored A Bill To Name A VA Medical Center After The Late Florida Rep. C.W. Bill Young: In October 2013, Murphy co-sponsored a bill to name the Department of Veterans Affairs medical center in Bay Pines, Florida, the "C.W. Bill Young Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center" after Army National Guard veteran and late U.S. Rep. C.W. Bill Young of Florida, who died on October 18, 2013. The bill became law. (CRS Summary, HR 3302, added October 22, 2013) Keeping The Military Strong, Addressing Threats Abroad Funded The Military Robustly But Prudently Voted for 2014 Defense Authorization Bill Murphy Voted For The $638 Billion Defense Appropriations Bill, Including A Military Pay Raise, New Penalties For Sexual Assault, And An Afghanistan Exit Deadline: In 2013, Murphy voted to authorize $638.4 billion for 2014 defense appropriations, including $85.8 billion for war costs, which exceeded the spending cap set under sequestration. The bill also included $99.6 billion for procurement, $136.1 billion for military personnel, including a 1.8 percent pay increase, provided new penalties for sexual assaults in the armed services, prohibited the transfer of detainees from Guantanamo Bay to the U.S, and directed the president to transfer combat operations from U.S. forces to Afghanistan by the end of 2013. Congressional Quarterly reported that, in passing the defense authorization measure, Congress “flout[ed] a spending cap set under sequestration.” (CQ Roll Call, 6/14/13) The bill passed 315-108. (HR 1960, Vote #244, 6/14/13) Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 Voted Against $60 Billion Cut To Defense Authorization Bill Murphy Voted Not To Cut $60 Billion From Defense: In 2013, Murphy voted against an amendment to cut $60 billion from the Defense Authorization bill. The amendment would have reduced the total amount authorized by the FY 2014 Defense Authorization Bill by 9.4 percent, or roughly $60 billion. “It's time to put an end to the wars of choice, and the nation-building abroad, and to start rebuilding America,” Rep. Rick Nolan, sponsor of the amendment, said. (The Hill, 6/14/13) The amendment failed 71-353. (HR 1960, Vote #232, 6/14/13) Voted For Appropriations Bill With Pay Raise And Furlough Ban For Military Murphy Voted For A Major Defense Funding Bill That Included A Pay Raise For The Military And Barred Sex Offenders From The Military: In July 2013, Murphy voted with Republicans and against a slight majority of Democrats for a nearly $600 billion appropriations bill for the Department of Defense. Among many provisions, it provides for $512.5 billion in non-war funding and about $82.3 billion for war operations; prohibits furloughing of DoD employees, some of whom were furloughed in 2013 due to the sequester; funds a $580 million pay raise for members of the military; and prohibits people convicted of rape or other sex-related crimes from enlisting in the military. The bill passed 315-109. (HR 2397, Vote #414, 07/24/13; The Hill, July 24, 2013) Voted To Cut $5 Billion On Overseas Operations To Use For Deficit Reduction Murphy Voted To Cut An Unnecessary $5 Billion, Which The Military Said It Did Not Need, From Overseas Operations To Reduce The Deficit: In 2013, Murphy voted in favor of an amendment to the fiscal year 2014 defense authorization bill that cut $5.04 billion from the Overseas Contingency Operations account. The amendment specified that the savings would be used for deficit reduction. The bill reduced funding for the OCO account to levels recommended by Defense Secretary Hagel and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dempsey. “I think it’s the view of the bipartisan group recommending this amendment that we not fund the OCO accounts at a level beyond what the military itself has said is necessary for fiscal year 2014,” said amendment author, Congressman Chris Van Hollen. (CQ Votes; Rep. Van Hollen press release, 6/12/13) The vote failed 191-232. (H.R. 1960, Vote #240, 6/14/13) Voted Not To Allow Military Branches To Sponsor Pro Wrestling And NASCAR Murphy Voted To Block Military Branches From Sponsoring Pro Wrestling And NASCAR: In June 2013, Murphy voted for an amendment to a defense authorization bill that would have saved the military $53 million by prohibiting military sponsorships of NASCAR and professional wrestling events. “The fact that $53 million in taxpayers’ funds is going to sponsor some of the most violent and sexist entertainment on television and NASCAR racing teams that results in zero recruits is a waste of money,” Rep. Betty McCollum, the amendment’s sponsor, said. (Minnesota Public Radio, 6/14/13) The amendment failed 134-290. (HR 1960, Vote #231, 6/14/13) TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 169 Practical Steps To Deal With The New Normal Of Terrorism Co-sponsored Bill To Keep Knives And Other Potential Weapons Off Of Airplanes Murphy Co-Sponsored The No Knives Act To Keep Knives And Other Potential Weapons Off Of Airplanes: In April 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the No Knives Act of 2013, which requires the TSA to prohibit passengers from carrying aboard a domestic or foreign air carrier passenger aircraft any item that was prohibited from being carried aboard such aircraft on March 1, 2013. It would reverse the TSA’s decision to allow non-locking blades less than 2.36” long—along with sports equipment like lacrosse sticks, ski polls, and hockey sticks—on planes. The TSA’s March announcement to allow these items has unleashed a maelstrom of opposition from airplane workers’ unions as well as concerned citizen groups. The TSA has stated that airplane cockpits are not vulnerable to these potential weapons, and that TSA officers should be allowed to focus on screening out more dangerous items. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 1093, added April 26, 2013) Co-sponsored A Bill To Extend Terrorism Risk Insurance 5 Years, 10 Years Murphy Co-Sponsored The Terrorism Risk Insurance Act Of 2002 Reauthorization Act Of 2013 To Extend For Five Years A Federal Insurance Program For Damages Due To Terrorism: In July 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act Of 2002 Reauthorization Act Of 2013, which extends the expiring TRIA for five years. Terrorism Risk Insurance Act (TRIA) is a federal insurance backstop for damages related to terrorism. Prior to September 11th, 2001, insurers neither charged for nor excluded terrorism coverage. Much of the $40 billion in claims from 9/11 fell to the reinsurance industry, which stopped offering terrorism coverage. TRIA became necessary because lenders and investors demanded terrorism coverage to protect investments. Insurance and reinsurance companies claim that because they do not have access to classified threat data, they cannot accurately price for terrorism risk. TRIA would be triggered when damages from a terrorist attack exceed $100 million, and the federal government would pay 85% of claims above that amount with a limit at $100 billion per year. The federal government would then recoup the payment over the next 12 years by charging policyholders 3% of premiums. Without the assurance afforded by the act, insurance premiums from unknown risk of potentially catastrophic loss for sectors such as real estate, transportation, construction, energy, utility, property and casualty insurance, lenders, and investors would necessarily be excessive. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 508, added July 26, 2013) Murphy Also Co-Sponsored Another Version That Would Extend TRIA For Ten Years: In July 2013, Murphy co-sponsored a version of the Terrorism Risk Insurance Program Reauthorization Act Of 2013 that would extend the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act of 2002 for ten years, through December 31, 2024, instead of five years as in the above reauthorization bill. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 2146, added July 26, 2013) Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 Voted For Greater Cooperation On Cybersecurity Threats To The Nation Murphy Voted For Greater Sharing Of Cybersecurity Threat Information Between Targeted Entities And The Government: In April 2013, Murphy voted for the Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act, a bill that would authorize private-sector entities, utilities, and the federal government to share cyber threat information with each other, such as vulnerabilities in a system or network, threats to the integrity, confidentiality, or availability of information on the network, efforts to deny access to or degrade, disrupt, or destroy the network, or efforts to gain unauthorized access to the system or network. (HR 624, Vote #117, 04/18/13; votesmart.org) Got Tough On Iran Co-Sponsored A Bill To Get Tough On Iran Regarding Terrorism, Sanctions, Nuclear Technology Murphy Co-Sponsored And Voted For The Nuclear Iran Prevention Act To Make Determinations On Whether Iran’s Republican Guard Are Terrorists, Recommend Sanctions In Response To Various Abuses, Prevent Iran From Getting Funding And Sensitive Tech: In March 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Nuclear Iran Prevention Act, which: • Directs the Secretary of State to determine if Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) meets the criteria for designation as a foreign terrorist organization and: (1) if so, designate the IRGC as a foreign terrorist organization; and (2) if not, report to Congress concerning those criteria which have not been met. • Expresses the sense of Congress regarding the imposition of sanctions on certain Iranian government persons responsible for, or complicit in, human rights abuses, diversion of food and medicine, and censorship. • Amends the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act of 2010 to subject to mandatory sanctions a financial institution that facilitates a significant transaction or provides significant financial services for a person that: (1) is subject to human rights-related sanctions, or (2) exports sensitive technology to Iran and is subject to the prohibition on procurement contracts. • Amends the Iran Threat Reduction and Syria Human Rights Act of 2012 to authorize the President to impose sanctions on a foreign person that knowingly conducted or facilitated a significant financial transaction with the Central Bank of Iran or other Iranian financial institution subject to sanctions for the purchase of goods (other than petroleum or petroleum products) or services by or from a person in Iran, or on behalf of a person in Iran. In July 2013, Murphy also voted for the bill, which passed 400-20. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 850, added March 4, 2013; HR 850, Vote #427, July 31, 2013) TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 171 CBO: Bill Would Cost $22 Million To Implement: “CBO estimates that implementing the bill would have discretionary costs of about $22 million over the 2014-2018 period…”. (CBO Cost Estimate, HR 850, June 28, 2013) Prepared To Deal With Syria If Necessary Voted To Keep All Options On The Table In Syria Murphy Voted Not To Remove Language Considering All Courses Of Action In Syria: In June 2013, Murphy voted against an amendment that would strip language expressing the sense of Congress on the conflict in Syria. The amendment would remove the language from the defense authorization bill that stated that Congress would consider all courses of action to remove Assad from power, begin operational planning to secure Syria’s chemical and biological weapons and prepare for supplying lethal aid to the rebels. (CQ Floor Votes, 6/19/13; Journal News, 6/27/13) The amendment failed 123-301. (HR 1960, Vote #234, 6/14/13) Condemned Bashar al-Assad’s Use Of Chemical Weapons   Murphy Condemned Assad’s Use Of Chemical Weapons And Applauded Obama’s Decision To Consult Congress On Taking Action: "I join the President in condemning the Assad regime's use of chemical weapons against innocent civilians and that such actions must be stopped. Assad must be held accountable for his flagrant violations of international laws and standards and others must know that such crimes against humanity will not be tolerated by the United States or the international community. I also agree with the President's decision to come to Congress before taking action. It is in the interest of U.S. national security, as well as a moral imperative, that the use of chemical weapons be stopped but ultimately, any decision to take military action should be made collectively as a nation. I stand ready to return to D.C. to have this debate. I am awaiting the actual language of the resolution to see how limited the authorization would be before I can make any decision on this issue but I am pleased to see that putting boots on the ground is not an option that is currently being discussed." (Tampa Bay Times Blogs, August 31, 2013) A Great Friend To Strategic Partner Israel Co-Sponsored A Bill To Expand US Cooperation With Israel On Weaponry, Defense, Energy, Water, Agriculture, Cyber-Security, And Immigration Murphy Co-Sponsored The United States-Israel Strategic Partnership Act To Add To Expand US Cooperation With Israel On Defense, Energy, And More: In March 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the United States-Israel Strategic Partnership Act, which recognizes that Israel is a major strategic partner of the United States. It: Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 • • • • • • Amends the Israel Enhanced Security Cooperation Act of 2012 to extend authority to: (1) make additions to foreign-based defense stockpiles, and (2) transfer certain obsolete or surplus Department of Defense (DOD) items to Israel. Authorizes the President to carry out U.S.-Israel cooperative activities and to provide assistance for cooperation in the fields of energy, water, homeland security, agriculture, and alternative fuel technologies. Amends the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 to extend the grant program for U.S.-Israeli cooperation on research, development, and commercialization of renewable energy or energy efficiency. Expresses the sense of Congress that the United States and Israel should increase cyber-security cooperation. Urges the President to provide assistance for enhancement of the David's Sling Weapon System, the joint United States-Israel Arrow Weapon System, and the Iron Dome short-range rocket defense system. States that it shall be U.S. policy to include Israel in the visa waiver program when Israel satisfies such program's inclusion requirements. (CRS Summary, CoSponsorship memo for HR 938, added March 12, 2013) Co-Sponsored A Bill To Include Israel In The Visa Waiver Program And Vice Versa Murphy Co-Sponsored The Visa Waiver For Israel Act Of 2013 To Establish Conditions For Waiving The Visa Requirement For Israelis, Including Reciprocal Rights For US Citizens: In February 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Visa Waiver For Israel Act Of 2013, which would include Israel in the visa waiver program upon the Secretary of Homeland Security's determination that Israel: (1) has entered into an agreement with the United States to report, or make available through Interpol or other means, information about passport theft or loss; (2) has entered into an information sharing agreement with the United States regarding whether Israeli citizens and nationals traveling to the United States represent a U.S. security threat; (3) cooperates with the U.S. government on counterterrorism initiatives, information sharing, and preventing terrorist travel; (4) issues all new and reissued passports with biometric identifiers; and (5) has made every reasonable effort, without jeopardizing Israeli security, to ensure that reciprocal privileges are extended to all U.S. citizens. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 300, added February 26, 2013) Co-Sponsored A Bill To Call For A Two-State Solution In Israel Murphy Co-Sponsored The Resolution Calling For A Two-State Solution For Israel And The Palestinians: In October 2013, Murphy co-sponsored a resolution that expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that: (1) achievement of a twostate solution that enhances stability and security in the Middle East can ensure Israel's survival as a secure Jewish and democratic state and fulfill the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people for a state of their own; and (2) while the United States remains indispensable to any viable effort to achieve that goal, only the Israelis and the Palestinians can make the choices necessary to end their conflict. It commends Secretary of State Kerry for his efforts to advance a negotiated two-state solution and TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 173 supports a U.S. diplomatic initiative to facilitate direct negotiations between the Israelis and Palestinians, with the support of other Arab states and the international community, to reach an agreement to end their conflict. (CRS Summary, HRES 365, added October 2, 2013) Co-Sponsored A Bill To Recognize 65th Anniversary Of Israel, Affirm US-Israeli Alliance Murphy Co-Sponsored A Bill Recognizing The 65th Anniversary Of The Independence Of The State Of Israel: In April 2013, Murphy co-sponsored a bill recognizing the 65th anniversary of the Independence of the state of Israel. It recognizes the independence of Israel as a significant event in providing refuge and a national homeland for the Jewish people and in establishing a democracy in the Middle East. It commends the bipartisan commitment of successive U.S. administrations and Congresses since 1948 to stand by Israel. Asserts the commitment of Congress to stand with Israel during times of uncertainty and reaffirms its bipartisan support for the alliance and friendship between the United States and Israel. It supports Israel's right to exist as a democratic, Jewish state and to defend itself and its people. It congratulates the United States and Israel for the strengthening of bilateral relations during the past decade in the fields of defense, diplomacy, and homeland security. It congratulates the people of Israel as they celebrate the 65th anniversary of Israel's independence. (H Con Res 30, added April 15, 2013) Co-Sponsored A Bill To Give A Congressional Gold Medal To Shimon Peres Murphy Co-Sponsored A Bill To Award The Congressional Gold Medal To Shimon Peres: In October 2013, Murphy co-sponsored a bill present a Congressional gold medal in honor of President Shimon Peres of Israel. (CRS Summary, HR 2939, added October 30, 2013) Looking Out For The Little Guy, Not The Rich & Powerful Fought To Stop Giving Away Billions In Corporate Welfare Led Bipartisan Call For End To Excessive Corporate Subsidies Murphy Led A Bipartisan Group Calling For The End Of Excessive Corporate Subsidies: In February 2013, Murphy and Rep. Robert Pittenger, leaders of the United Solution Caucus, called for "a fair and broad tax plan including eliminating excessive corporate subsidies, tax loopholes and other subsidies to provide lower rates that will encourage a pro-growth economy, providing added revenue for the federal budget." (Palm Beach Post, February 15, 2013) Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 Co-Sponsored And Voted For Bills To End Subsidies For Big Oil Murphy Voted To Consider Repeal Of Corporate Welfare For Large Oil Companies: In 2013, Murphy voted to consider the Big Oil Welfare Repeal Act, which would prohibit major integrated oil companies from receiving a tax deduction for domestic oil and natural gas production activities. The previous question was approved 236-190, so the bill was not considered. Murphy’s “no” vote against the motion to order the previous question therefore was effectively a “yes” vote to consider HR 1426, the Big Oil Welfare Repeal Act. (H Res 140, Vote #93, 4/10/13) Murphy Introduced A Bill To End Corporate Welfare To The Oil And Gas Industry To Reduce The Deficit By $2.4 Billion Per Year: In August 2013, Murphy introduced the End Welfare for Big Oil Act of 2013, a bill to remove oil tax credits and subsidies for major oil companies in an effort to reduce the national debt. The bill would eliminate a variety of tax breaks -- such as the intangible drilling costs deduction and section 199 domestic manufacturing deduction -- for the five largest oil companies. It emerged from a competition he held among constituents to suggest ways to save the government money. "This bill is a common sense solution to cut wasteful spending and reduce our nation's deficit while evening the playing field for other energy sectors, including renewable energy," Murphy said in a statement. He said the changes would amount to about $2.4 billion per year. The bill was referred to was the House Committee on Ways and Means and House Committee on Natural Resources. (HR 2956, National Law Review, August 20, 2013; congress.gov, HR 2956, August 9, 2013; Targeted News Service, August 7, 2013; Greenwire, August 2, 2013) Murphy Co-Sponsored The End Big Oil Tax Subsidies Act Of 2013: In July 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the End Big Oil Tax Subsidies Act Of 2013, which denies certain tax benefits to any taxpayer that is not a small, independent oil and gas company, including: (1) the tax credits for producing oil and gas from marginal wells and for enhanced oil recovery (2) expensing of intangible drilling and development costs in the case of gas wells and geothermal wells (3) percentage depletion (4) the tax deduction for qualified tertiary injectant expenses (5) the exemption from limitations on passive activity losses (6) the tax deduction for income attributable to domestic production activities It limits or denies the foreign tax credit and tax deferrals for amounts paid or accrued by a dual capacity taxpayer to a foreign country or U.S. possession for any period with respect to combined foreign oil and gas income. Defines "dual capacity taxpayer" as a person who is subject to a levy of a foreign country or U.S. possession and receives (or will receive) directly or indirectly a specific economic benefit from such county or possession. (CRS Summary, HR 609, added July 31, 2013) TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 175 Murphy Co-Sponsored Bill To Eliminate Tax Breaks For Big Oil Production: In August 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Prioritizing Energy Efficient Renewables Act Of 2013, which Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) make permanent the tax credit for producing electricity from wind, geothermal and solar energy, hydropower, and marine and hydrokinetic renewable energy facilities (2) repeal the tax deduction for intangible drilling and development costs for oil and gas wells (3) repeal the tax deduction for income attributable to the production, refining, transportation, or distribution of oil, natural gas, or any primary product thereof (4) repeal the percentage depletion allowance for oil and gas wells. (CRS Summary, HR 2539, added August 1, 2013) Voted To Replace Wasteful Farm Subsidies With Insurance Murphy Voted For 2013 Farm Bill, Which Contained Specialty Crop Insurance Programs For Farmers, Funding For Fruit & Vegetable Growers, Insurance For Livestock Producers, Etc.: In June 2013, Murphy voted with Republicans and against the great majority of Democrats for the final version of the Farm Bill. The bill, “eliminated the $5 billion-a-year subsidies paid to farmers and landowners whether they plant crops or not. The billions of dollars saved would be directed into the $9 billion [subsidized] crop insurance program, and new subsidies would be created for peanut, cotton and rice farmers. The bill adds money to support fruit and vegetable growers, and it restores insurance programs for livestock producers, which expired in 2011, leaving thousands of operations without disaster coverage during last year’s drought.” The bill failed 195234. (H.R. 1947, Vote #286, 6/20/13; CQ Floor Votes, 6/20/13; New York Times, 6/21/13) Note: Use this item carefully. The insurance programs received a lot of criticism. Voted To Replace Dairy Subsidies With Optional Insurance Program Murphy Voted To Replace Dairy Subsidies With Optional Insurance: In June 2013, Murphy voted with most Republicans and about half of Democrats for an amendment that would strike the dairy market stabilization program and the dairy producer margin protections program from the Farm Bill. With the amendment, farmers would have the option to enroll annually in a new insurance program at margin levels between $4 and $8 at increments of 50 cents. Support payments would be triggered when margins fall below the selected price, and coverage would be available for between 25 percent and 80 percent of a farmer's historic dairy production. (CQ Votes, 6/20/13; Grand Forks Herald, 6/20/13) The amendment passed, 291-135. (HR 1947, Vote #278, 6/20/13) Note: Use this item carefully in regard to dairy farmers. The general public hates the word “subsidy,” and so this can be counted as an accomplishment when framed and worded simplistically, or as part of a general statement about how he went after wasteful subsidies. But the dairy industry criticized the proposed insurance programs as benefitting big milk processors (cheese, butter, etc.) over milk producers (dairies), Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 particularly smaller ones. They anticipated lower income for milk producers, a cheap supply of subsidized milk for milk processors, and no savings for consumers. Co-Sponsored Resolution To Encourage All Countries To Drop Sugar Subsidies Murphy Co-Sponsored A Resolution Urging All Major Sugar Producing And Consuming Countries To Eliminate Sugar Subsidies: In July 2013, Murphy cosponsored a bill that expresses the sense of Congress that the President should seek through negotiated agreements under the auspices of the World Trade Organization the elimination of all direct and indirect subsidies benefitting the production or export of sugar by any foreign country that: (1) exported more than 200,000 metric tons of sugar during 2013, or (2) has in effect a free trade agreement with the United States. (H Con Res 39, added July 30, 2013) Protecting Main Street From Another Financial Collapse Voted Not To Impede Finalization Of Key Dodd-Frank Reforms At SEC Murphy Amended A Bill In Committee That Would Prevent The SEC From Being Hindered As It Finalized Dodd-Frank Rules And Future Rules: At a June 19, 2013 hearing of the House Financial Services Committee, Murphy offered and won passage of an amendment to HR 2374, the Retail Investor Protection Act, a bill that would alter provisions of the Dodd-Frank financial reforms. His amendment removed language from the bill that would have required the SEC, before making any new rule, to conduct an assessment of the qualitative and quantitative costs and benefits of the rule; determine whether the benefits justified the costs; identify alternatives that were considered such as modifying an existing rule; ensure that the rule is written in plain English; and that it seeks to improve the results of regulatory requirements. Murphy argued that these were redundant regulations because the SEC already conducts cost-benefit analyses before issuing any rules. SEC Chairperson Mary Jo White had objected to the bill, ostensibly due to the language that Murphy’s amendment removed. She said “our markets would not be well served” by lessening the SEC’s authority, and that the bill would hinder the SEC’s ability to finalize rules. Murphy voted to adopt the amendment and advance the bill from committee. The bill passed the committee 44-13. Murphy later voted with only 29 other Democrats for the underlying bill, which passed the House 254-166. (Lexology.com, June 24, 2013; HR 2374; House Financial Services Committee, Markup of HR 2374 and Murphy Amendment No. 3 to HR 2374, and Vote to Adopt HR 2374 in committee, June 19, 2013; Congressional Quarterly News, June 19, 2013; HR 2374, Vote #567, October 29, 2013) TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 177 Murphy Voted Against Requiring The SEC To Duplicate Its Analysis Of Its Own Regulations In Ways That Would Threaten Finalization Of Key Reforms Required By Dodd-Frank; White House Agreed: In May 2013, Murphy voted with the majority of Democrats against the SEC Regulatory Accountability Act, a bill that would expand the amount of analysis performed by the Securities and Exchange Commission when developing or amending regulations. It would direct the SEC to assess the significance of the problem a given regulation is designed to address; determine whether the estimated costs of the proposed regulation justify its estimated benefits, and identify alternatives to the proposed regulation that are available. It would also have to review its regulations every five years to determine if any were outmoded, ineffective, or excessively burdensome, and then consider changing or repealing such rules. The bill came just as the SEC was in the process of finalizing many new rules required by the Dodd-Frank financial reform law. The White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) argued that the bill “would impede the ability of the SEC to protect investors, maintain orderly and efficient markets, and facilitate capital formation.” (HR 1062, Vote #160, 05/17/13; CBO, May 13, 2013; The Hill, 05/15/13) Pushed For Transparency In Government Spending Co-Sponsored Bill To Make Federal Spending Data Reporting Transparent, Efficient, And Accessible To The Public Murphy Co-Sponsored The Digital Accountability And Transparency Act To Make Federal Spending Information Accessible And Transparent To The Public In An Efficient Way: In July 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Digital Accountability And Transparency Act, which would improve financial data standards across the federal government to streamline reporting and avoid duplication. The bill would: • Require the OMB to maintain a website to provide public information about awards of federal funds; require spending data for all federal funds to include information such as the appropriation, federal agency, sub-agency, account, program activity, and object class; • Require the Secretary to establish government-wide financial data standards for federal funds; • require the Director of OMB to review the financial reporting required by federal agencies to consolidate financial reporting and reduce duplicative reporting; • Require the Inspectors General at each federal agency and the Comptroller General to report biennially on the completeness, timeliness, quality, and accuracy of spending data submitted by each agency; • Require the Recovery Accountability and Transparency Board (Board) to develop and test information technology resources and oversight mechanisms to enhance the transparency of, and detect and remediate waste, fraud, and abuse in, federal spending for Inspectors General; and Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 • • • • • Require the Board to maintain a website to inform the public about activities to identify waste, fraud, and abuse in federal spending. Require the Board to establish a pilot program relating to reporting by recipients of federal funds to increase financial transparency to: (1) display the full cycle of federal funds, (2) improve the accuracy of federal financial data, and (3) develop recommendations for reducing reporting requirements by consolidating and automating financial reporting requirements across the federal government. Amend the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 to terminate on September 30, 2013, reporting requirements relating to the use of funds under such Act, oversight functions of the Board, and the requirement that the Board maintain a public website. Extends the termination date for the Board until September 30, 2017. Amend the Disaster Relief Appropriations Act of 2013 to eliminate the Board's responsibility for monitoring the expenditure of funds related to Hurricane Sandy. Require the Director of OMB to make required financial management status reports and government-wide five-year financial management plans available on the OMB website. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 2061, added July 29, 2013) Pushed For Fair And Transparent Elections Co-Sponsored Bill To Require Online Voter Registration Murphy Co-Sponsored The Voter Empowerment Act To Enable Online Voter Registration In Every State: In January 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Voter Empowerment Act, which amends the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 to require each state to make available official public websites for online voter registration. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 12, added January 23, 2013) Voted To Require At Least Fifteen Days Of Early Voting Murphy Voted To Require States To Allow At Least Fifteen Days Of Early Voting: In 2013, Murphy voted for an amendment to the rules package for the 113th Congress that would have required every state to allow at least fifteen days of early voting ensuring that no voter is forced to wait more than an hour to vote. The vote failed 194229. (H Res 5, Vote #5, 1/03/13) Decried Florida’s Voter Suppression Laws Murphy Attacked Voter Suppression Laws: In May 2013, Murphy criticized Florida Gov. Rick Scott for voter suppression laws. He suggested that his win over Tea Party candidate Allen West may have been larger if not for the voter suppression measures. (Stuart News, May 19, 2013) TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 179 Called For Getting Money Out Of Politics Candidate Murphy Called Citizens United Ruling “A Huge Step Backwards”: On the campaign trail, Murphy said that the Supreme Court’s 2010 Citizens United ruling was “…a huge step backwards for our country.” (Irish Times, October 25, 2012) After Expensive Race, Murphy Called For Election Reform: Murphy said the 2012 campaign convinced him of the need for election reform: “Only good sign is money can’t buy elections. We were outspent 4-to-1 and we still won.” (Digital Journal, November 19, 2012) Murphy Said He Wanted To Get Money Out Of Politics: Despite strong fundraising efforts, Murphy said, "I hate the fundraising aspect of politics.” He said, "I'm adamant about getting the money out of politics, making some serious changes.” (The Stuart News July 14, 2013) Co-Sponsored Bills To Require Full Disclosure And Shareholder Approval Of Corporate Political Spending Murphy Co-Sponsored The DISCLOSE Act To Require Corporations And Unions To Disclose Spending On Elections: In April 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the DISCLOSE Act, which amends the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to redefine the term "independent expenditure" as an expenditure by a person that, when taken as a whole, expressly advocates the election or defeat of a clearly identified candidate, or is the functional equivalent of express advocacy because it can be interpreted by a reasonable person only as advocating the election or defeat of a candidate, taking into account whether the communication involved mentions a candidacy, a political party, or a challenger to a candidate, or takes a position on a candidates, qualifications, or fitness for office. Expands the period during which certain communications are treated as electioneering communications. It prescribes: (1) disclosure requirements for corporations, labor organizations, and certain other entities; and (2) disclaimer requirements for campaign-related disbursements and for certain communications. Requires any communication transmitted through radio or television to include an individual or organizational disclosure statement. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 148, added April 26, 2013) Murphy Co-Sponsored The Shareholder Protection Act To Require Publicly Held Companies To Publish The Amount And Nature Of Their Projected Political Spending In Their Proxy Statements And Get Shareholder Approval Of It: In May 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Shareholder Protection Act, which amends the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to require that any solicitation of a proxy, consent, or authorization with respect to any security of an issuer: (1) describe the specific nature (to the extent known) and total amount of expenditures proposed for political activities for the forthcoming fiscal year but not yet authorized by a vote of the issuer's shareholders, and (2) provide for a separate shareholder vote to authorize such proposed expenditures. It prohibits an issuer from making an expenditure for political Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 activities in any fiscal year unless: (1) such expenditure is of the nature of those proposed by the issuer according to the requirements of this Act, and (2) authorization for such expenditure has been granted by votes representing a majority of outstanding shares. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 1734, added May 20, 2013) Murphy Co-Sponsored The Corporate Politics Transparency Act To Ensure That Shareholders A Public Company Can Know The Company’s History Of Political Spending: In May 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Corporate Politics Transparency Act, which amends the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to require that quarterly and annual reports of an issuer, any proxy solicitation, or consent or authorization in respect of any security, and the issuer's registration statement disclose total political expenditures in support of or in opposition to any candidate for federal, state, or local public office made by the issuer during the preceding six-year period. (CRS Summary, CoSponsorship memo for HR 2214, added May 24, 2013) Preventing Government And Business From Abusing Public Co-Sponsored Bill To Block Government Agencies From Political Targeting Murphy Co-Sponsored The STOP IRS Act To Make It Illegal For The IRS To Engage In Political Targeting: In July 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the STOP IRS Act, which would reform the IRS Restructuring and Reform Act of 1998 to add political targeting to the existing list of offenses IRS employees can be immediately terminated for. Sponsors of this bill signify that they will not tolerate the IRS being used for political purposes. The bill passed the House without amendment by a voice vote. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 2565, added July 22, 2013; HR 2565, voice vote, July 31, 2013) Murphy Called For Investigation Of IRS Targeting Of Conservative Groups: In May 2013, the IRS was criticized by members of both parties after revealing a special focus on conservative groups. Murphy’s office stated that they had not been aware of it. Murphy said, "The American people must have faith that their government isn't abusing its powers, which is why I am calling for full investigations into both of these troubling matters." (Palm Beach Post, May 15, 2013; Press Journal, May 22, 2013) Murphy Would Not Return Campaign Contribution From IRS Employee Union: In May 2013, the National Republican Congressional Committee called on Murphy to return $3,000 from the union that represents IRS workers. Murphy’s office rejected the idea, but Murphy called the actions of IRS in allegedly targeting right-wing groups “completely unacceptable.” (Palm Beach Post, May 20, 2013) TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 181 Co-Sponsored Bill To Deny Government Benefits To Felonious Members Of Congress Murphy Co-Sponsored The TRUST Act To Deny Retirement Benefits To Any Member Of Congress Convicted Of Any Felony: In May 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Trust Returned to the United States Taxpayer Act, which denies retirement benefits under the Civil Service Retirement System and the Federal Employees' Retirement System to a Member of Congress who is convicted of any crime that is a felony under federal or state law. Under current laws this sort of revocation is limited to only certain specified felonies under federal law. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 1547, added May 6, 2013) Voted To Keep Federal Employees Accountable Murphy To Limit Federal Workers’ Bonuses During Sequester, Allow Immediate Firing For Misconduct, And Allow Citizens To Record Their Calls With Federal Workers: In August 2013, Murphy voted with Republicans and only 14 other Democrats for the Stop Government Abuse Act, a combination of three bills that would limit bonuses for Federal employees during sequestration, allow citizens to record phone calls and meetings with federal workers, and give agencies the discretion to immediately fire workers for misconduct. The bill passed 239-176. (HR 2879, Vote #436, 08/01/13; The Hill, August 1, 2013) Co-Sponsored Bill To Protect Investors From Fraud And Abuse And Increase Confidence In Market Murphy Co-Sponsored The Restoring Main Street Investor Protection and Confidence Act To Protect Investors From Fraud, Abuse, And Malfeasance, Such As Ponzi Schemes, And Foster Greater Confidence In US Capital Markets: In November 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the bipartisan Restoring Main Street Investor Protection and Confidence Act, which amends the Securities Investor Protection Act of 1970 to confirm that a customer's net equity claim is based on the customer's last statement and that certain recoveries are prohibited, to change how trustees are appointed, and for other purposes. Its purpose is to protect innocent investors from fraud, abuse, and malfeasance and to foster greater confidence in U.S capital markets to encourage economic growth, increase job creation, and efficiently allocate capital. It “would address one of the issues that seemed to most rankle [Ponzi schemer, Bernie] Madoff’s defrauded victims: whether or not to calculate their losses based on the fraudulent account statements they received.” According to Rep. Scott Garrett (R-NJ), one of the bill’s sponsors, “By reforming and modernizing the Securities Investor Protection Act (SIPA) of 1970, we will ensure greater equity for victims of fraud, enhance efficient functioning of U.S. securities markets for main street investors, and strengthen the oversight and accountability of the Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC). Given that physical securities are no Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 longer individually mailed to customers, investors must be able to trust the SIPC seal of approval and have confidence in the account statements they receive. The bill’s other sponsor, Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), said, “Markets run as much on confidence as capital, and this bill will restore investors’ confidence in the markets by modernizing the Securities Investor Protection Corporation, and by protecting innocent victims of Ponzi schemes and other frauds from further clawbacks by the very government agency that is charged with protecting them.” (CRS Summary, HR 3482, added November 14, 2013; garrett.house.gov, press release, November 14, 2013; LexisNexis Legal Newsroom, November 18, 2013) Voted For Consideration Of The Federal Price Gouging Prevention Act Murphy Voted For Consideration Of Price Gouging Prevention Act: In May 2013, Murphy voted for considering the Federal Price Gouging Prevention Act, which would protect consumers from price-gouging of gasoline and other fuels. The previous question was approved 223-194. A vote against the motion would have allowed for consideration of price gouging bill. (H Res 228, Vote #167, 5/22/13; Congressional Record, H2860, 5/22/13) Worked To Keep Mortgage Financing Affordable For People With Low Income Or Who Are Underwater Co-sponsored A Bill To Streamline And Lower Cost Of Refinancing Of Fannie Mae And Freddie Mac Secured Loans Murphy Co-Sponsored The Responsible Homeowner Refinancing Act To Help People With Fannie Mae Or Freddie Mac Secured Loans Get Streamlined Refinancing: In March 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Responsible Homeowner Refinancing Act, which helps people with Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac secured housing loans by ensuring that streamlined refinancing is available, regardless of whether the borrower is underwater or not. It would also reduce up-front fees on refinancing, eliminate appraisal costs for all borrowers, and extends the Home Affordable Refinance Program by one year to enable more borrowers to access the program. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 736, added March 13, 2013) Co-sponsored A Bill To Help Lower And Moderate Income Families In Rural Areas Get Mortgage Credit Murphy Co-Sponsored The Rural Housing Preservation Act To Help Lower And Moderate Income Families In Rural Areas Get Mortgage Credit: In April 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Rural Housing Preservation Act, which states that any area classified as "rural" or a "rural area" before October 1, 1990, and determined not to be "rural" or a "rural area" as a result of data received from or after the 1990, 2000, or 2010 TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 183 census shall continue to be classified as such if the area has a population of between 10,000 and 25,000, is rural in character, and has a serious lack of mortgage credit for lower and moderate-income families. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 858, added April 19, 2013) Worked To Save Food Stamps Only 40% Of Americans Favor Cuts To Food Stamps June 2013 Poll: Only 40% Of Americans Want Food Stamp Funding Levels Cut: A June 2013 Huffington Post / YouGov poll of 1,000 adults found that 24% (+/-3.5) of American adults felt that federal funding for food stamps should be increased, 40% felt it should be decreased, 24% felt it should be left the same, and 12% were unsure. Among Republicans, 11% wanted more spending, 73% wanted less, 10% wanted the same, and 6% were unsure. Among Democrats, 36% wanted more, 19% wanted less, 35% wanted the same, and 10% were unsure. Among Independents, 23% wanted more, 38% wanted less, 23% wanted the same, and 16% were unsure. Among registered voters, 23% wanted more, 44% wanted less, 24% wanted the same, and 10% were unsure. Among whites, 19% wanted more, 47% wanted less, 23% wanted the same, and 11% were unsure. (Huffington Post, June 10, 2013 [1] [2]) November 2013 Poll: Only 40% Of Americans Approve Of The Recent 5% Cut In Food Stamp Benefits: A November 2013 Huffington Post / YouGov poll of 1,000 adults found that 19% (+/-4.9) strongly approved of the recent 5% cut in food stamp benefits, 21% somewhat approved, 17% somewhat disapproved, 34% strongly disapproved, and 9% were not sure. Among those age 18-29, 20% strongly approved, 23% somewhat approved, 23% somewhat disapproved, 23% strongly disapproved, 10% were unsure. Among those age 30-44, 15% strongly approved, 21% somewhat approved, 21% somewhat disapproved, 36% strongly disapproved, 8% were unsure. Among those age 45-64, 17% strongly approved, 21% somewhat approved, 10% somewhat disapproved, 41% strongly disapproved, 11% were unsure. Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 Among those age 65+, 28% strongly approved, 20% somewhat approved, 17% somewhat disapproved, 31% strongly disapproved, 5% were unsure. Among whites, 20% strongly approved, 21% somewhat approved, 18% somewhat disapproved, 32% strongly disapproved, 9% were unsure (YouGov, November 13, 2013 [1] [2]) Co-Sponsored A Bill To Express That The House Committee On Agriculture Should Not Attempt To Cut Food Stamps Murphy Co-Sponsored A Resolution That Funding For Food Stamps Should Not Be Cut: In June 2013, Murphy co-sponsored a resolution that expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that in this Congress the Committee on Agriculture should not propose any reduction in the availability or amount of benefits under the supplemental nutrition assistance program (SNAP) and that the House should reject any proposed legislation that seeks to do so. (CRS Summary, H Res 90, added June 28, 2013) Voted Not To Kill Farm Bill With “Poison Pill” Of Food Stamp Work Requirement Murphy Voted Against Poison Pill Food Stamp Work Requirement Amendment That Ultimately Killed The Farm Bill: In June 2013, Murphy voted against an amendment to the Farm Bill that would let states launch pilot programs requiring that food stamp recipients work or show they are looking for work. The amendment was largely blamed for the failure of the underlying bill. Time wrote, “The Southerland amendment was approved in a near-party-line vote, 227 to 198. Only one Democrat went for the amendment, and only six Republicans went against. It was a partisan poison pill, the last amendment of the day. And it was enough to kill the measure.” (Time Magazine, 6/21/13) The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities called the provision “harsh” and unprecedented.” CBPP reported that the amendment “could deny benefits to large numbers of low-income people who want to work but cannot find a job, and it would incentivize states to cut such people off by giving them large amounts of new federal funding- to spend on whatever they choose- if they use the Southerland provision to cut their SNAP caseloads.” (Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, 7/09/13) The amendment passed, 227-198. (HR 1947, Vote #248, 6/20/13) Voted Not To Make It Harder To Obtain Food Stamps And Not To Cut $31 Billion From The Program Murphy Voted Against Even Deeper SNAP Cuts: In June 2013 Murphy voted against an amendment to cut $31 billion from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and block grant spending to the states. The bill would have rolled back the state exemption option and made it mandatory for each state to adopt stiffer work requirements to receive food aid. (Kansas Health Institute, 7/08/13) The amendment failed 175-250. (HR 1947, Vote #283, 6/20/13) TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 185 Voted Not To Eliminate Food Stamps Murphy Voted Against Version Of The Farm Bill That Eliminated Funding For Food Stamps: In July 2013, Murphy voted with all Democrats against, HR 2642, which was identical to HR 1947, the Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act, or “farm bill” with two exceptions. HR 2642 removed all funding for nutrition programs such as the food stamp program and repealed a section of “permanent law” that has required the farm bill to be passed or extended since 1949. The bill passed the House 216-208. (The Senate then amended the bill by replacing its text with the text of S 954, the Senate farm bill. The House further amended this bill by replacing the text of S 954 with the text of HR 2642 and added to the bill the text of HR 3102, the House nutrition bill that cut $39 billion from the food stamp program.). Murphy had previously voted for HR 1947, which did not eliminate food stamp funding, but would cut it by nearly $40 million over the following decade. (HR 2642, Vote #353, 07/11/13; thisweekincongress.com) Voted To Restore $20.5 Billion In Food Stamp Cuts Murphy Voted To Restore Food Stamp Cuts That, Unless Restored, Would Kick 2 Million People Off Of Food Stamps And 210,000 Children Off Of Free School Meals: In 2013, Murphy voted in favor of an amendment to restore $20.5 billion in Supplemental Nutrition and Assistance Program (SNAP) funding to the House Farm Bill by offsetting the Farm Risk Management Election Program and the Supplemental Coverage Option. According to MSNBC, “The $20.5 billion in cuts within the House bill amount to roughly $2 billion per year. If those cuts went through, nearly two million people could lose food stamp eligibility, and some 210,000 children could lose eligibility for free school meals.” (MSNBC, 6/20/13) The amendment, proposed by Rep. Jim McGovern, failed 188-234. (HR 1947, Vote #256, 6/19/13) Voted Not To Cut Food Stamps By $39 Billion Murphy Voted Not To Cut Food Stamps By $39 Billion Over 10 Years: In September 2013, Murphy voted against Republicans and with all Democrats against the Nutrition Reform and Work Opportunity Act, a bill that would cut $39 billion in funding from the food stamp program (SNAP) over 10 years. The Congressional Budget Office estimated that if the bill became law, up to 3.8 million people would lose food stamp benefits in 2014. “Cutting the investment is a full assault on the health and economic security of millions of families,” said Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA). The bill passed 217-210. (HR 3102, Vote #476, 09/19/13; The Hill, September 19, 2013) Voted To Save Healthy Food Access For Low-Income Communities Murphy Voted Not To Kill A Program For Access To Healthy Food For LowIncome Communities: In June 2013, Murphy voted against an amendment to the Farm Bill that would eliminate the Health Food Financing Initiative that provided access to healthy food in low-income communities. The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 said the amendment “attacked” healthy food access. (CQ Quarterly, 6/20/13, National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition, 6/20/13) The amendment failed 194-232. (HR 1947, Vote # 267, 6/20/13) Voted To Preserve Reasonable Welfare Work Requirement 83% Of Americans Favor Work Requirement For Welfare: A July 2012 Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of 1,000 adults found that 83 percent (+/-3%) of American adults favored a work requirement as a condition for receiving welfare aid. Seven percent opposed it and ten percent were undecided. (Rasmussen Reports, July 18, 2012) Murphy Voted To Block Obama’s Attempt To Ease Work Requirements For Welfare: In March 2013, Murphy was one of only 18 Democrats to vote with all but three Republicans to block the Obama administration's attempt to waive the requirement that people must work or prepare for a job in order to receive Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (welfare) benefits. The bill passed 246-181. In 2012, the Department of Health and Human Services had told states that the welfare-work requirement could be waived. Republicans objected that this gutted the 1996 welfare reform law that put in place percentage minimum thresholds of working welfare recipients in each state. They said that the Obama administration had bypassed this unilaterally without consulting Congress as required by law. (HR 890, Vote #68, 03/13/13; The Hill, March 13, 2013) Preventing And Punishing Fraud And Other Crimes Co-Sponsored Bills To Prevent And Punish ID Theft Murphy Co-Sponsored The STOP Identity Theft Act To Crack Down On Tax Return Identity Theft: In April 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the STOP Identity Theft Act, which calls for the Attorney General to stiffen enforcement and penalties for tax return identity theft. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 744, added April 9, 2013) Murphy Co-Sponsored The SAFE ID Act Of 2013 To Guard Against Identity Theft: In May 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the SAFE ID Act Of 2013, which would require the use of a taxpayer identification number instead of a social security number in reporting wages of employees on W-2 forms. Currently many other tax forms do not require a full social security number, and W-2s present an opportunity for thieves to steal someone’s identity. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 1560, added May 8, 2013) TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 187 Co-Sponsored Bills To Prevent And Punish Fraud Against Seniors Murphy Co-Sponsored The Seniors Fraud Prevention Act Of 2013 To Protect Seniors From Things Such As Investment, Charity, And Sweepstakes Scams: In May 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the bipartisan Seniors Fraud Prevention Act Of 2013, which directs the Bureau of Consumer Protection to advise the Federal Trade Commission on the prevention of fraud targeting seniors and to assist the FTC in monitoring the market for mail, television, Internet, and telemarketing fraud including recorded message telephone calls targeting seniors. It would guard against things such as fraudulent investment plans and asset management offers, sweepstakes, and charity scams. District 18 has a significant number of seniors and Florida has a hotbed of fraud. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 1953, added May 21, 2013) Murphy Co-Sponsored The Protecting Seniors From Health Care Fraud Act To Track And Report On The Most Prevalent Health Care Fraud Schemes Targeting Seniors: In September 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Protecting Seniors from Health Care Fraud Act. Health care fraud targeting seniors is on the rise. In 2012 alone, the number of health care scams targeting seniors rose 12 percent. The bill would require federal agencies to consolidate information on health care fraud and report to Congress on the top 10 most prevalent health care fraud schemes targeting seniors, including ways to combat the schemes and policy recommendations for stopping them. The top ten list would be sent to senior Medicare beneficiaries annually. (CRS Summary, CoSponsorship memo for the as yet unnumbered Protecting Seniors from Health Care Fraud Act of 2013, received September 25, 2013) Co-Sponsored Bill To Protect Investors From Fraud And Abuse Murphy Co-Sponsored The Restoring Main Street Investor Protection and Confidence Act To Protect Investors From Fraud, Abuse, And Malfeasance, Such As Ponzi Schemes, And Foster Greater Confidence In US Capital Markets: In November 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the bipartisan Restoring Main Street Investor Protection and Confidence Act, which amends the Securities Investor Protection Act of 1970 to confirm that a customer's net equity claim is based on the customer's last statement and that certain recoveries are prohibited, to change how trustees are appointed, and for other purposes. Its purpose is to protect innocent investors from fraud, abuse, and malfeasance and to foster greater confidence in U.S capital markets to encourage economic growth, increase job creation, and efficiently allocate capital. It “would address one of the issues that seemed to most rankle [Ponzi schemer, Bernie] Madoff’s defrauded victims: whether or not to calculate their losses based on the fraudulent account statements they received.” According to Rep. Scott Garrett (R-NJ), one of the bill’s sponsors, “By reforming and modernizing the Securities Investor Protection Act (SIPA) of 1970, we will ensure greater equity for victims of fraud, enhance efficient functioning of U.S. securities markets for main street investors, and strengthen the oversight and accountability of the Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC). Given that physical securities are no Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 longer individually mailed to customers, investors must be able to trust the SIPC seal of approval and have confidence in the account statements they receive. The bill’s other sponsor, Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), said, “Markets run as much on confidence as capital, and this bill will restore investors’ confidence in the markets by modernizing the Securities Investor Protection Corporation, and by protecting innocent victims of Ponzi schemes and other frauds from further clawbacks by the very government agency that is charged with protecting them.” (CRS Summary, HR 3482, added November 14, 2013; garrett.house.gov, press release, November 14, 2013; LexisNexis Legal Newsroom, November 18, 2013) Co-Sponsored Legislation To Prevent Juvenile Delinquency And Street Gangs Murphy Co-Sponsored The Youth PROMISE Act To Prevent And Address Juvenile Delinquency And Criminal Street Gang Activity: In October 2013, Murphy cosponsored the Youth Prison Reduction through Opportunities, Mentoring, Intervention, Support, and Education (PROMISE) Act, which establishes a an advisory panel to assist the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention in: (1) assessing and developing standards and practices to prevent juvenile delinquency and criminal street gang activity, and (2) collecting data to assess the needs and existing resources for juvenile delinquency and criminal street gang activity prevention and intervention. It authorizes award grants to local governments and Indian tribes to: (1) plan and assess practices for juvenile delinquency and criminal street gang activity prevention and intervention, and (2) implement PROMISE plans for coordinating and supporting the delivery of juvenile delinquency and gang prevention and intervention programs in local communities. It establishes a National Research Center for Proven Juvenile Justice Practices to provide research and information about practices related to juvenile delinquency and criminal street gang prevention or intervention. (CRS Summary, HR 1318, added October 22, 2013) Murphy Is A Director Of Miami Bridge, Which Helps Troubled Children And Truants: Murphy disclosed in 2013 that he is a director of Miami Bridge. This is likely Miami Bridge Youth and Family Services, Inc., an organization that offers two emergency youth shelters, non-residential family crisis intervention counseling, and truancy diversion services. Its mission is “to promote positive youth development, and strengthen and support families to enable children to actualize their full potential to become productive community members.” (Murphy financial disclosure statement, September 4, 2013; miamibridge.org) TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 189 Keeping Guns In The Right Hands Co-Sponsored Bill To Expand Background Checks For Guns, Close Loopholes, Protect 2nd Amendment Murphy Co-Sponsored The Public Safety And Second Amendment Rights Protection Act Of 2013 To Improve The Background Check System While Preserving Second Amendment Rights: In June 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the bipartisan Public Safety And Second Amendment Rights Protection Act Of 2013, which amends the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act to reauthorize for FY2014-FY2017 the grant program for improvements to the criminal history record system. It would expand the existing background check system to cover all commercial firearm sales, including those at gun shows, over the internet or in classified ads. It would close a number of gun sale loopholes by requiring comprehensive and enforceable background checks on all commercial gun sales, with reasonable family and friend exceptions. Background checks would be conducted though a federally licensed dealer on potential gun buyers. Dealers would then retain the sales records the same way they currently do, and have done for the last 40 years. The legislation also would support the Second Amendment rights of lawful gun owners. It would provide reasonable exceptions to the background check requirement for firearm transfers between family, friends and hunting buddies. The bill also would explicitly bans the federal government from creating a registry and makes the misuse of firearm records a felony punishable by up to 15 years in prison. H.R. 1565 allows active military to buy firearms in their home states and the state in which they are stationed. It would allow gun owners to purchase firearms with a state concealed carry permit issued within the last five years in lieu of a background check because background checks are required to receive conceal carry permits in the first place. It would improve Florida law by requiring background checks for private-party gun sales in commercial settings, including at gun shows and on the internet. An estimated 99.3% of Florida residents live within 10 miles of a gun dealer. There are 2,392 licensed dealers in Florida, 3.2 times the number of post offices and 2.8 times the number of McDonald’s locations. Supporters include anti-gun-violence groups, school groups, police groups, and brick and mortar gun shop owners (for equal footing with independent gun show dealers). Opponents include the usual gun rights groups. The bill was co-sponsored by 182 Democrats and two Republicans (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 1565, added June 4, 2013) Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 Pledged To Work On Blocking Large Ammunition Purchases By People With Mental Disorders After Sandy Hook Tragedy, Murphy Pledged To Work To Keep People With Mental Disorders From Purchasing Large Amounts Of Ammunition: After 20 children and six adults were shot at a school in Connecticut by a young man reportedly suffering from Asperger’s syndrome, Murphy said he would work with Vice President Biden on gun laws to prevent those with mental disorders from purchasing large amounts of ammunition and 200-round magazine clips online. (The Stuart News, December 21, 2012) Called For Common Sense Gun Laws Murphy Advocated For “Common-Sense” Gun Laws: On an August 1, 2013 telephone town hall meeting with his constituents, Murphy advocated for “commonsense” gun laws. (Palm Beach Post, August 2, 2013) Caring For Disaster Victims And Preparing For Next Time Helped The Victims Of Hurricane Sandy Voted To Provide $51 Billion in Emergency Aid to Victims of Hurricane Sandy Murphy Voted For Rule To Consider Hurricane Sandy Funding Bill: In January 2013, Murphy voted for a bill that set the rule to consider another bill, HR 152, which made supplemental appropriations for the remainder of the fiscal year. The bill passed 367-52. (H Res 23, Vote #12, 01/15/13) Murphy Voted For $33.7 Billion In Hurricane Sandy Funding: In January 2013, Murphy voted for an amendment by Rep. Frelinghuysen to provide an additional $33.677 billion in funding for Hurricane Sandy recovery. The bill passed 228-192. (HR 152, Vote #22, 01/15/13) Murphy Voted For $51 Billion In Hurricane Sandy Aid And Recovery: In January 2013, Murphy voted for providing $51 billion in emergency aid to victims of Hurricane Sandy. The governors of New York and New Jersey previously requested $82 billion in aid to cover damage in their states. The aid would be directed to those victims whose homes were damaged or destroyed, as well as to business owners who suffered heavy losses. The package would also pay for repairing transit systems, fixing bridges and tunnels, reimbursing local governments for emergency spending, and replenishing shorelines. (New York Times, 1/28/13) The bill passed 241-180 and became law by the end of the month. (HR 152, Vote #23, 1/15/13) TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 191 Murphy Voted Not To Offset Sandy Relief Funds With Cuts To Military: In January 2013, Murphy voted against an amendment sponsored by Congressman Mick Mulvaney that would require a 1.63 percent cut to all discretionary spending to offset the original $17 billion Hurricane Sandy relief bill. Republican Congressman Bill Young, chairman of the Appropriations Defense subcommittee, said he opposed the amendment because it would cut military pay. Politico reported that amendment would include cuts to the Pentagon’s budget. (The Hill, 1/15/13; Politico, 2/05/13) The amendment failed, 162-258. (HR 152, Vote #14, 1/15/13) Voted For Funds To Cover Insurance Claims Of Victims Of Hurricane Sandy Murphy Voted For $9.7 Billion For Hurricane Sandy Flood Insurance Claims: In January 2013, Murphy voted for providing $9.7 billion in assistance to victims of Hurricane Sandy. The funds would be the first part of a larger aid package sought by affected states. The bill would give the National Flood Insurance Program the authority to borrow $9.7 million to cover insurance claims filed by those whose homes were damaged or destroyed by the storm. FEMA previously notified Congress that it would be unable to cover all of the claims. (New York Times, 1/04/13) All votes against the aid came from House Republicans. The bill passed, 354-67. (HR 41, Vote #7, 1/04/13) Preparing For Future Disasters Co-Sponsored Legislation To Improve Resilience Against Disasters Murphy Co-Sponsored The Strengthening The Resiliency Of Our Nation On The Ground Act To Coordinate And Improve The Nation’s Disaster Response Capability: In June 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Strengthening The Resiliency Of Our Nation On The Ground Act, which requires the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy to establish and chair an interagency working group with cabinetlevel representation from all relevant federal agencies in order to: (1) provide a strategic vision of extreme weather resilience; (2) conduct a gap and overlap analysis of current and planned federal activities related to achieving short- and long-term resilience to extreme weather and its impacts on the United States, such as flooding and drought; and (3) develop a National Extreme Weather Resilience Action Plan. (CRS Summary, CoSponsorship memo for HR 2322, added June 11, 2013) Voted For Pandemic And Disaster Preparedness Funding Murphy Voted To Strengthen Preparedness For Pandemics: In 2013, Murphy voted for the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Reauthorization Act. The bill would strengthen national preparedness and response for public health emergencies, eliminate bureaucratic inefficiencies and accelerate the stockpiling of vaccines. The bill passed, 370-28, and was signed into law. (HR 307, Vote #56, 3/04/13) Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 Murphy Offered Amendment To Add $25 Million for Disaster Preparedness and Anti-Terrorism Efforts: In 2013, Murphy offered an amendment to increase by $25 million the funding provided to FEMA for disaster preparedness and anti-terrorism efforts in the Fiscal 2014 Homeland Security Appropriations bill. The amendment was fully paid for by shifting funding from administrative operations. The $25 million would fund activities that included state, local, and tribal emergency response training and a pre-disaster mitigation grant program. “Natural disasters impact all Americans, as do acts of terrorism. These are two areas that should never get caught up in partisan bickering. We must stand united to prevent future tragedies caused by both natural disasters and acts of terrorism, which know no party affiliation,” said Murphy of the amendment. (Rep. Patrick Murphy Floor Statement, 6/06/13) The motion was rejected 196-226. (H Res 2217, Vote #210, 6/06/13) Miscellaneous Puerto Rico Co-Sponsored A Bill To Authorize A Yes/No Ratification Vote On Puerto Rican Statehood Murphy Co-Sponsored The Puerto Rico Status Resolution Act: In June 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Puerto Rico Status Resolution Act, which would authorize a “Yes” or “No” ratification vote on whether Puerto Rico should be admitted as a state of the United States. Specifically it authorizes the State Elections Commission of Puerto Rico to provide for a ratification vote on the admission of Puerto Rico as a state of the United States on an equal footing with the several states in all respects. It requires (if a majority of votes cast in the ratification vote are for the admission of Puerto Rico as a state): (1) the President to submit to Congress legislation to admit Puerto Rico as a state, and (2) Congress to act, through legislation, to admit Puerto Rico as a state. The 18th District has between 13,000 and 17,000 Puerto Ricans. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 2000, added June 3, 2013) Co-Sponsored A Bill To Award Congressional Gold Medal To Puerto Rican Army Regiment Murphy Co-Sponsored A Bill To Award A Congressional Gold Medal To The 65th Infantry Regiment, Known As The Borinqueneers: In July 2013, Murphy cosponsored a bill to award a Congressional gold medal to the 65th infantry regiment, a Puerto Rican regiment known as the Borinqueneers, who fought for and defended America in WWI, WWII, and the Korean War and accomplished heroic feats even while facing discrimination and segregation. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 1726, added July 30, 2013) TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 193 Other Commemoration Co-Sponsored A Bill To Present A Congressional Medal For Sally Ride Murphy Co-Sponsored The Sally K. Ride Congressional Gold Medal Act Of 2013 To Honor And Commemorate The First American Woman In Space: In July 2013, Murphy co-sponsored a bill for the posthumous presentation of a congressional gold medal in commemoration of Sally K. Ride in recognition of her exemplary service as an astronaut, physicist, and science education advocate. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 2422, added July 8, 2013) Co-Sponsored A Bill To Mint A Boys Town Commemorative Coin Murphy Co-Sponsored The Boys Town Centennial Commemorative Coin Act: In November 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Boys Town Centennial Commemorative Coin Act, which directs the Secretary of the Treasury to mint and issue up to 50,000 $5 gold coins, 350,000 $1 silver coins, and 300,000 half dollar clad coins to commemorate the centennial of the founding of Father Flanagan's Boys Town. It requires the design of the coins to be emblematic of the 100 years of Boys Town, one of the largest nonprofit child care agencies in the United States. It permits issuance of such coins only between January 1, 2017, and December 31, 2018. (CRS Summary, HR 2866, added November 12, 2013) Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 3. Political Vulnerabilities This section contains vulnerability themes assembled from content stemming from multiple sources – news articles, sponsored legislation, key votes, campaign finance, etc. The sponsored legislation and key vote content here is duplicative of much of the content in the two standalone reference sections on those topics. Here, the negatives from those sections arranged by prioritized communication theme and are joined by content from other sources, whereas there they are arranged in alphabetical subject categories with no content from other sources. Some content appears in multiple theme sections when it involves multiple topics. See also the section on Murphy’s 2003 arrest in the Campaign 2012 section of the Background chapter of this document for case detail and the attacks from the 2012 campaign that were based on it. The campaign has survived these attacks once and will be aware of how to respond to them if they should be recycled in 2014. ***NOTE: To prepare the campaign to receive and respond to negative attacks from opponents, this section frames potential attacks against Rep. Murphy in the style and language that an opponent might use, whether from the left or the right. Its tone is deliberately negative and it takes all opportunities for negative interpretation of facts, some of which are framed differently as positives in the accomplishments section. The arguments expressed here do not reflect the views or opinions of True Stories Research.*** A Tax & Spend, Big Government, Obama/Pelosi Liberal In The Pocket Of The Democratic Party And Liberal PACs Allied With Obama, Pelosi, And Big Name Liberals Murphy And Obama Stumped For Each Other On The Campaign Trail   President Obama Said He Needed Murphy In Washington In Order To Continue His Agenda: At a February 23, 2012 visit to a Miami fundraiser, Obama said that in order for him to continue with his agenda, “we're going to need strong partners in Congress. You are going to have to send back Bill Nelson, you're going to have to elect Mr. Murphy.” (Sun-Sentinel, February 24, 2012) Murphy Stumped For Obama And Criticized Romney’s 47% Comments At A Biden Event: At a Joe Biden speaking event in Fort Pierce in October 2012, Murphy warmed up the audience by criticizing Romney's “47 percent” remarks. “Mitt Romney has made clear that the everyday American is not his concern," he told the crowd. "He told his millionaire donors that he doesn't care about 47 percent of Americans… We deserve a president and vice president who have our back." (Palm Beach Post, October 20, 2012) TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 195 A Favorite Of Nancy Pelosi   Murphy Voted For Pelosi For House Speaker: In January 2013, Murphy voted for Nancy Pelosi for House Speaker, even though not all Democrats did. (Tampa Bay Times, July 4, 2013) On Nancy Pelosi’s Payroll: Nancy Pelosi’s campaign has so far contributed a total of $4,000 to Murphy’s campaign as of the end of the third quarter of 2013, and her PAC, PAC to the Future has given an additional $10,000 for a total of $14,000. (fec.gov, accessed November 2013) Supported And Assisted By Other Big Name Liberals   Bill Clinton Raised Money For Murphy: On September 12, 2012, former President Bill Clinton visited West Palm Beach to help raise money for Murphy. Former Florida Governor Charlie Crist also attended. (Palm Beach Post, September 23, 2012; Palm Beach Post, September 13, 2012) Ultraliberal John Lewis Raised Money For Murphy: Rep. John Lewis (D-GA) sent a fundraising email in 2012 on Murphy’s behalf. He wrote that there was a "deliberate and systematic effort on the part of Republican officials to prevent minorities, seniors, the young, and the poor from casting their ballots." Lewis is one of the most liberal members of Congress, sponsoring some of the most liberal legislation. (CNN Wire, October 4, 2012; govtrack.us sponsorship analysis, accessed Nov 17, 2013) Bought And Paid For With Party And Liberal PAC Money Democratic Super PAC Bought Murphy’s Victory With Millions Of Dollars In Ads, More Money Than They Spent On Any Other Democrat In The Country; Murphy Then Shilled For Them In A Promotional Video: In Murphy’s 2012 race, House Majority PAC, a Democratic super PAC, spent $2.4 million on ads against Allen West, making Murphy their top beneficiary. Only weeks after being sworn in Murphy appeared in a testimonial video for the PAC. “The thing about the House Majority PAC is, they know what it takes. They’re smarter, more efficient. Their ads on stem-cell research made a big difference in my campaign,” Murphy said in the video. Murphy had lambasted super PACS and the influence of big money in campaigns during his race, but was happy to benefit from their millions nonetheless, and to return the favor after he won. “The fact is that super PACs do exist, they’re there and they helped me out. The least I can do is thank them.” (Palm Beach Post, February 3, 2013) Liberal PACs And Other Groups Spent Millions On Ads To Hand Murphy The 2012 Election… House Majority PAC, a Democratic super PAC, spent $2.4 million on ads against Allen West, making Murphy their top beneficiary nationwide. His own father gave $300,000 to House Majority. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee also bought an ad that attacked West. At least three other groups provided manpower Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 to help the campaign take on West: Stand Up Florida, which is financed by the Service Employees International Union; Credo Super PAC, which set up an office in Palm Beach Gardens; and the George Soros-backed American Bridge 21st Century, which deployed a tracker to film West at his campaign events. (Palm Beach Post, September 23, 2012; Palm Beach Post, February 3, 2013) Murphy Among 26 Incumbents Receiving 2014 DCCC Priority Support: In March 2013, Steve Israel named Murphy among a group of 26 incumbents who will receive 2014 fundraising support in a new Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee program called Frontline. Members of the group were made of freshman and Blue Dog Democrats facing re-election in 2014. As of September 30, 2013, the DCCC had already given him $15,000. (Congressional Quarterly News, March 5, 2013; fec.gov, accessed November 2013) Murphy On Payroll Of Democratic Party Boss Debbie Wasserman Schultz’s: Democratic National Convention chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz’s PAC, Democrats Win Seats, has contributed a total of $5,000 to Murphy’s campaign as of the end of the third quarter of 2013. (fec.gov, accessed November 2013) Murphy On Payroll Of Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer: Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer’s campaign, has contributed a total of $4,000 to Murphy’s campaign as of the end of the third quarter of 2013, and his PAC, AMERIPAC, has contributed $15,500 for a totally of $19,500. (fec.gov, accessed November 2013) Murphy On Payroll Of Democratic Caucus Vice Chair Joseph Crawley: JOE-PAC, the PAC of Democratic Caucus Vice-Chair Joseph Crawley (D-NY), has contributed a total of $17,500 to Murphy’s campaign as of the end of the third quarter of 2013. (fec.gov, accessed November 2013) Murphy On Payroll Of Democratic Budget Author Chris van Hollen: The Victory Now PAC, affiliated with Chris van Hollen (D-MD), author of the House Democrats’ 2013 alternative budget proposal with its $1 trillion in new tax revenue, has contributed $3,000 to Murphy’s campaign as of the end of the third quarter of 2013. (fec.gov, accessed November 2013) A Classic Big Spender Sounded Good On The Campaign Trail   Ad: Murphy Said That His CPA Credentials Would Help Washington Get Spending Under Control: In 2012, Murphy ran a television ad in which he touted his credentials as a CPA as a reason to send him to Congress, since spending was out of control. “We need a few more people in Congress who can count, and a few less who divide,” he said. (Murphy ad, “CPA,” 9/4/2012) TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 197 …But Would Have Voted For Obama’s Stimulus   Murphy Would Have Voted For 2009 Stimulus: During his 2012 campaign, Murphy said he would have voted for the 2009 stimulus if he had been in Congress then. He was criticized for the position by a Super PAC attack ad that focused on one of the funded scientific research projects in the stimulus bill that studied ants. (Palm Beach Post, September 23, 2012; The Herald, September 19, 2012) Called For Tax Hikes To Fund Big Spending   Candidate Murphy Called For Tax Hikes To Clinton-Era Levels: At an October 2012 debate, Murphy said that he favored keeping the Bush tax cuts for the middle class but supported millionaires and billionaires paying more taxes than they do now, such as what they paid under President Clinton before the Bush tax cuts. (TC Palm, October 4, 2012) Voted To Keep Raising The Debt Limit Voted To Automatically Raise The Debt Limit To Accommodate More Spending: In January 2013, Murphy voted to suspend the debt limit through May 18, 2013, and then automatically increase the debt limit to accommodate the additional debt accumulated through that date. The bill passed, 285-44. (CQ Votes, 1/23/13; HR 325, Vote # 30, 1/23/13) Voted For Nearly $1 Trillion Farm Bill Murphy Voted For $939 Billion 2013 Farm Bill: In June 2013, Murphy voted with Republicans and against the great majority of Democrats for the final version of the Farm Bill, which would have authorized $939 billion in funding for federal farm and food assistance programs through FY 2018. The bill, “eliminated the $5 billion-a-year subsidies paid to farmers and landowners whether they plant crops or not. The billions of dollars saved would be directed into the $9 billion [subsidized] crop insurance program, and new subsidies would be created for peanut, cotton and rice farmers. The bill adds money to support fruit and vegetable growers, and it restores insurance programs for livestock producers. The bill failed 195-234. (H.R. 1947, Vote #286, 6/20/13; CQ Floor Votes, 6/20/13; New York Times, 6/21/13) Farm Bill “Increases Subsidies For The Largest And Most Successful Farm Businesses”: Scott Faber, vice president of government affairs at the Environmental Working Group, said of the failed Farm Bill, “The full House was right to reject a bloated farm bill that increases subsidies for the largest and most successful farm businesses, while needlessly cutting programs designed to help feed the hungry and protect the environment — by $20 billion and $5 billion, respectively.” (New York Times, June 21, 2013) Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 Voted $638 Billion Defense Authorization Bill That Ignored The Sequester Murphy Voted For The $638 Billion Defense Appropriations Bill: In 2013, Murphy voted to authorize $638.4 billion for 2014 defense appropriations, including $85.8 billion for war costs, which exceeded the spending cap set under sequestration. The bill also included $99.6 billion for procurement and $136.1 billion for military personnel. Congressional Quarterly reported that, in passing the defense authorization measure, Congress “flout[ed] a spending cap set under sequestration.” (CQ Roll Call, 6/14/13) The bill passed 315-108. (HR 1960, Vote #244, 6/14/13) A Champion Of Big Liberal Entitlements And Handouts Co-Sponsored Bills To Add Even More Costly Benefits To Medicare Murphy Co-Sponsored The Health Outcomes, Planning, And Education (HOPE) For Alzheimer's Act To Add A Medicare Benefit For An Alzheimer’s Evaluation And Planning Services: In July 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Health Outcomes, Planning, And Education (HOPE) For Alzheimer's Act, which would add a Medicare benefit for an Alzheimer’s diagnostic evaluation. Additionally, if the beneficiary is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, the bill would cover care planning services including assistance understanding the diagnosis as well as the options for ongoing treatment, services, and supports, and information about how to obtain such treatments, services, and supports. Care planning services would address other co-morbid chronic conditions. Individuals facing a diagnosis and family members facing a diagnosis of a loved one are forced to begin considering end of life, long-term care, and treatment options. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 1507, added July 29, 2013) Murphy Co-Sponsored The Improving Access To Medicare Coverage Act So That Medicare Patients Who Spend Three Days In The Hospital Can Once Again Be Classified As Inpatient And Get The Medicare Benefit Of Post-Acute Care In A Skilled Nursing Facility: Medicare patients who spend three days in a hospital under the inpatient classification qualify for a post-acute stay in a skilled nursing facility. Recently, hospitals have been attempting to lower costs by reclassifying certain patients under outpatient observation status. They are still staying in the hospital. They are just no longer “inpatient”. Medicare beneficiaries under this status do not qualify for the Skilled Nursing Facility benefit. Murphy co-sponsored the Improving Access To Medicare Coverage Act, which would count days in outpatient observation status as inpatient for purposes of qualifying for post-acute care in skilled nursing facilities under Medicare. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 1179, added July 26, 2013) TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 199 Co-Sponsored Bill To Omit Food Stamps From Deficit Reduction Considerations Murphy Co-Sponsored A Resolution That Funding For Food Stamps Should Not Be Cut: In June 2013, Murphy co-sponsored a resolution that expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that in this Congress the Committee on Agriculture should not propose any reduction in the availability or amount of benefits under the supplemental nutrition assistance program (SNAP) and that the House should reject any proposed legislation that seeks to do so. (CRS Summary, H Res 90, added June 28, 2013) Voted Against A Work Requirement For Food Stamps And Not To Cut Funding Murphy Voted Against A Food Stamp Work Requirement And A Funding Cut: In June 2013 Murphy voted against an amendment to cut $31 billion from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and block grant spending to the states. The bill would have rolled back the state exemption option and made it mandatory for each state to adopt stiffer work requirements to receive food aid. (Kansas Health Institute, 7/08/13) The amendment failed 175-250. (HR 1947, Vote #283, 6/20/13) Murphy Voted Against Food Stamp Work Requirement Amendment To The Farm Bill: In June 2013, Murphy voted against an amendment to the Farm Bill that would let states launch pilot programs requiring that food stamp recipients work or show they are looking for work. (Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, 7/09/13) The amendment passed, 227-198. (HR 1947, Vote #248, 6/20/13) Voted Not To Eliminate Food Stamps Murphy Voted Against Version Of The Farm Bill That Eliminated Funding For Food Stamps: In July 2013, Murphy voted with all Democrats against HR 2642, which was identical to HR 1947, the Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act, or “farm bill” with two exceptions. HR 2642 removed all funding for nutrition programs such as the food stamp program and repealed a section of “permanent law” that has required the farm bill to be passed or extended since 1949. The bill passed the House 216-208. (The Senate then amended the bill by replacing its text with the text of S 954, the Senate farm bill. The House further amended this bill by replacing the text of S 954 with the text of HR 2642 and added to the bill the text of HR 3102, the House nutrition bill that cut $39 billion from the food stamp program.). Murphy had previously voted for HR 1947, which did not eliminate food stamp funding, but would cut it by nearly $40 million over the following decade. (HR 2642, Vote #353, 07/11/13; thisweekincongress.com) Voted To Keep Food Stamps Funded Murphy Voted To Restore Food Stamp Cuts: In 2013, Murphy voted in favor of an amendment to restore $20.5 billion in Supplemental Nutrition and Assistance Program (SNAP) funding to the House Farm Bill by offsetting the Farm Risk Management Election Program and the Supplemental Coverage Option. (MSNBC, 6/20/13) The amendment, proposed by Rep. Jim McGovern, failed 188-234. (HR 1947, Vote #256, 6/19/13) Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 Murphy Voted Not To Cut Food Stamps By $39 Billion Over 10 Years: In September 2013, Murphy voted against Republicans and with all Democrats against the Nutrition Reform and Work Opportunity Act, a bill that would cut $39 billion in funding from the food stamp program (SNAP) over 10 years. The Congressional Budget Office estimated that if the bill became law, up to 3.8 million people would lose food stamp benefits in 2014. “Cutting the investment is a full assault on the health and economic security of millions of families,” said Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA). The bill passed 217-210. (HR 3102, Vote #476, 09/19/13; The Hill, September 19, 2013) A Fan Of Heavy-Handed Government Co-Sponsored Bill To Block Government Agencies From Political Targeting Murphy Would Not Return Campaign Contribution From IRS Employee Union: In May 2013, it was revealed that the IRS had been targeting conservative groups. The National Republican Congressional Committee called on Murphy to return $3,000 from the union that represents IRS workers. Murphy’s office rejected the idea. (Palm Beach Post, May 15 and 20, 2013; Press Journal, May 22, 2013) Voted To Let The Government Continue And Increase Spying On Americans Murphy Voted To Preserve The Government’s Authority To Collect The Phone Records Of Every American Even Though They Are Not Under Suspicion Or Investigation: In July 2013, Murphy voted against the Amash amendment to the Department of Defense appropriations bill that would have ended the government’s ability to collect telephone metadata on any person that was not the subject of an investigation authorized by the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court. The amendment was offered in response to the Director of National Intelligence’s admission that the government collects, without suspicion, the phone records of every single American in the United States. The amendment would have limited the government’s authority so that it could only collect the records of people who were under investigation pursuant to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. Rep. Amash (R-MI) asked the members of Congress, “We are here to answer one question for the people we represent: Do we oppose the suspicionless collection of every American's phone records?” The amendment failed 205-217. (HR 2397, Vote #412, 07/24/13) Voted To Give Executive Branch Free Rein To Regulate At Will Murphy Voted Against Giving The Department Of Energy The Power To Block EPA Billion Dollar Rules: On August 1, 2013, Murphy voted against the Energy Consumers Relief Act, a bill that would give the Department of Energy the power to block or delay proposed Environmental Protection Administration rules that would cost more than $1 billion or cause other significant adverse effects to the economy. The bill passed 232-181. (HR 1582, Vote #432, August 1, 2013; The Stuart News/Port St. Lucie News, August 4, 2013; House Energy & Commerce Committee Fact Sheet for HR 1582, April 17, 2013) TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 201 Murphy Voted Against The “Regulations From The Executive In Need Of Scrutiny” (REINS) Act, Which Would Require Congressional Approval For Any Major Federal Regulation: In August 2013, Murphy voted against The Regulations from the Executive In Need of Scrutiny (REINS) Act, which would require congressional approval for any major federal regulation, where “major” was defined as having a total impact of at least $100 million. Bloomberg’s analysis stated, “The bill would allow a single chamber to block rules, including those to enforce laws, such as anticipated regulations from the Environmental Protection Agency on pollution controls and from the Securities and Exchange Commission and other regulators to implement the DoddFrank financial regulatory law. It would require agencies to submit to Congress a costbenefit analysis of every rule, major or non-major, before the rules could take effect.” The bill passed 232-183, but had not emerged from Senate committee as of late November 2013. (HR 367, H.Amdt.448, August 1, 2013; HR 367, Vote #437 and Vote #445, August 2, th 2013; Congressional Record, 113 Congress, page H5317; bgov.com) Co-Sponsored Democratic Gun Control Bill Murphy Co-Sponsored The Public Safety And Second Amendment Rights Protection Act Of 2013 To Increase Background Checks: In June 2013, Murphy cosponsored the Public Safety And Second Amendment Rights Protection Act Of 2013, which amends the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act to reauthorize for FY2014FY2017 the grant program for expansion of the background system. It would expand the existing background check system to cover all commercial firearm sales, including those at gun shows, over the internet or in classified ads. It would require background checks on all commercial gun sales. Background checks would be conducted though a federally licensed dealer on potential gun buyers. It would affect Florida law by requiring background checks for private-party gun sales in commercial settings, including at gun shows and on the internet. The bill was co-sponsored by 182 Democrats and two Republicans. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 1565, added June 4, 2013) Bipartisan Lip Service Talked Bipartisanship, But Toed The Line For Core Democratic Issues Murphy Said He Would Not Compromise On Big Ticket Democratic Issues: In May 2013 Murphy noted the importance of bipartisanship at the St. Lucie Democratic Party dinner, but he made clear he would not compromise on Medicare, Social Security, the environment, or the Defense of Marriage Act. (Stuart News, May 19, 2013) Bipartisan Except When It Counts Murphy’s Bipartisanship Does Not Extend Beyond Safe Votes: Murphy’s bipartisan refrain has not convinced his colleagues on the other side of the aisle of his bona fides. Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 "He has voted a couple of times with the Republicans, but they were on soft votes," said St. Lucie County GOP Chairman Bill Paterson. "They have not been bellwether votes," agreed U.S. Rep. Tom Rooney from the neighboring 16th District. (Palm Beach Post, April 8, 2013) Candidate Murphy Called Paul Ryan’s Plan To Make Medicare Work And Reduce The Deficit “The End Of Medicare As We Know It”: At an October 2012 debate, Murphy’s opponent Allen West said he supported Rep. Paul Ryan’s plan to overhaul Medicare for recipients 55 and younger. Murphy said that Ryan’s overhaul would be the end of Medicare as we know it. (TC Palm, October 4, 2012) Murphy Voted Not To Repeal Obamacare: On May 16, 2013, Murphy had a chance to join Republicans in voting to repeal Obamacare but instead voted with Democrats not to repeal. The bill passed anyway 229-195 but was not (Washington Times Blog, July 8, 2013; HR 45, Vote #154, 05/16/13) Murphy Voted Not To Overturn Obamacare By Blocking The IRS From Enforcing The Law: In August 2013, Murphy voted against all Republicans and with all but four Democrats against HR 2009, attempt to effectively repeal Obamacare. The Keep the IRS Off Your Health Care Act of 2013 would have prohibited the IRS from enforcing the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act or the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010. Bloomberg Government analysis stated that “The IRS plays a lead role in the law because many of its provisions were additions to the Internal Revenue Code, including the individual and employer mandates and the tax credits intended to help individuals afford coverage through the health exchanges being established under the law.” The bill passed the House 232-185. (HR 2009, Vote #447, August 2, 2013; bgov.com; The Stuart News/Port St. Lucie News, August 4, 2013) Candidate Murphy Supported Democratic Stance Of Going Bankrupt Over Medicare: In an October 2012 debate, Murphy supported the Democratic position to leave Medicare largely untouched. (The Stuart News, October 21, 2012) Candidate Murphy Said He Would Keep Spending On Medicare At Full Clip: In 2012, Murphy took several questionnaires in which he stated his plans and positions on different aspects of Medicare, all of which would protect the program from privatization, funding cuts, benefit cuts, eligibility changes, and other major changes: • opposed privatizing Medicare and converting it to a voucher program • opposed cuts in funding for Medicaid • opposed any changes in Social Security or Medicare that would reduce benefits or retirement income • opposed raising the age in which retirees may collect Social Security or Medicare benefits • supported raising the cap on the amount of taxable income for Social Security and Medicare TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 203 • • opposed means testing for Social Security and Medicare benefits supported the creation of a Medicare-operated prescription drug negotiation plan (National Committee to Protect Social Security and Medicare Candidate Questionnaire 2012; United Steel Workers Candidate Questionnaire 2012) Murphy Voted Against Opening 50% Of The Coast To Offshore Drilling: In 2013, Murphy voted against a bill that would direct the Interior secretary to develop a five-year offshore leasing plan that would make at least 50 percent of the unleased coastal areas with the most potential for energy production available for oil and gas exploration and development. Under the bill, drilling would be allowed off the coasts of California, South Carolina and Virginia. It also would require the Interior secretary to prepare a multi-sale environmental impact statement in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act for all lease sales authorized by the bill. As amended it would require that claims arising from projects covered by the bill be filed within 60 days and resolved within six months. (CQ Votes, 6/28/13) The bill passed, 235-186. (HR 2231, Vote #304, 6/26/13) Murphy Voted Against Giving The Department Of Energy The Power To Block EPA Billion Dollar Rules: On August 1, 2013, Murphy voted against the Energy Consumers Relief Act, a bill that would give the Department of Energy the power to block or delay proposed Environmental Protection Administration rules that would cost more than $1 billion or cause other significant adverse effects to the economy. The bill passed 232-181. (HR 1582, Vote #432, August 1, 2013; The Stuart News/Port St. Lucie News, August 4, 2013; House Energy & Commerce Committee Fact Sheet for HR 1582, April 17, 2013) Homesick For Republicans? Rumor: Murphy Discussed Rejoining Republican Party: The Florida political blog, The Shark Tank, reported in July 2013 that Murphy had met with Republicans to discuss a party switch. “According to a source very close to the Republican Congressional leadership, Speaker of the House of Representatives John Boehner granted Patrick Murphy’s request to a private meeting to discuss Murphy’s possible defecting to the Republican Party. GOP leadership passed on Murphy’s offer, according to the source.” (shark-tank.net, July 15, 2013) Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 A Carpetbagger Who Had An Election Bought For Him From The Outside Murphy Is A Carpetbagger: Murphy moved from Broward County to Palm Beach County just to run against Allen West for the 18th District seat, defeating primary opponents who were actually based in the area. (Stuart News/Port St. Lucie News, August 16, 2012) Murphy’s Wealthy Father Bought Him An Ad Campaign: Thomas P. Murphy Jr., Murphy's father and Coastal Construction Group CEO, gave $250,000 to a super PAC called American Sunrise that ran an ad attacking Allen West in August 2012. American Sunrise got $250,000 of its initial $350,050 budget from Murphy’s father, and Murphy was the only candidate it supported at least as late as of the August primary. (Palm Beach Post, September 23, 2012 and August 11, 2012) Liberal PACs And Other Groups Spent Millions On Ads To Hand Murphy The 2012 Election… House Majority PAC, a Democratic super PAC, spent $2.4 million on ads against Allen West, making Murphy their top beneficiary nationwide. His own father gave $300,000 to House Majority. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee also bought an ad that attacked West. At least three other groups provided manpower to help the campaign take on West: Stand Up Florida, which is financed by the Service Employees International Union; Credo Super PAC, which set up an office in Palm Beach Gardens; and the George Soros-backed American Bridge 21st Century, which deployed a tracker to film West at his campaign events. (Palm Beach Post, September 23, 2012; Palm Beach Post, February 3, 2013) …And It’s Already Starting Again For 2014: In March 2013, Steve Israel named Murphy among a group of 26 incumbents who will receive 2014 fundraising support in a new Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee program called Frontline. As of September 30, 2013, the DCCC had already given him $15,000. (Congressional Quarterly News, March 5, 2013; fec.gov, accessed November 2013) Ineffective In Washington Murphy Has Gotten Nothing Done In Washington: After almost a year in Congress, Murphy has authored only six bills, and not one has made it to the House floor for a vote. He also authored three amendments, but all three were to bills that never became law. Of the 160 bills and resolutions he co-sponsored through November 15, 2013, only 13 passed the House, and only four of those went on to become law. Three of those were commemorative gestures (HR 324, 360, and 3302). The fourth (HR 258) prohibited trying to benefit from lying about getting combat medals. Murphy has not sponsored or co-sponsored any legislation that has helped the people or businesses of the 18th District. (Murphy sponsorship record, Congress.gov, accessed November 16, 2013) TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 205 Sold Out Main Street To Wall Street: Took Financial Industry Cash And Repeatedly Undermined Dodd-Frank Financial Reforms Intended To Prevent Another Collapse Took More Bank PAC Money Than Any Freshman Murphy Took The Most Bank PAC Money Of Any Democratic Freshman And Voted To Roll Back Some Of The Strictest Parts Of The Dodd-Frank Financial Regulations Put In Place After The Financial Meltdown: From his position on the powerful House Financial Services Committee in 2013, Murphy supported bills pushed by Wall Street banks to roll back some of the strictest provisions of the landmark DoddFrank financial regulations, which were put in place in 2010 to address some of the causes of the financial meltdown and global recession. As of August 2013, he had also accepted more banking industry PAC money than any other Democratic freshman, $53,500 (total updated to Sep. 30 below). Murphy’s spokesperson said that he had voted in the best interest of his constituents, not to please or woo campaign contributors. Regarding fundraising, the spokesperson agreed that the pressure to raise campaign funds was intense, and that “The system is what the system is,” noting also that Murphy had supported changing campaign finance rules. (New York Times, August 11, 2013) Murphy Accepted $135,000 From The Finance, Insurance, And Real Estate Sector In The First Three Quarters Of 2013: By September 30, 2013, Murphy accepted a total of $135,000 from PACs for corporations in the finance, insurance and real estate sector in the 2014 cycle. (fec.gov, accessed November 2013) Murphy Accepted $77,000 From Banks And Investment Companies In The First Three Quarters Of 2013: Murphy accepted a total of $77,000 from PACs for banks, lenders, and investment companies. (fec.gov, accessed November 2013) Voted Repeatedly To Undermine And Weaken Dodd-Frank Reforms Voted To Exempt Foreign Branches Of US Banks From Dodd-Frank Reforms; Took $25,000 From Bill Supporters In Financial Industry Murphy Voted To Effectively Allow Foreign Branches Of US Banks To Be Exempt From Dodd-Frank Financial Reforms Designed To Prevent Another Financial Catastrophe: Murphy Voted In June 2013, Murphy voted for the Swap Jurisdiction Certainty Act, a bill that would amend rules on international swaps transactions on the derivatives market. It would “require the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and the Securities and Exchange Commission to go through the formal rulemaking process, including allowing comment from the public, for any new regulations that could apply to foreign activity. Both commissions' rules would also need to be identical before they can be issued, and foreign institutions in the nine largest derivatives markets by notional Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 amount would not be subject to U.S. rules. Currently, foreign branches of U.S. institutions are not subject to the same rules as those in America.” Opponents such as Americans for Financial Reform, Public Citizen, And the Consumer Federation of America said that by exempting overseas branches of American banks from the financial regulations required by Dodd-Frank, it would allow those banks to shift their risky activities to their less regulated overseas subsidiaries, yet losses to overseas branches would still harm the US parent companies and put the American economy at the same kind of risk that caused the global financial meltdown of 20072008. Supporters claimed it would ensure a level playing field for institutions that work in the international financial market. The White House said that financial regulators were already working on ensuring the kind of certainty the bill sought and therefore that passing the bill “would be premature and disruptive to the current and ongoing implementation of the reforms.” (HR 1256, Vote #218, 06/12/13; opencongress.org, HR 1256 supporting and opposing organizations; Mother Jones, June 13, 2013; The Hill, June 11, 2013) Murphy Took At Least $25,000 From Known Supporters Of HR 1256: Between March and September 2013, Murphy took at least $25,000 from the PACs of banks and other financial companies and organizations that were known to have supported this bill and/or who lobbied on it: Campaign Contributions from HR 1256 Supporters Donor Amount American Council Of Life Insurers PAC $1,000 Bank Of America Political Action Committee $1,000 Bank Of America Political Action Committee $1,000 Bank Of America Political Action Committee $1,000 Citigroup Inc. PAC - Federal $2,000 Fifth Third Bancorp PAC $1,000 Investment Company Institute PAC $1,000 Investment Company Institute PAC $1,000 Investment Company Institute PAC $2,500 JP Morgan Chase & Co. Federal PAC $1,000 JP Morgan Chase & Co. Federal PAC $2,000 Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance PAC $2,500 Morgan Stanley PAC $1,000 Morgan Stanley PAC $1,000 Morgan Stanley PAC $1,000 Nextera Energy, Inc. PAC $1,000 Nextera Energy, Inc. PAC $4,000 Total $25,000 Date 09/30/13 08/02/13 08/02/13 04/28/13 06/27/13 03/27/13 04/23/13 06/01/13 07/29/13 06/28/13 06/28/13 06/02/13 06/30/13 06/19/13 06/09/13 03/20/13 09/30/13 (fec.gov, accessed November 2013; opensecrets.org, HR 1256 lobbying clients, accessed November 2013; opencongress.org, HR 1256 bill positions) TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 207 Murphy One Of Handful Of Democrats To Open Door To Dodd-Frank Dilution Murphy Voted To Consider Two Bills To Weaken Dodd-Frank Financial Reforms: In October 2013, Murphy was one of only 6 Democrats to vote with every Republican for a bill that would allow for the consideration of two bills (see immediately below) that would tweak financial reforms put in place by the Dodd-Frank bill. HR 992, the Swaps Regulatory Improvement Act, would “expand the ability of banks to use certain financial swaps to hedge risk.” HR 2374, the Retail Investor Protection Act, which Murphy cosponsored, would “delay pending regulations from the Department of Labor that would require certain financial institutions to meet fiduciary standards for retail investors.” The bill to consider the two other bills passed 230-188. (H Res 391, Vote #564, October 29, 2013; The Hill, October 29, 2013) Voted In Committee And On The House Floor For A Bill Written By Citigroup To Exempt Swaps From New Regulation; Took $30,000 From Bill Supporters In Financial Industry On The Financial Services Committee, Murphy Voted For A Bill Written By Citibank To Exempt Broad Swaths Of Swaps From Dodd-Frank Regulations: According to emails reviewed by the New York Times, HR 992, the Swaps Regulatory Improvement Act, which flew through Murphy’s House Financial Services Committee in May over the objections of the Treasury Department, was essentially written by Citigroup. The bill would exempt broad categories of trades in the swaps market from new regulation. Murphy voted for the bill in committee, which was adopted there 53-6. He later voted for the bill on the House floor, where it passed 292-122 (see immediately below). (New York Times DealBook, May 23, 2013; House Financial Services Committee, HR 992, vote tally on Motion to Adopt, May 7, 2013; HR 992, Vote #569, October 30, 2013; The Hill, October 29, 2013 and October 30, 2013) Murphy Voted To Modify Dodd-Frank To Allow Big Banks To Use More Financial Swaps To Hedge Risk And Leave Taxpayers On The Hook To Bail Them Out For Their Losses: In October 2013, Murphy voted with a large minority of Democrats and all but three Republicans for the Swaps Regulatory Improvement Act, a bill that would “expand the ability of banks to use certain financial swaps to hedge risk.” According to The Hill: In reaction to the 2008 financial meltdown, Congress included language in Section 716 of Dodd-Frank that required banks to move commodity, energy and other swaps into a non-bank entity. Banks can still hedge risk directly using interest rate and foreign exchange swaps, but the idea was to remove other risks from banks, many of which were ultimately bailed out by the government. Since then, however, members of both parties have said banks should have more options for hedging risk. They have also decided that the current Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 requirement forces banks to move swaps to entities that are not regulated by the government. "Section 716 requires financial institutions to push out almost all of their derivatives business into separate entities," said House Financial Services Committee Chairman Jeb Hensarling (R-Texas). "This not only increases transaction costs, which are ultimately paid by the consumers, it also makes our financial system less secure by forcing swap trading out of regulated institutions." […]Agriculture Committee ranking member Collin Peterson (D-Minn.) also opposed the bill on the floor. "This bill would effectively gut important financial reforms and put taxpayers potentially on the hook for big banks' risky behavior," Peterson said. "The provision is a modest measure designed to prevent the federal government for bailing out or subsidizing bank activity that is not related to the business of banking." Peterson also noted that under current law, banks can still perform about 90 percent of the swaps hedges they were able to perform before Dodd-Frank. "So banks can keep 90 percent in the bank," he said. "But apparently this isn't good enough for some of these big banks, which is why we're here today with H.R. 992." The bill passed 292-122. (HR 992, Vote #569, October 30, 2013; The Hill, October 29, 2013 and October 30, 2013) Murphy Took At Least $29,850 From Known Supporters Of HR 992: Between January and September 2013, Murphy took at least $29,850 from the PACs of banks and other financial companies and organizations that were known to have supported this bill and/or who lobbied on it: Campaign Contributions from HR 992 Supporters Donor Amount American Bankers Association PAC (BANKPAC) $3,000 American Bankers Association PAC (BANKPAC) $1,000 American Bankers Association PAC (BANKPAC) $1,000 American Bankers Association PAC (BANKPAC) $1,000 American Council Of Life Insurers PAC $1,000 Bank Of America Political Action Committee $1,000 Bank Of America Political Action Committee $1,000 Bank Of America Political Action Committee $1,000 Citigroup Inc. PAC - Federal $2,000 TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 Date 01/14/13 03/29/13 05/01/13 07/02/13 09/30/13 04/28/13 08/02/13 08/02/13 06/27/13 209 Fifth Third Bancorp PAC General Electric Company PAC (GEPAC) Honeywell International PAC JP Morgan Chase & Co. Federal PAC JP Morgan Chase & Co. Federal PAC Morgan Stanley PAC Morgan Stanley PAC Morgan Stanley PAC Nextera Energy, Inc. PAC Nextera Energy, Inc. PAC Total $1,000 $1,000 $4,850 $1,000 $2,000 $1,000 $1,000 $1,000 $1,000 $4,000 $29,850 03/27/13 03/26/13 06/26/13 06/28/13 06/28/13 06/09/13 06/19/13 06/30/13 03/20/13 09/30/13 (fec.gov, accessed November 2013; opensecrets.org, HR 992 lobbying clients, accessed November 2013; opencongress.org, HR 992 bill positions) Co-Sponsored, Voted In Committee, And Voted In The House To Exempt Brokers From Dodd-Frank Fiduciary Rules Intended To Safeguard Retirement Savings Murphy Amended A Bill In Committee That Would Prevent The SEC From Being Hindered As It Finalized Dodd-Frank Rules And Future Rules: At a June 19, 2013 hearing of the House Financial Services Committee, Murphy offered and won passage of an amendment to HR 2374, the Retail Investor Protection Act (see immediately below), a bill that would alter provisions of the Dodd-Frank financial reforms in regard to broker-dealers. His amendment removed language from the bill that would have required the SEC, before making any new rule, to conduct an assessment of the qualitative and quantitative costs and benefits of the rule; determine whether the benefits justified the costs; identify alternatives that were considered such as modifying an existing rule; ensure that the rule is written in plain English; and that it seeks to improve the results of regulatory requirements. Murphy argued that these were redundant regulations because the SEC already conducts cost-benefit analyses before issuing any rules. SEC Chairperson Mary Jo White had objected to the bill, ostensibly due to the language that Murphy’s amendment removed. She said the bill would hinder the SEC’s ability to finalize rules. Murphy voted to adopt and advance the bill from committee. The bill passed the committee 44-13. Murphy later voted with only 29 other Democrats for the full bill, which passed the House 254-166. (Lexology.com, June 24, 2013; HR 2374; House Financial Services Committee, Markup of HR 2374 and Murphy Amendment No. 3 to HR 2374, and Vote to Adopt HR 2374 in committee, June 19, 2013; Congressional Quarterly News, June 19, 2013; HR 2374, Vote #567, October 29, 2013) Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 Sponsored Legislation To Delay Expanding Definition Of “Fiduciary” To BrokerDealers, Endangering Americans’ Retirement Savings; Took $16,000 From Bill Supporters In Financial Industry Murphy Co-Sponsored The Retail Investor Protection Act To Delay Defining Broker-Dealers As Fiduciaries Under ERISA, Putting Retirement Savings At Risk: In September 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Retail Investor Protection Act, which would forbid the Department of Labor from finalizing a rule on who was to be defined as a fiduciary under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) until the SEC had issued its own rule on the topic in regard to the inclusion of brokers and dealers. The Dodd-Frank financial reforms authorized but did not require the SEC to extend the definition of fiduciary (currently applicable to investment advisers) to broker-dealers when they provide advice about securities to retail customers. This bill would also require the SEC, before it promulgated its own rule, to add the heavy requirement of determining whether retail investors are actually being harmed because broker-dealers are held to a different standard than financial advisers, determining whether holding broker-dealers to the fiduciary standard would limit retail investors’ access to personalized investment advice, and considering the differences in the registration, supervision, and examination requirements applicable to brokers, dealers, and investment advisers. Numerous advocates for consumers, financial advisers, and financial reform (e.g., AARP, AFL-CIO, Financial Planning Association, etc.) opposed the bill. The AARP argued that due to the shift from traditional pensions to 401(k) plans over the last several decades, more people are on their own when it comes to making investment decisions that will determine their retirement savings. That can get complicated, so many now turn to investment professionals for help. Yet despite that shift, the ERISA rules concerning fiduciaries, who are supposed to protect workers’ retirement savings from fraudulent or deceptive financial management by trustees or advisors, have not been updated since 1975. The result is that many people turn to investment professionals who are actually salesmen, and are regulated as such, but who market themselves as trusted financial advisors. Since they are not regulated as true financial advisors, as fiduciaries, they have no obligation to put their clients’ interests ahead of their own. They are free to recommend whatever their company is pushing, including investment products with high costs and poor performance. Yet their clients are under the illusion that they are getting advice that is in their best interest. Middle income Americans are typically neither wealthy nor financially savvy enough to be able to avoid or afford that kind of bad investment advice, and it can cost them thousands of dollars in retirement savings that they can’t afford to lose. Without the protection of fiduciary standards, their retirement savings are at risk. (CRS Summary, CoSponsorship memo for HR 2374, added September 9, 2013; AARP Congressional constituent letter template, September 26, 2013) TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 211 Murphy Broke With Democrats To Delay Dodd-Frank Financial Reforms That Would Place Tighter Fiduciary Standards On Investment Brokers Who Control Retirement Funds Worth $10.5 Trillion: In October 2013, Murphy was one of only 30 Democrats to vote with all but one Republican for the Retail Investor Protection Act, which would “delay pending regulations from the Department of Labor that would require certain financial institutions to meet fiduciary standards for retail investors.” He also co-sponsored the bill. “Currently, the Department of Labor is in the final stages of drafting a new definition of fiduciary standards for broker-dealers under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, known as ERISA,” said House Rules Committee Chairman Pete Sessions (R-Texas). “This new requirement would dramatically change a long-standing business model, and potentially diminish the ability of every day Americans to access quality investment advice.” According to David Dayen of The New Republic: The Labor Department proposal, known as the “fiduciary rule,” would change the ethical standards by which employer-based retirement products like 401(k)’s and IRAs are marketed and sold. The rule has not been updated since 1975, before 401(k)’s and IRAs even existed. The Labor Department wants to broaden the definition of a “fiduciary” to cover all financial advisers who offer individual investment advice for a fee. Under the rule, they would be legally required to work in the best interest of their clients. For example, a fiduciary would not be able to push investment products on customers in which they have a financial stake. The agency defines the goal of the proposal as “to ensure that potential conflicts of interest among advisers are not allowed to compromise the quality of investment advice that millions of American workers rely on, so they can retire with the dignity that they have worked hard to achieve.” The short version here is that when the country turned away from guaranteed pensions in the 1980s and started encouraging individual employees to gamble with their retirement nest eggs on the stock market, it also threw them into the arms of a predatory financial services industry. And it’s a big business; IRAs and 401(k) plans hold roughly $10.5 trillion in total assets. Dayen explains that it is common for financial advisers to “self deal” when offering advice. They receive large fees for the products they sell, totaling on average about two-thirds of the profits from the retirement investments, and they are not barred from advising clients to buy mutual funds from the adviser’s company, for which they receive a commission. This conflict of interest has been estimated to cost retirement investors $1 billion per month since the funds they are convinced to invest in by the advisers underperform better alternatives. Since the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) had not been updated since 1975, the Labor Department proposed a rule in 2010 in the wake of the financial crisis to stop these deceptive and harmful practices by broadening the definition of investment adviser to fit the modern retirement marketplace, characterized primarily by Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 401(k)s, in order to protect a major class of investors. HR 2374 was a tactic to delay the Labor Department’s rule until after the Securities and Exchange Commission completed its own rule on the topic, an agency with which Wall Street feels hit has more influence. The bill would also force the Labor Department to prove that retail investors are “systematically disadvantaged” under the current rules. According to Dayen, the purpose of that is to make it impossible to write any rule and thereby to prevent the financial services industry from losing tens of billions of dollars. The bill passed 254-166. (HR 2374, Vote #567, October 29, 2013; The Hill, October 29, 2013; New Republic, October 1, 2013) Murphy Took At Least $16,000 From Known Supporters Of HR 2374: Between January and September 2013, Murphy took at least $16,000 from the PACs of banks and other financial companies and organizations that were known to have supported this bill and/or who lobbied on it: Campaign Contributions from HR 2374 Supporters Donor Amount American Council Of Life Insurers PAC $1,000 American Institute Of CPAs PAC $3,000 American Institute Of CPAs PAC $2,000 Financial Services Roundtable PAC $1,000 Indep. Insur. Agents & Brokers Of America PAC $2,000 Investment Company Institute PAC $1,000 Investment Company Institute PAC $1,000 Investment Company Institute PAC $2,500 Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance PAC $2,500 Total $16,000 Date 09/30/13 03/01/13 03/29/13 04/28/13 07/31/13 04/23/13 06/01/13 07/29/13 06/02/13 (fec.gov, accessed November 2013; opensecrets.org, HR 2374 lobbying clients, accessed November 2013) Co-Sponsored Bill To Exempt Most Private Equity Firm Advisers From DoddFrank SEC Registration And Fiduciary Responsibility, Putting Investors And The Financial System At The Same Kind Of Risks As In The Financial Meltdown; Took $1,000 From Bill Supporters In Financial Industry Murphy Co-Sponsored The Small Business Capital Access and Job Preservation Act To Exempt Most Private Equity Firm Advisers From Modest Dodd-Frank Financial Reform Requirements That They Register With The SEC: In September 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Small Business Capital Access and Job Preservation Act, which would exempt most private equity firm advisers from SEC registration requirements. The bill would exempt advisers to certain private equity funds from the new registration requirements imposed by Title IV of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. Specifically, it would exempt from SEC TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 213 registration private equity fund advisers that have not borrowed and do not have outstanding a principal amount in excess of twice their funded capital commitments. Title IV of Dodd-Frank Act required all advisers to private funds with more than $150 million in assets, including private equity funds, to register with the SEC. According to Americans for Financial Reform, the bill would exempt nearly all private equity fund advisers from registration, and this exemption would have several negative consequences, “Investors would lose key protections provided by registration under the Investment Advisers Act. Regulators would lose critical information necessary to monitor systemic risks. Elements in the bill that require that heavily leveraged private equity funds would still be registered would not provide effective protection against any of these outcomes.” Registered advisers must file disclosure statements about business practices, fees, conflicts of interest, etc. Additionally, investment advisers have a fiduciary duty to their clients, meaning they must put their clients’ interests ahead of their own and avoid conflicts of interest. Without a registration requirement, clients would be entitled to none of this. Additionally, regulators would lose vital information to monitor systemic risk. The bill weakens the recordkeeping and reporting requirements in Dodd-Frank, which were put in place to better monitor risk and better protect investors than was possible before the financial collapse and its aftermath, when private equity firms were almost entirely unregulated. But the very business model of private equity firms, namely the leveraged buyout, usually financed with risky investments such as junk bonds, results in highlyleveraged companies that are much more vulnerable to default during economic downturns, which was one of the key problems of the late 2000s economic meltdown. This large risk then lies with investors who, along with the entire financial system, are who the Dodd-Frank reforms were put in place to protect. Private equity and small business investors supported the bill while advocates for consumers and financial reform opposed it. Murphy voted for the bill in committee. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 1105, added September 25, 2013; Americans for Financial Reform) Murphy Accepted $1,000 From Financial Services Roundtable, Which Supported This Bill: In April 2013, Murphy accepted a total of $1,000 from the PAC for the Financial Services Roundtable, which supported this bill. (fec.gov, accessed November 2013; opensecrets.org, HR 1105 lobbying clients, accessed November 2013) Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 Co-Sponsored Bill To Increase Size And Types Of Bank Holding Companies Exempt From Dodd-Frank Regulations Designed To Prevent Another Financial Collapse; Took $2,500 From Bill Supporters In Financial Industry Murphy Co-Sponsored A Bill To Exempt More Financial Institution Holding Companies From Dodd-Frank Financial Reforms And Other Protections Of Bank Safety And Soundness: In October 2013, Murphy co-sponsored a bill to allow more bank holding companies to be more highly leveraged and less capitalized and to exempt more financial institution holding companies from the kinds of safeguards that prevent banks from going under during periods of economic shock. Under the Federal Reserve Board’s Small Bank Holding Company Policy Statement, which facilitates the transfer of ownership of small community-based banks in a manner consistent with bank safety and soundness, small bank holding companies can still qualify for favorable treatment even if they have debt levels that are higher than what would be permitted for larger bank holding companies, as long as several conditions and restrictions are met. Currently small bank holding companies with assets of less than $500 million who meet the debt requirements and other restrictions receive favorable treatment under the Policy Statement. This bill would make savings & loan holding companies eligible under the Policy Statement and raise the threshold to $1 billion. The companies could not be engaged in any nonbanking activities involving significant leverage or have a significant amount of outstanding debt held by the general public. Additionally, the bill would add savings and loan companies to the exemption from the minimum leverage and risk-based capital requirements of the Dodd-Frank financial reforms, specifically Section 171, the Collins Amendment. The effect would be that more kinds of financial institution holding companies would be exempt from the safeguards of the Dodd-Frank financial reforms, and larger holding companies could carry higher amounts of debt. These protections and reforms were put in place to prevent catastrophes like the late-2000s financial collapse, which was due in large part to the subprime mortgage crisis, in which undercapitalized, over-leveraged banks and other mortgage issuers were unable to cover the massive defaults that resulted when the housing bubble burst. (CRS Summary, HR 3329, added October 23, 2013; Committee on Financial Services Memorandum on the November 14, 2013 Full Committee Markup, including HR 3329, November 8, 2013) Murphy Took $2,500 From A Community Banking Interest Group That Supported This Bill: On July 24, 2013, the Independent Community Bankers of America, which supported this bill, gave Murphy $2,500. (fec.gov, accessed November 2013; Independent Community Bankers of America letter to Reps. Jeb Hensarling and Maxine Waters, November 8, 2013) TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 215 Co-Sponsored Bill To Delay Or Derail New Capital Requirements Regulations For Banks; Took $23,000 From Bill Supporters In Financial Industry Murphy Co-Sponsored The Determination Of Appropriate Risk-Based Capital Requirements For Community Financial Institutions Act Of 2013 To Require Federal Banking Agencies To Do An Impact Study Before Implementing Any Rules From The Third Basel Accords On Bank Capital Adequacy And Market Liquidity Risk: In June 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Determination Of Appropriate Risk-Based Capital Requirements For Community Financial Institutions Act Of 2013, which directs the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (federal banking agencies) to conduct an empirical impact study before issuing a final rule in relation to proposed regulatory capital rules for the international Basel III agreement. The third Basel Accords were intended to improve banks’ ability to withstand shocks, such as the financial crisis in recent years, by strengthening capital requirements to increase liquidity and decrease leverage, improve risk management and governance, and increase banks’ transparency and disclosure. An international voluntary standard, it is not the same thing as the Dodd-Frank financial reforms, though the two have overlapping aims in parts, notably in this case in regard to capital requirements for banking institutions to guard against systemic risk. The bill was supported by banks and related entities. (CRS Summary, HR 2547, added June 28, 2013; Bank for International Settlements, Basel III overview; Who’sWhoLegal, Basel III v Dodd-Frank, January 2011) Murphy Took At Least $23,000 From Known Supporters Of HR 2547: Between January and July 2013, Murphy took at least $23,000 from the PACs of banks and other financial companies and organizations that were known to have supported this bill and/or who lobbied on it: Campaign Contributions from HR 2547 Supporters Donor Amount American Bankers Association PAC (BANKPAC) $1,000 American Bankers Association PAC (BANKPAC) $1,000 American Bankers Association PAC (BANKPAC) $1,000 American Bankers Association PAC (BANKPAC) $3,000 American Council Of Life Insurers PAC $1,000 Capital One Financial Corp. Assoc. Political Fund $1,000 Capital One Financial Corp. Assoc. Political Fund $1,000 Capital One Financial Corp. Assoc. Political Fund $1,000 Capital One Financial Corp. Assoc. Political Fund $2,500 Fifth Third Bancorp PAC $1,000 Independent Community Bankers Of America PAC $2,500 Date 07/02/13 05/01/13 03/29/13 01/14/13 09/30/13 07/29/13 05/18/13 03/16/13 07/24/13 03/27/13 07/24/13 Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 Regions Financial Corporation PAC Regions Financial Corporation PAC Regions Financial Corporation PAC Regions Financial Corporation PAC Total $500 $2,000 $2,000 $2,500 $23,000 01/15/13 06/30/13 05/22/13 03/29/13 (fec.gov, accessed November 2013; opensecrets.org, HR 2547 lobbying clients, accessed November 2013; opencongress.org, HR 2547 bill positions) Introduced Legislation To Reduce New Capital Requirements Regulations For Small To Regional Banks And Financial; Took $11,500 From Bill Supporters In Financial Industry Murphy Introduced Legislation To Require Federal Agencies To Produce Assessments Of The Impact Of Any Basel III Risk-Based Capital Requirements Rules On Small to Regional Financial Institutions Before Implementing Them: In June 2013, Murphy introduced HR 2295, the Basel III Commonsense Approach for Small Entities Act or Basel III CASE Act. The bill directs the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, before issuing any final rule in relation to proposals they have issued for the International Basel III agreement on general riskbased capital requirements, to conduct an empirical study that includes: • A quantitative analysis of the rule's impact on the U.S. financial services sector, specifically community, mid-size, and regional financial institutions; and • A determination of the long-term impact of the rule, including changes to the current risk weight framework. It permits a financial institution to provide information voluntarily for the study upon agency request, but prohibits agencies from requiring such information. It requires the study to be made available to the public for notice and comment. The third Basel Accords were intended to improve banks’ ability to withstand shocks, such as the financial crisis in recent years, by strengthening capital requirements to increase liquidity and decrease leverage, improve risk management and governance, and increase banks’ transparency and disclosure. (congress.gov, HR 2295, June 6, 2013; Bank for International Settlements, Basel III overview) Murphy Took At Least $11,500 From Known Supporters Of HR 2295: Between January and September 2013, Murphy took at least $11,500 from the PACs of banks and other financial companies and organizations that were known to have lobbied on this bill: TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 217 Campaign Contributions from HR 2295 Supporters Donor Amount American Council Of Life Insurers PAC $1,000 Fifth Third Bancorp PAC $1,000 Independent Community Bankers Of America PAC $2,500 Regions Financial Corporation PAC $500 Regions Financial Corporation PAC $2,500 Regions Financial Corporation PAC $2,000 Regions Financial Corporation PAC $2,000 Total $11,500 Date 09/30/13 03/27/13 07/24/13 01/15/13 03/29/13 05/22/13 06/30/13 (fec.gov, accessed November 2013; opensecrets.org, HR 2295 lobbying clients, accessed November 2013) Co-Sponsored Legislation To Skirt Dodd-Frank To Allow Mortgages With Higher Points And Fees To Still Be “Qualified Mortgages”; Took $2,500 From Bill Supporters In Financial Industry Murphy Co-Sponsored The Mortgage Choice Act of 2013 To Allow Mortgages With Higher Expenses To Still Qualify As “Qualified Mortgages” Contrary To The Intent Of The Dodd-Frank Financial Reforms: In September 2013, Murphy joined 18 Republicans and 5 other Democrats to co-sponsor the Mortgage Choice Act of 2013. In general it would amend the Truth in Lending Act’s definitions of “points and fees” in connection with a mortgage transaction. It would amend the Act’s requirements for disclosure to a consumer of points and fees on a consumer credit transaction. It would also exclude from the computation of such points and fees any escrow for future payment of insurance. It also amends the definition of “points and fees” to exclude certain other mortgage-related expenses. According to the law and lobbying firm of McIntyre & Lemon PLLC, which specializes in consumer protection news of interest to the banking and insurance industries, and has clients in those industries, "Congressman Bill Huizenga introduced the Mortgage Choice Act of 2013, which would amend the Truth in Lending Act’s (TILA) definition of “points and fees” in connection with a mortgage transaction. Under the CFPB’s (Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's) QM (Qualified Mortgage) Rule, a mortgage loan cannot qualify as a QM loan if points and fees associated with the loan are in excess of 3 percent of the loan amount. Among other changes, Huizenga’s bill would exclude from the definition of “points and fees” the escrow for future payment of insurance (TILA currently excludes escrow for future payment of taxes). As such, any insurance amount that is escrowed would benefit from the carve-out." The “Qualified Mortgage Rule” is a new rule issued by the CFPB in January 2013 that aligns with the Ability-to-Repay rule contained in the Dodd-Frank financial reforms. Like Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 the Ability-to-Repay rule, the Qualified Mortgage Rule is intended to ensure that lenders do not issue, and borrowers do not take on, mortgages that they cannot afford to repay over the long term in order to avoid the conditions that led to the housing crisis and financial meltdown. The rule prohibits or limits certain high-risk products and features (e.g. balloon payments, terms longer than 30 years, points and fees above 3% of the loan amount, etc.) and requires documentation to verify a borrower’s ability to repay. In exchange, lenders that make QM loans receive a degree of legal protection against borrower lawsuits. HR 3211 does not address the definition of Qualified Mortgages, only the definition of and calculation of points and fees in general. However the above McIntyre & Lemon analysis appears to illustrate a downstream scenario that would be affected by changes to what is included in points and fees. If funds paid into escrow for future payment of insurance formerly would have been counted as part of the overall points and fees on a given transaction (points and fees which are limited to 3% under QM), but would no longer be counted if this law were to pass, then some mortgages that formerly would not have met the definition of Qualified Mortgage due to having overall points and fees above the allowable threshold would now meet the definition. In other words, since mortgage insurance typically amounts to one half of one percent of the total amount of the loan according to bankrate.com, the legislation would have an effect equivalent to raising the 3% threshold to 3.5%. Thus the legislation weakens the intent of the protections sought by the Dodd-Frank financial reforms. (CRS Summary, HR 3211, added September 28, 2013; McIntyre & Lemon PLLC legislative update on HR 3211, October 15, 2013; qualifiedmortgage.org; bankrate.com) Murphy Took $500 From The Mortgage Bankers Association, Which Supported This Bill: On April 7, 2013, the Mortgage Bankers Association PAC, which supported this bill, gave Murphy $500. (fec.gov, accessed November 2013; opensecrets.org HR 3211 lobbying clients) Murphy Took $1,000 From The National Association of Federal Credit Unions, Which Supported This Bill: On April 28, 2013, the National Association of Federal Credit Unions PAC, which supported this bill, gave Murphy $1,000. (fec.gov, accessed November 2013; opensecrets.org HR 3211 lobbying clients) Murphy Took $1,000 From The National Association of Realtors, Which Supported This Bill: On April 6, 2013, the National Association of Realtors PAC, which supported this bill, gave Murphy $1,000. (fec.gov, accessed November 2013; opensecrets.org HR 3211 lobbying clients) TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 219 Co-Sponsored Bill To Prevent Requirement For Mandatory Rotation And Forced Assignment Of Auditors For Large Publicly Held Companies; Took $44,000 From Bill Supporters In The Financial Industry Murphy Co-Sponsored The Audit Integrity And Job Protection Act To Prevent The Requirement That Auditors For Large Publicly Held Companies Rotate Or Be Specifically Assigned In Order To Prevent Compromised Objectivity: In June 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Audit Integrity And Job Protection Act, which amends the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (SOX) to deny the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board any authority to require that audits conducted for a particular issuer of securities in accordance with SOX standards be conducted by specific auditors, or that such audits be conducted for an issuer by different auditors on a rotating basis. This legislation was drafted in response to the PCAOB’s August 16, 2011, Concept Release on Auditor Independence and Audit Firm Rotation, which sought public comment on “whether mandatory auditor rotation would significantly enhance auditors’ objectivity and ability and willingness to resist management pressure.” The PCAOB said at the time that the average audit tenure at the top 100 public companies was 28 years. Regulators were concerned that auditors’ objectivity might be compromised if they feared their work might jeopardize those longstanding, lucrative relationships between their firms and the companies they audited. KPMG, for example, has been GE’s auditor for over 100 years. And In 2010, GE reported worldwide profits of $14.2 billion, $5.1 billion of it from US operations, yet owed no tax. In fact it claimed a $3.2 billion tax benefit. And as it turned out, KPMG had been “loaning” GE staff for a fee to help them prepare their taxes, which is illegal under SOX and prior regulations, offering a hint of whatever other mutually beneficial illegal arrangements the two parties might have had in place. Likewise PricewaterhouseCoopers somehow managed to miss the segregation of hundreds of millions of dollars of MF Global’s clients’ assets in 2011, which led to the eighth largest bankruptcy in US history five months after PricewaterhouseCoopers gave MF Global a clean audit opinion. Opponents of mandatory rotation argue that it would impose onerous costs on issuers and that only certain audit firms may have the subject-matter expertise to understand the business models of certain industries. Further, some opponents note that since only four audit firms are responsible for 98 percent of the market share of audits of public companies with revenue of more than $1 billion, that rotation between so few firms would serve little value. Groups such as banks and auditing associations supported this bill while groups such as the AFL-CIO, the Consumer Federation of America, and the California Public Employees Retirement System opposed it. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 1564, added June 25, 2013; opencongress.org, HR 1564; Journal of Accountancy, December 5, 2012; Forbes, July 9, 2013; New York Times, November 24, 2011; Bloomberg.com November 11, 2011) Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 Murphy And An Overwhelming Majority Voted For The Audit Integrity And Job Protection Act To Deny The PCAOB Authority To Require Auditor Rotation Or Assignment To Safeguard Audit Integrity Of Huge Public Corporations: In July 2013, Murphy voted for the Audit Integrity And Job Protection Act, which denies the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board any authority to require that audits conducted for a particular issuer of securities be conducted by specific auditors or that such audits be conducted for an issuer by different auditors on a rotating basis. The bill passed the house 321 to 62. “If an overwhelming bipartisan majority in the U.S. Congress decides to delve deep into the details of a corporate regulatory process and tell the rule-makers they can't do something, that overwhelming bipartisan majority is up to no good,” said Harvard Business Review’s Justin Fox on the matter. (HR 1564, Vote #306, July 8, 2013; Harvard Business Review, July 9, 2013) CBO: Bill Would Cost $1 Million To Implement: The CBO estimates that the bill would not affect direct spending or revenues, but that implementing HR 1564 would have a discretionary cost of about $1 million for the GAO to update a report completed in 2003 that reviewed the potential effects of mandatory rotation for auditing firms. (CBO Cost Estimate, HR 1564, July 3, 2013) Murphy Took At Least $43,950 From Known Supporters Of HR 1564: Between February and September 2013, Murphy took at least $43,950 from the PACs and associates of accounting and other financial companies and organizations that were known to have supported this bill and/or who lobbied on it: Campaign Contributions from Known HR 1564 Supporters Donor Amount American Council Of Life Insurers PAC $1,000 American Institute Of Certified Public Accountants PAC $3,000 American Institute Of Certified Public Accountants PAC $2,000 Deloitte Federal Political Action Committee $5,000 Deloitte Federal Political Action Committee $3,000 Deloitte Federal Political Action Committee $2,000 Deloitte LLP - COHEN, JERRY $2,600 Deloitte LLP - CURRY, JP $2,600 Deloitte LLP - MALVISI, JOHN P $250 Deloitte LLP - PHILLIPS, HENRY $500 Ernst & Young PAC $1,000 Ernst & Young PAC $2,500 Financial Services Roundtable PAC $1,000 Independent Community Bankers Of America PAC $2,500 Investment Company Institute PAC $1,000 Investment Company Institute PAC $1,000 Investment Company Institute PAC $2,500 TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 Date 09/30/13 03/01/13 03/29/13 07/22/13 03/16/13 02/25/13 06/11/13 06/06/13 06/11/13 06/06/13 06/21/13 03/01/13 04/28/13 07/24/13 04/23/13 06/01/13 07/29/13 221 KPMG Partners/Principals & Employees PAC National Asso Of Real Estate Investment Trusts PAC PricewaterhouseCoopers PAC PricewaterhouseCoopers PAC PricewaterhouseCoopers PAC PricewaterhouseCoopers PAC Total $2,000 $2,000 $2,000 $500 $1,500 $2,500 $43,950 03/01/13 07/24/13 09/10/13 07/31/13 07/24/13 03/13/13 (fec.gov, accessed November 2013; Independent Community Bankers of America letter to Reps. Jeb Hensarling and Maxine Waters, November 8, 2013; influenceexplorer.com, accessed November 2013; opensecrets.org, HR 1564 lobbying clients, accessed November 2013; opencongress.org, HR 1564 bill positions) Co-Sponsored Bill To Regulate Online Payday Lenders Separately From Brick And Mortar Ones; Took $12,500 From Payday Lenders Murphy Co-Sponsored The Consumer Credit Access, Innovation, And Modernization Act To Regulate Online Payday Lenders Separately From Brick And Mortar Payday Lenders: In July 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Consumer Credit Access, Innovation, And Modernization Act, which would move primary jurisdiction for regulating online payday lending from Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency under a new charter. Supporters of the bill want regulation to distinguish themselves from the bad apples – offshore online lenders. However under current law, many online lenders are already regulated at the state level, and all are subject to CFPB regulation like brick and mortar lenders. Storefront payday lenders oppose the bill because it would bifurcate them from online payday lenders. They argue that this puts them at an unfair playing field and enhanced regulatory risk. This bill is supported by online payday lenders such as CashAmerica, PayDayOne, etc., and opposed by storefront payday lenders and a host of groups that advocate for consumers, underserved populations, and financial reform. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 1566, added July 19, 2013) Murphy Accepted $5,000 From Online Payday Lender Group The Online Lenders Alliance: In June and September 2013, Murphy accepted a total of $5,000 from the PAC for the Online Lenders Alliance, an industry group for online payday lenders. (fec.gov, accessed November 2013) Murphy Accepted $5,000 From Payday Lender CashAmerica: In July and September 2013, Murphy accepted a total of $5,000 from the PAC for payday lender CashAmerica International. (fec.gov, accessed November 2013) Murphy Accepted $2,500 From Payday Lender CheckSmart Financial: In February 2013, Murphy accepted a total of $2,500 from the PAC for payday lender CheckSmart Financial. (fec.gov, accessed November 2013) Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 Sponsored Legislation To Force The US Government To Pay For Litigation Over Swap Data Disclosure Infractions Instead Of Foreign Governments; Took $20,000 From Bill Supporters In Financial Industry Murphy Co-Sponsored The Swap Data Repository And Clearinghouse Indemnification Correction Act Which Would Shift Legal Costs Of Swap Data Lawsuits From Foreign Governments To US Government: In March 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Swap Data Repository And Clearinghouse Indemnification Correction Act, characterized as a “technical correction” to the Dodd-Frank financial reforms, that would amend the Commodity Exchange Act, with respect to derivatives clearing organizations and swap data repositories (SDRs), to repeal the prerequisite that, before the Commodity Futures Trading Commission may share information with specified regulatory agencies, including foreign regulatory agencies, such agencies must agree to indemnify the CFTC for expenses arising from litigation relating to that information. Under current law, if one of those foreign regulatory agencies mishandled or abused that information, they would be required to pay the costs of litigation over such an infraction. This bill would end the requirement that regulatory agencies indemnify the CTFC and would mean that the federal government would have to pay the costs of any litigation against the foreign agencies. The Depository Trust and Clearing Corporation, a non-profit co-op created by the financial services industry to clear swaps, supported this bill and opposed the indemnification. It also gave Murphy $2,000. (CRS Summary, CoSponsorship memo for HR 742, added March 19, 2013; fec.gov, accessed November 2013) Murphy Took At Least $19,850 From Known Supporters Of HR 742: Between January and September 2013, Murphy took at least $19,850 from the PACs of banks and other financial companies and organizations that were known to have supported this bill and/or who lobbied on it: Campaign Contributions from HR 742 Supporters Donor Amount American Bankers Association PAC (BANKPAC) $3,000 American Bankers Association PAC (BANKPAC) $1,000 American Bankers Association PAC (BANKPAC) $1,000 American Bankers Association PAC (BANKPAC) $1,000 American Council Of Life Insurers PAC $1,000 Depository Trust And Clearing Corp PAC - DTCC PAC $1,000 Depository Trust And Clearing Corp PAC - DTCC PAC $1,000 General Electric Company PAC (GEPAC) $1,000 Honeywell International PAC $4,850 Nextera Energy, Inc. PAC $1,000 Nextera Energy, Inc. PAC $4,000 Total $19,850 Date 01/14/13 03/29/13 05/01/13 07/02/13 09/30/13 07/24/13 08/30/13 03/26/13 06/26/13 03/20/13 09/30/13 (fec.gov, accessed November 2013; opensecrets.org, HR 742 lobbying clients, accessed November 2013) TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 223 Pay To Play In Other Industries Co-Sponsored A Bill To Promote The Concrete Industry, Took Industry Cash Murphy Co-Sponsored The Concrete Masonry Products Research, Education, and Promotion Act of 2013 To Create A Promotion Program For The Concrete Industry: In November 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Concrete Masonry Products Research, Education, and Promotion Act of 2013, which sets conditions for the establishment of a Concrete Masonry Products Board to carry out a program of promotion, research, and information regarding concrete products. It requires manufacturers and importers to maintain, and make available, specified records. It requires that assessments at specified rates shall be paid by concrete manufacturers with respect to concrete manufactured and marketed in the United States. It requires at least 50% of the assessments paid by a manufacturer to be used to support research, education, and promotion plans and projects in support of the geographic region of the manufacturer. It directs the Secretary of Commerce, during the 60-day period preceding the proposed effective date of an order, to conduct a referendum for order approval among the manufacturers required to pay assessments under the order. (CRS Summary, HR 1563, added November 14, 2013) Murphy Accepted $1,000 From Cemex, World Leader In Ready-Mix Concrete: In April 2013, Murphy accepted a total of $1,000 from the PAC for Cemex, the worldwide leader in ready-mix concrete production. (fec.gov, accessed November 2013) Co-Sponsored A Bill To Repeal Funding Mechanism For Obamacare Transitional Reinsurance Program; Got $11,500 From Bill’s Supporters Murphy Co-Sponsored A Bill To Repeal Obamacare's Funding Mechanism For The Transitional Reinsurance Program In The Individual Coverage Market: In November 2013, Murphy co-sponsored a bill to repeal the current funding mechanism for the Transitional Reinsurance Program authorized by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. According to an IRS FAQ, “Section 1341 of the Affordable Care Act establishes a Transitional Reinsurance Program to help stabilize premiums for coverage in the individual market during the years 2014 through 2016. The statute requires all health insurance issuers and third-party administrators on behalf of self-insured group health plans to make contributions under this program to support payments to individual market issuers that cover high-cost individuals (payment-eligible issuers).” According to the National Electrical Contractors Association, a supporter of the bill, “Currently, the program’s funding source falls on the backs of the self-insured, employer-sponsored health insurance plans, including many of the multiemployer Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 health and welfare plans that NECA contractors contribute to. This program is expected to collect $25 billion over a three year period. The fee is set for $63 per covered life in 2014 and is estimated to be $42 in 2015 and $26.50 in 2016. Selfinsured, not-for-profit health plans provided by responsible employers are unfairly subject to this fee and will reap no benefit from the program.” According to the Washington Post’s WonkBlog, “The Transitional Reinsurance Program is undoubtedly one of the most important and most boring parts of the Affordable Care Act. It's a huge reason why health plans are even participating in the health law's marketplaces. [...]The health law's reinsurance program was thought up as a way to coax insurance companies into the insurance marketplaces that launched on Oct. 1. Jumping into these new markets was a big risk; insurance plans had no clue whether they'd get people who were really sick, really healthy or somewhere in the middle. If one plan unintentionally got all the sick people, perhaps because they structured their benefit package in a certain way, that could drive them out of business. The reinsurance program is essentially protection against that, where the government collects $10 billion in 2014 to redistribute to the insurance plans that get super sick enrollees. […]Nearly all health insurance plans are required to pay into the reinsurance plan, even big employer plans that don't sell on the new marketplaces. For each subscriber, the health plans are charged $63 per enrollee annually or $5.25 per member per month. This is why the reinsurance program wasn't especially popular with health plans that focus on the group market, who wouldn't see much in the way of benefit from this program.” (CRS Summary, HR 3489, added November 14, 2013; irs.gov; Washington Post WonkBlog, October 15, 2013) Murphy Accepted $1,500 From The National Electrical Contractors Association, Who Opposed The Funding Mechanism For Obamacare’s Transitional Reinsurance Program: On September 30, 2013, Murphy accepted $1,500 from the Electrical Contractors PAC, the political giving arm of the National Electrical Contractors Association, who opposed the funding mechanism for Obamacare’s Transitional Reinsurance program and supported a bill that Murphy co-sponsored to repeal that funding mechanism. (fec.gov, accessed November 2013) Murphy Accepted $10,000 From The International Brotherhood Of Electrical Workers, Who Opposed The Funding Mechanism For Obamacare’s Transitional Reinsurance Program: In March and July 2013, Murphy accepted a total of $10,000 from the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, which works hand in hand with the National Electrical Contractors Association to offer health benefits to their members, and which could therefore be counted among the supporters of the bill Murphy sponsored to repeal the funding mechanism for Obamacare’s Transitional Reinsurance Program. (fec.gov, accessed November 2013; NECA Call to Action: Reform and Repair the Affordable Care Act) TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 225 A Salesman For Disastrous Obamacare Supported, Defended, And Promoted Obamacare Said Obamacare Was A Good Step Forward   Candidate Murphy Said Obamacare Was A Big Step Forward: On the campaign trail in June 2012, Murphy praised the virtues of Obamacare, while acknowledging some flaws. But he said the flaws were being fixed and overall it was a big step forward. (Stuart News/Port St. Lucie News, June 15, 2012) Supported Obamacare, Criticized Only Its Timing   Candidate Murphy Said He Supported Obamacare But Only Questioned The Timing: On the campaign trail in 2012, Murphy said he supported the Affordable Care Act, but questioned its timing. “With the president, for example, something that I differed with was health care reform. I support it. But the timing of it to me wasn't the best. You know, we were still in this recession,” said Murphy. (Palm Beach Post, July 2, 2012) Said Obamacare Would Lead To Savings   Candidate Murphy Criticized Paul Ryan’s Medicare Overhaul Plan And Touted Obamacare Provisions That Eliminated Waste And Inefficiencies And Used The Savings To Improve Care For Seniors: At an October 2012 debate against Allen West, Murphy criticized the Ryan plan to overhaul Medicare and highlighted instead cost-related solutions included in the Affordable Care Act centered on finding waste and inefficiencies. “Under the Affordable Care Act, they’ve found inefficiencies, waste and fraud and they’ve put that money and taken it away from insurance executives, and away from the pharmaceuticals and given it back to seniors in the form of preventive treatments and in the form of closing the doughnut hole and this is what we need to do to start bringing down the long-term costs code that is driving our costs through the roof.” (The Stuart News, October 20, 2012) Praised Obamacare Efficiency   Murphy Said Obamacare Incentivizes Doctors To Make Healthcare More Efficient, Cost Effective, And Safer: Murphy said in July 2013 that the goal of health care reform was to make the health care system more efficient, more cost effective, and safer, and that one of the best ways to do that was to change how medical providers are compensated. “That's one of the major objectives of Obamacare, to move to a pay-forperformance system, and what it's done is incentivize doctors to go out on a limb and come up with improvements." He noted that doctors were in the best position to see what needs doing and to implement it. He pointed out that technology-based improvements would help reduce costs, which were the fastest-rising set of costs in the federal budget and which drove the effort to pass health care reform. (Sun-Sentinel, July 15, 2013) Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 Would Not Work Across The Aisle To Repeal Obamacare Voted Not To Repeal Obamacare   Murphy Voted Not To Repeal Obamacare: On May 16, 2013, Murphy had a chance to join Republicans in voting to repeal Obamacare but instead voted with Democrats not to repeal. The bill passed anyway 229-195 but was not (Washington Times Blog, July 8, 2013; HR 45, Vote #154, 05/16/13) Murphy Voted Not Block To The IRS From Enforcing Obamacare: In August 2013, Murphy voted against all Republicans and with all but four Democrats against HR 2009, attempt to effectively repeal Obamacare. The Keep the IRS Off Your Health Care Act of 2013 would have prohibited the IRS from enforcing the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act or the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010. Bloomberg Government analysis stated that “The IRS plays a lead role in the law because many of its provisions were additions to the Internal Revenue Code, including the individual and employer mandates and the tax credits intended to help individuals afford coverage through the health exchanges being established under the law.” The bill passed the House 232-185. (HR 2009, Vote #447, August 2, 2013; bgov.com; The Stuart News/Port St. Lucie News, August 4, 2013) Murphy Targeted By NRCC Ads Over Refusal To Defund Obamacare: On October 2, 2013, the National Republican Congressional Committee began running ads against vulnerable Democrats including Murphy for refusing to defund Obamacare. It had also run a YouTube ad against him starting August 22 that said, "The most dreaded return address in America. The IRS. And just days ago, Congressman Patrick Murphy voted to keep the scandal-ridden IRS in charge of enforcing Obamacare. Just what you need. To owe more to the IRS. Under Obamacare, your insurance premiums could double and your personal data could be at risk. Call Patrick Murphy. Ask him to get the IRS out of your health care." (Politico.com, October 1, 2013 x2; Tampa Bay Times, August 28, 2013; YouTube.com) Murphy Voted Against A Bill To Defund Obamacare To Keep The Government Running: On September 20, 2013, Murphy voted against all but one Republican and with all but two Democrats against H J Res 59, a Republican bill that would fund the government through mid-December but would defund Obamacare. The bill passed 230189. (HJ RES 59, Vote #478, 09/20/13; The Hill, September 24, 2012) Voted Not To Delay Obamacare Murphy Voted Not To Delay Implementation Of Obamacare By A Year: On September 29, 2013, Murphy voted with all but two Democrats and against all but two Republicans to delay implementation of Obamacare by a year. The measure passed 231-192. (HJ Res 59, Vote #498, September 29, 2013; AP via Politico.com, October 1, 2013) TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 227 Murphy Would Not Vote For A Solution To The Government Shutdown If It Meant He Had To Give Up His Special Government Subsidy To Pay For His Obamacare And Delay Implementation Of Obamacare’s Individual Mandate: On September 30, 2013, Murphy voted with all but nine Democrats and against all but 12 Republicans against a bill that would end the government shutdown but would delay Obamacare’s individual mandate and would revoke the federal subsidy for members of Congress and their staff to pay for their Obamacare, a subsidy that normal Americans outside of government would not get. The bill passed 228-201. (HJ Res 59, Vote #504, September 30, 2013) The following day, he voted against the same provisions in a 228-199 vote. (H Res 368, Vote #505, October 1, 2013; Associated Press via Politico.com, October 1, 2013) Would Not Make Commonsense Corrections To Obamacare Voted To Hand Out Obamacare Subsidies Without Verifying Income Murphy Voted To Hand Out Obamacare Subsidies Without A Good System In Place To Verify That The Person Making The Claim Actually Had Low Income: In September 2013, Murphy voted against all Republicans and with all but five Democrats against the No Subsidies Without Verification Act, a bill that would block all health insurance subsidies under Obamacare until a better system could be implemented to verify who was eligible for those subsidies. The bill was a response to a July regulation issued by the Department of Health and Human Services that gave state-run health insurance exchanges a degree of flexibility in determining qualifications for insurance subsidies. When a person claimed that their income was significantly lower than what it appeared to be based one government data, states were given the flexibility to attempt to verify the claim on some, but not all, of those people by randomly sampling whom to check. The bill passed 235-191. (HR 2775, Vote #458, 09/12/13; The Hill, September 12, 2013) Pursues Obama’s Extreme Environmental Agenda Obama Agenda Against Affordable American Energy Convinced Of Global Warming; Pledged Support For Climate Change Legislation Murphy Had No Doubts About Global Warming And Rising Sea Levels; Pledged To Support Climate Change Legislation: In December 2012, Murphy appeared at the Southeast Florida regional climate leadership summit in Jupiter to pledge to support legislation to address climate change. He said he had no doubts about the risks posed by rising sea levels. "Unfortunately we have far too many politicians who continue to bury their heads in the sand and pretend it’s not happening," he said. The annual conference convenes political leaders, planners and others from seven counties. (Miami Herald, Naked Politics blog, December 6, 2012) Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 Voted Against Drilling For Oil On American Soil To Achieve Energy Independence Candidate Murphy Did Not Want To Open Up Any More Areas To Fossil Fuel Exploration: At an October 2012 debate, Murphy said that he opposed opening any more areas, such as the Everglades, to fossil fuel exploration. (TC Palm, October 4, 2012) Murphy Voted Against Opening 50% Of The Coast To Offshore Drilling: In 2013, Murphy voted against a bill that would direct the Interior secretary to develop a five-year offshore leasing plan that would make at least 50 percent of the unleased coastal areas with the most potential for energy production available for oil and gas exploration and development. Under the bill, drilling would be allowed off the coasts of California, South Carolina and Virginia. It also would require the Interior secretary to prepare a multi-sale environmental impact statement in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act for all lease sales authorized by the bill. As amended it would require that claims arising from projects covered by the bill be filed within 60 days and resolved within six months. (CQ Votes, 6/28/13) The bill passed, 235-186. (HR 2231, Vote #304, 6/26/13) Sponsored Bills To Make Oil & Gas More Expensive For Consumers Murphy Introduced A Bill To End Subsidies For The Oil And Gas Industry: In August 2013, Murphy introduced HR 2956, the End Welfare for Big Oil Act of 2013, a bill to remove oil tax credits and subsidies for major oil companies. The bill would eliminate a variety of tax breaks -- such as the intangible drilling costs deduction and section 199 domestic manufacturing deduction -- for the five largest oil companies. The bill was referred to was the House Committee on Ways and Means and House Committee on Natural Resources. (HR 2956, National Law Review, August 20, 2013; congress.gov, HR 2956, August 9, 2013; Targeted News Service, August 7, 2013; Greenwire, August 2, 2013) Murphy Co-Sponsored The End Big Oil Tax Subsidies Act Of 2013 To End The Kinds Of Support That Make Gas And Other Petroleum Products More Affordable: In July 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the End Big Oil Tax Subsidies Act Of 2013, which denies certain tax benefits to any taxpayer that is not a small, independent oil and gas company, including: (1) the tax credits for producing oil and gas from marginal wells and for enhanced oil recovery (2) expensing of intangible drilling and development costs in the case of gas wells and geothermal wells (3) percentage depletion (4) the tax deduction for qualified tertiary injectant expenses (5) the exemption from limitations on passive activity losses (6) the tax deduction for income attributable to domestic production activities It limits or denies the foreign tax credit and tax deferrals for amounts paid or accrued by a dual capacity taxpayer to a foreign country or U.S. possession for any period with respect to combined foreign oil and gas income. Defines "dual capacity taxpayer" as a TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 229 person who is subject to a levy of a foreign country or U.S. possession and receives (or will receive) directly or indirectly a specific economic benefit from such county or possession. (CRS Summary, HR 609, added July 31, 2013) Murphy Co-Sponsored The Prioritizing Energy Efficient Renewables Act Of 2013, Which Would Increase Costs To Oil And Gas Companies And Ultimately To Consumers: In August 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Prioritizing Energy Efficient Renewables Act Of 2013, which Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) make permanent the tax credit for producing electricity from wind, geothermal and solar energy, hydropower, and marine and hydrokinetic renewable energy facilities (2) repeal the tax deduction for intangible drilling and development costs for oil and gas wells (3) repeal the tax deduction for income attributable to the production, refining, transportation, or distribution of oil, natural gas, or any primary product thereof (4) repeal the percentage depletion allowance for oil and gas wells. (CRS Summary, HR 2539, added August 1, 2013) Obama Agenda To Let The EPA Bankrupt Us With Regulation Voted To Let EPA Enact More Billion Dollar Rules That Kill Jobs And Could Shut Down Entire Industries Murphy Voted Against Giving The Department Of Energy The Power To Block EPA Billion Dollar Rules: On August 1, 2013, Murphy voted against the Energy Consumers Relief Act, a bill that would give the Department of Energy the power to block or delay proposed Environmental Protection Administration rules. According to the House Energy and Commerce Committee: “The Energy Consumers Relief Act will help protect Americans from new billiondollar Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations that may increase energy prices and destroy jobs. The bill would ensure that there is greater transparency, interagency review, and oversight of EPA’s most expensive energy rules. Specifically, the legislation will: • Provide that before the EPA finalizes an energy-related rule costing more than $1 billion, the agency must submit a report to Congress detailing certain cost, benefit, energy price, and job impacts. • Prohibit EPA from finalizing a rule if the Secretary of Energy, in consultation with other relevant agencies, determines the rule would cause significant adverse effects to the economy.” […] EPA’s list of billion-dollar rules is long and still growing. Over the past four and a half years, EPA has proposed or finalized a number of major new rules imposing billions of dollars in compliance costs, and EPA currently has more regulatory actions under review by OMB than any other agency. […]In addition to the rules already dispensed by EPA, the agency is expected to finalize additional, large-scale regulations in the president’s second term that could lead to higher energy prices and job losses. Outlining his climate change plan, President Obama recently announced EPA would Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 move forward with expensive new greenhouse gas standards for new and existing power plants, greatly expanding the administration’s “war on coal”: • The president’s plan for new power plant emissions standards is just the latest attack in the administration’s war on jobs and affordable energy. These new regulations come in addition to a suite of other EPA power plant rules that are estimated to have already contributed to the announced shutdown of 288 power plant units across 32 states. • EPA’s overreaching power plant and other standards are expected to be so expensive and so unworkable they could effectively shut down the American coal industry. Taking this affordable and reliable energy source out of America’s energy mix would threaten electric reliability, raise energy costs, and handicap our manufacturing and other vital sectors of our economy. Affordable and reliable energy is critical for a growing economy and a healthy America. H.R. 1582 provides a commonsense “look before you leap” approach to regulation to help prevent billion-dollar EPA rules that could eliminate yet more American jobs and increase energy prices on American households and businesses. With more EPA billion-dollar energy-related rules on the horizon, it is imperative that we understand the impacts of these rules on jobs and the economy before they are implemented.” The bill passed 232-181. (HR 1582, Vote #432, August 1, 2013; The Stuart News/Port St. Lucie News, August 4, 2013; House Energy & Commerce Committee Fact Sheet for HR 1582, April 17, 2013) Voted To Let The EPA Regulate Coal Ash Instead Of The States Murphy Voted Not To Block The EPA’s Ability To Regulate Coal Ash: In July 2013, Murphy voted against Republicans and with a great majority of Democrats against a bill that would give states the ability to regulate coal ash. Republicans pushed the bill in response to the Environmental Protection Agency's threat to regulate coal ash, a byproduct of burning coal, as hazardous waste by 2014. Republicans said the EPA’s plans had caused uncertainty in industries that used coal ash, such as in the manufacture of shingles, wallboard, and concrete among other things. The bill passed the House 265155. (HR 2218, Vote #418, 07/25/13; The Hill, July 25, 2013) Voted To Let The Government Block Essential And Strategic Mining Murphy Voted Against A Bill That Would Limit The Ability Of The Government To Block Mining And Limit Lawsuits To Block Mining: In September 2013, Murphy voted against all Republicans and with all but fifteen Democrats against the National Strategic and Critical Minerals Production Act of 2013, a bill that would accelerate the federal approval process for mineral mining and exploration. Republicans claimed it was needed to ensure the country had domestic sources of strategic minerals, because the government had in the past delayed mining permits for several years, which forced the country to rely on imported strategic minerals for defense applications and other uses. The bill would limit the government to 30 months to deliberate on permits and would limit parties’ ability to use lawsuits to stop mining. The bill passed 246-178. (HR 761, Vote #471, 09/18/13; The Hill, September 18, 2013) TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 231 Voted Not To Practice Sustainable Forest Management In Federal Forestlands To Prevent Forest Fires And Benefit Local Schools And Communities Murphy Voted Against Requiring Timber Production On At Least Half Of Federal Forestlands: In September 2013, Murphy voted against all but one Republican and with all but 17 Democrats against the Restoring Healthy Forests for Healthy Communities Act, a bill that would establish at least one Forest Reserve Revenue Area within each unit of the National Forest System designated for sustainable forest management for the production of national forest materials (the sale of trees, portions of trees, or forest products from System lands) and forest reserve revenues (to be derived from the sale of such materials in such an Area). It would require timber production on at least half of federal forestlands. The bill said that the purpose of an Area was to provide economic activity for the surrounding county and payments to states for public schools and public roads of beneficiary counties. Supporters said the move would help reduced fuel on forest floors that can exacerbate wildfires and that increased timber harvests would create over 200,000 jobs. The bill passed 244-173. (HR 1526, Vote #483, 09/20/13; The Hill, September 20, 2013) Irresponsible And Hypocritical On Fixing Budget Sounded Good On The Campaign Trail   Ad: Murphy Said He Would Work Together With Other Members Of Congress To Get Things Done, Not Just Argue And Accomplish Nothing: In 2012, Murphy ran a television ad in which he cast himself as a businessman, a CPA, and a builder, not a talker, who knew that it took working together to make Washington and America work, not endless arguing. (Murphy ad, “Builder,” 7/17/2012) Agitated, Sponsored Legislation, And Voted For Congress To Go Without Pay If It Did Not Pass A Budget…   Voted To Support “No Budget, No Pay”: In January 2013, Murphy voted to suspend the debt limit through May 18, 2013, and then automatically increase the debt limit to accommodate the additional debt accumulated through that date. The bill also directed both chambers of Congress to adopt a budget resolution for FY 2014 by April 15, 2013. If either body failed to pass a budget, members of that body would have their paychecks put into an escrow account starting on April 16 until that body adopted a budget or until the last day of the 113th Congress. (CQ Votes, 1/23/13) The bill passed, 285-44. (HR 325, Vote # 30, 1/23/13) Murphy Defied Democratic Leadership To Vote For A Republican Bill That Would Block Congress’ Pay Until It Passed A Budget: In January 2013, House Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer told Murphy he wasn’t pleased that Murphy was planning to break with Democrats to for an extension of federal borrowing authority that included a "no budget, no pay" clause. The bill would withhold pay from members of Congress if they Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 did not pass a budget by April 15, 2013. Democrats called it an unconstitutional gimmick, but Murphy said, "I feel that is Congress' job, to have a budget. That's one of our main things that we should be doing, so maybe this is enough pressure for us to actually come to the table and come up with something." (Palm Beach Post, April 8, 2013) Murphy Co-Sponsored A Resolution Calling On The Speaker To Appoint Conferees To Negotiate A Budget: In April 2013, Murphy co-sponsored a resolution that expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the Speaker should follow regular House procedure and immediately request a conference and appoint conferees to negotiate a FY2014 budget resolution conference agreement with the Senate. (H Res 174, added April 25, 2013) Murphy Co-Sponsored The No Budget, No Pay Act To Force Congress To Do Without Its Pay Until It Passes A Budget: In July 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the No Budget, No Pay Act, which prohibits the payment of any pay to any Member of Congress (excluding the Vice President): (1) if both houses of Congress have not approved a concurrent resolution on the budget for a fiscal year before October 1 of that fiscal year and have not passed all the regular appropriations bills for the next fiscal year by such date, or (2) until both houses of Congress approve such a budget resolution and pass all such appropriations bills. Prohibits any retroactive pay for such a period. (CRS Summary, HR 310, added July 18, 2013) …Then Voted Against Every Budget, Republican And Democratic Murphy Voted Against The Ryan Budget: In March 2013, Murphy voted with every Democrat against the Republicans’ main budget, put forward by Republican Rep. Paul Ryan. (H Con Res 25, Vote #88, 03/20/13) Murphy Answered “Present” On Republican Study Committee Budget: In March 2013, Murphy answered “present” with a majority of Democrats when the Republican Study Committee substitute budget came to a vote. (H Con Res 25, Vote #86, 03/20/13) Murphy Voted Against The Democratic Caucus Budget: In March 2013, Murphy was one of only 28 Democrats to join all Republicans in voting against the Democratic Caucus substitute budget put forward by Democratic Rep. Van Hollen. (H Con Res, Vote #87, 03/20/13) Murphy Voted Against Senate Democratic Budget: In 2013, Murphy voted against a virtual copy of the Senate Democratic budget. (H Con Res 25, Vote #83, 3/20/13) Murphy Voted Against Congressional Black Caucus Budget: In March 2013, Murphy voted with Republicans against the Congressional Black Caucus budget. (H Con Res 25, Vote #84, 03/20/13) Murphy Voted Against The Progressive Caucus Budget: In March 2013, Murphy voted with Republicans and a majority of Democrats against the Progressive Caucus substitute budget. (H Con Res 25, Vote #85, 03/20/13) TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 233 Voted Against Budgets That Would Save Trillions, Bring Entitlements Under Control, And Cut And Simplify Taxes Murphy Voted Against The Disciplined Ryan Budget: In March 2013, Murphy voted with every Democrat against the Republicans’ main budget, put forward by Republican Rep. Paul Ryan. It would: • Cut $885 billion from Medicare and Medicaid spending over the ensuing 10 years • Maintain and extend the sequester for another $1.2 trillion in savings • Repeal Obamacare for $1.8 trillion in savings • Replace the current seven tax brackets with only two: 10% on the first $100,000 and 25% on all in excess of that • Repeal the alternative minimum tax as well as any and all taxes imposed by Obamacare, including the 3.8% tax on a taxpayer’s net investment income • Reduce the maximum corporate rate from 35% to 25%. • Be revenue neutral, raising the same amount of revenue over the following decade as President Obama’s current policy, by eliminating many deductions • Grow spending at a rate of 3.4% as opposed to the 5% rate currently scheduled and thereby decrease spending over the following decade by $4.6 trillion, taking the currently budgeted $46 trillion down to $41 trillion The budget passed the House 221-207. (H Con Res 25, Vote #88, 03/20/13; Forbes.com March 12, 2013 and March 20, 2013) Murphy Answered “Present” On Republican Study Committee Budget That Would Cut Spending And Taxes, Defund Obamacare, Rein In Medicare Spending, And Balance The Budget: In March 2013, Murphy answered “present” with a majority of Democrats when the Republican Study Committee substitute budget put forward by Republican Rep. Woodall came to a vote. Supporters said the budget would balance the budget in four years, remove the fiscal cliff tax increases, and cut discretionary spending to FY2008 levels. It would defund Obamacare and bring Medicare under control. The amendment failed 104-132. (H Con Res 25, Vote #86, 03/20/13) Voted Against Budgets That Would Invest In Infrastructure And People, Replace The Sequester With Smarter Cuts, Reduce The Deficit, Grow Jobs, And Protect Vulnerable Populations Murphy Voted Against The Democratic Caucus Budget, Which Projected 3 Million More Jobs By End Of 2014: In March 2013, Murphy was one of only 28 Democrats to join all Republicans in voting against the Democratic Caucus substitute budget put forward by Democratic Rep. Van Hollen. Backers of the budget said it focused on creating jobs, the absence of which accounted for half of the current year deficit and three quarters of the following year’s deficit. Unlike the Ryan budget, they said, it asked the wealthiest Americans to give up some of their tax breaks instead of placing more burden on the middle class. It replaced the sequester to reclaim another 750,000 jobs, and instituted an infrastructure-focused jobs Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 program. It forecast 1.2 million more people employed by the end of the current year compared to the Republican budget, and 2 million more by the end of the following year. It kept the prescription drug doughnut hole closed, unlike the Republican budget, and did not turn Medicare into a voucher program. It kept the student loan interest rate from doubling. It fully funded the transportation program for ten years to aid in the recovery of construction jobs. It balanced the budget over time and stabilized the debt. The amendment to substitute this budget for the Republicans’ budget failed 165-253. (H Con Res, Vote #87, 03/20/13) Murphy Voted to Protect Member Perks, Including First Class Airfare, House Gym, House Barber Shop, Salon, and Dining Room: By voting against the Democratic alternative budget for fiscal year 2014, Murphy voted to protect Congressional perks. The budget established: “It is the policy of this resolution that the House should lead by example and identify any savings that can be achieved through greater productivity and efficiency gains in the operation and maintenance of House services and resources like printing, conferences, utilities, telecommunications, furniture, grounds maintenance, postage, and rent. This should include a review of policies and procedures for acquisition of goods and services to eliminate any unnecessary spending. The Committee on House Administration shall review the policies pertaining to the services provided to Members of Congress and House Committees, and shall identify ways to reduce any subsidies paid for the operation of the House gym, Barber shop, Salon, and the House dining room. Further, it is the policy of this resolution that no taxpayer funds may be used to purchase first class airfare or to lease corporate jets for Members of Congress.” (H Con Res 25, Vote #87, 3/20/13; H Con Res 25, 3/18/13) Murphy Voted Against Budget That Declared Opposition to Privatizing Social Security: In 2013, Murphy voted against the Democratic alternative budget for fiscal year 2014, which included a policy statement declaring that “diverting workers’ payroll contributions toward private accounts undermines retirement security and the social safety net by subjecting the workers’ retirement decisions and income to the whims of the stock market.” (H Con Res 25, Vote #87, 3/20/13; H Con Res 25, 3/18/13) Murphy Voted Against Budget That Replaced Sequester: In 2013, Murphy voted against the Democratic alternative budget for fiscal year 2014, which included a policy statement declaring that Congress should vote on HR 699, the Stop the Sequester Job Loss Now Act. “That measure would eliminate subsidies to the farm industry, scrap tax preferences used by oil-and-gas companies and implement a new minimum tax rate on people making seven figures annually — the proposal commonly known as the ‘Buffett Rule.’” (H Con Res 25, Vote #87; H Amdt 36, 3/18/13; The Hill, 2/11/13) Murphy Voted Against Budget That Would Create 560,000 New Jobs: In 2013, Murphy voted against the Democratic alternative budget for fiscal year 2014, which the Economic Policy Institute estimated would create 560,000 new jobs by 2015. TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 235 “The Van Hollen budget would boost GDP growth by 0.4 percent and increase employment by roughly 450,000 jobs in 2013, relative to current policy. A smaller economic boost of 0.1 percent of GDP and roughly 110,000 jobs would be expected in 2014.” (H Con Res 25, Vote #87, 3/20/13; Economic Policy Institute, 3/18/13) Murphy Voted Against Budget That Established Buy It In America Requirements: In 2013, Murphy voted against the Democratic alternative budget for fiscal year 2014, which included a policy statement declaring “that Congress should pursue a ‘Make it in America’ agenda with a priority to consider and enact legislation to help create jobs, remove incentives to out-source jobs overseas and instead support incentives that bring jobs back to the U.S., and help middle class families by increasing the minimum wage.” (H Con Res 25, Vote #87; H Amdt 36, 3/18/13) Murphy Voted Against Budget That Provided $1 Billion For Veterans Job Corps: In 2013, Murphy voted against the Democratic alternative budget for fiscal year 2014, which included $1 billion for the Veterans Job Corps. “The jobs bill would have hired veterans who served in the military since the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, to work on federal public lands projects and would have established a network of job training centers.” (H Con Res 25, Vote #87; H Amdt 36, 3/18/13; Los Angeles Times, 9/19/12) Murphy Voted Against Budget That Provided $80 Billion for Education, Including $30 Billion for Rebuilding 35,000 Public Schools: In 2013, Murphy voted against the Democratic alternative budget for fiscal year 2014, which assumes $80 billion in education jobs funding for the President’s initiatives to promote jobs now while also creating an infrastructure that will help students learn and create a better future workforce, including $30 billion for rebuilding at least 35,000 public schools, $25 billion to prevent hundreds of thousands of educator layoffs, and $8 billion to help community colleges train 2 million workers in high growth industries with skills that will lead directly to jobs. (H Con Res 25, Vote #87; H Amdt 36, 3/18/13) Murphy Voted Against Senate Democratic Budget: In 2013, Murphy voted against a version of the 2014 budget, introduced by Republican Mick Mulvaney of South Carolina, which was a virtual copy of the Senate Democratic budget. The Senate budget would provide $2.963 trillion in new budget authority for fiscal year 2014. The budget would provide $100 billion in infrastructure investments, while assuming a $240 billion reduction in defense spending, a $142 billion reduction in non-defense spending, a $275 billion decrease in health care spending and a $76 billion reduction in spending for other mandatory programs. (Senate Budget Committee Democrats, March 2013) The amendment failed 154-261. (H Con Res 25, Vote #83, 3/20/13) Republicans Introduced the Budget as a “Stunt”: In 2013, the introduction of an alternative budget by Republican Congressman Mick Mulvaney that was identical to the budget supported by Senate Democrats received no votes from any Republicans, including the sponsor Mulvaney himself. “Mulvaney voted against the budget he introduced. It was a stunt.” (National Public Radio, 3/21/13) Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 Budget Would’ve Cut the Federal Deficit by $1.85 Trillion, Amounting to $4.25 Trillion in Deficit Reduction Since the Bowles-Simpson Report: According to Reuters: “Democrats on Wednesday will unveil a budget blueprint that attempts to slice federal deficits by $1.85 trillion over 10 years through an equal mix of spending cuts and tax increases on the rich, according to a Democratic source.” The Center for American Progress found that “Since the start of fiscal year 2011, President Barack Obama has signed into law approximately $2.4 trillion of deficit reduction for the years 2013 through 2022.” (Reuters, 3/12/13; Center for American Progress, 1/08/13) Budget Included Nearly $1 Trillion in Tax Hikes: According to Politico, “$975 billion would be raised through an overhaul of the Tax Code by eliminating certain tax deductions, including ones typically claimed by high earners and corporations” in the Senate budget. (Politico, 3/12/13) Murphy Voted Against Congressional Black Caucus Budget: In March 2013, Murphy voted with Republicans against the Congressional Black Caucus budget. The budget made significant investments in education, job training, transportation and infrastructure, and advanced research and development programs. It protected the social safety net without cutting Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, or SNAP. It raised new revenue by closing corporate tax loopholes and preferences. It would reduce the annual budget deficit to 1.8% of GDP by FY 2023. (H Con Res 25, Vote #84, 03/20/13) Murphy Voted Against The Progressive Caucus Budget: In March 2013, Murphy voted with Republicans and a majority of Democrats against the Progressive Caucus substitute budget put forward by Democratic Rep. Grijalva. Backers of the Back to Work budget said it would grow the economy, create 7 million jobs, and ask the wealthy and multinationals to pay their fair share “so we can make investments in our people and our future.” (H Con Res 25, Vote #85, 03/20/13) Blew Chances To Replace The Sequester With Smarter Cuts Murphy Repeatedly Voted Against Replacing The Sequester: In 2013, Murphy repeatedly voted against replacing the sequester cuts with a balanced approach: • • • Murphy Voted Against the House Democratic Budget That Replaced the Sequester with a Balanced Approach. (H Con Res 25, Vote #87, 3/21/13) Murphy Voted Against the Congressional Progressive Caucus That Ended Sequester Cuts. (H Con Res 25, Vote #85, 3/20/13; Economic Policy Institute, 3/13/13) Murphy Voted Against the Senate Budget That Replaced the Sequester with a Balanced Approach. (H Con Res 25, Vote #83, 3/20/13; Politico, 3/12/13) TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 237 Voted Not To Negotiate An End To The Shutdown Murphy Voted Not To Create A Fiscal Working Group To Broker A Deal To End The Shutdown: On October 8, 2013, Murphy voted against all but five Republicans and with all but two Democrats against a bill that would create a fiscal working group composed of members of the House and Senate to negotiate an end to the government shutdown. The bill passed 224-197. (HR 3273, Vote #534, October 8, 2013; The Hill, October 8, 2013) Took Sugar Money, Left Their Subsidies In Place, Won’t Cross Them To Fix District 18 Water Problems Sugar Is The Culprit In The 18th District’s Water Woes Blocking The Natural Drainage Of Lake Okeechobee For The Benefit Of Sugar Farming To The South Harms The St. Lucie River And Indian River Lagoon While Preventing The Restoration Of The Everglades: “Environmental advocates contend Lake Okeechobee discharges should be flowing naturally south toward the Everglades, right through sugar lands. Instead, the water is released east into the St. Lucie River via canals and west to the Caloosahatchee River. The freshwater dumps lower the salinity in the estuary, which can destroy seagrass and oysters, and cause algae blooms and fish kills.” (TCPalm.com June 4, 2013) Took Big Sugar Money Murphy Took $2,500 From Big Sugar: On July 29, 2013, Murphy took a $2,500 campaign contribution from the PAC for American Crystal Sugar. He also took $1,000 from the Sugar Cane Growers Co-op of Florida on November 13, 2012, but returned it on April 17, 2013. (influenceexplorer.com) Voted Not To Reform Big Sugar’s Price Protection Program Murphy Voted Against An Amendment That Would Reform Big Sugar’s Price Protection Program, Which Costs Americans Jobs And Jacks Up Prices: In June 2013, Murphy voted against Republican Rep. Joe Pitts’ amendment to the farm bill that would reform the government’s sugar price protection program to get the price of sugar down closer to the world price like it was under 2002 farm bill policy. According to Pitts’ data, consumers pay an extra $3.5 billion a year to subsidize the benefits for the sugar industry, and sugar-using industries had lost nearly 127,000 jobs between 1997 and 2011, with another 600,000 manufacturing jobs at risk. Under the 2008 farm bill, sugar prices averaged 68% more than under the 2002 farm bill, and were 64% higher than the world price in 2012. In response, Canada has been advertising to the US manufacturing base that they have cheaper sugar, and Mexico has dumped its sugar into the US market. With a more competitive price, consumers, manufacturers, and even growers Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 would benefit, according to Pitts. Meanwhile Eric Johnson, Murphy’s Chief of Staff, said that while Murphy was aware of the environmental sensitivities of sugar growing in the district, the amendment could hurt American jobs. The amendment failed 206-211. (HR th 1947, Pitts Amendment No. 98, Vote #281, June 20, 2013; Congressional Record, 113 Congress, page H3933; The Stuart News, June 20, 2013) Not Committed To Taking On Big Sugar Murphy “Wishy Washy” On Ending Price Supports For Big Sugar, Even Though Sugar Farming Hampers Restoration Of The Everglades And Forces The Release Of Polluted Water From Lake Okeechobee Into The St. Lucie Estuary And Indian River Lagoon, Which He Is Fighting: In May 2013, House and Senate committees passed versions of the $900 billion farm bill that left in place a Depression-era price support program of tariffs and quotas on foreign sugar to the benefit of the domestic sugar industry, such as sugar growers who farm in south Florida’s Everglades Agricultural Area, where water once flowed. Candy makers, consumer advocates, environmentalists, bakers, and a variety of food and beverage associations opposed leaving the supports in place, arguing that “one of the oldest and most wasteful federal farm subsidy programs” forces Americans to pay more for sweetened products than the free market demands. They noted that other commodity programs were adjusted in this supposed reform bill, but not sugar. The Congressional Budget Office estimated that consumers would pay an extra $374 million over the next decade if the bill passed. Meanwhile representatives of environmental advocacy group the Everglades Trust said that the sugar price support system "does very little to stop the Florida sugar industry from polluting the Everglades. It does, however, squander tax dollars and authorizes a price-fixing scheme that is destroying America's Everglades." Additionally, since the water that used to flow south from Lake Okeechobee no longer has anywhere else to go, the Army Corps of Engineers continues to release polluted water from the lake into the St. Lucie river, devastating the ecosystem of the Indian River Lagoon and the St. Lucie Estuary. Only by restoring the flow of water into the Everglades can the harmful releases be stopped, but propping up the sugar industry only slows that progress. Murphy was described as “wishy-washy” on the subject. "I don't want to single out one crop, especially one that is in my district," he said, noting that he preferred to consider all farm subsidies as a whole. "I haven't even talked to any sugar people, to be honest," he said. "They seem to be happy with the premise of the 2008 bill." But the 2008 bill, the last farm bill passed by Congress, was to the industry’s advantage. (The Stuart News/Port St. Lucie News, May 19, 2013; Bloomberg, June 17, 2013) Murphy Called The Sugar vs. Everglades Issue “Complicated”: Murphy voted against changing laws affecting the sugar industry that have been connected to the environmental destruction in the Everglades region. Murphy noted that “it's a very complicated situation. There isn't a silver bullet. There isn't one single solution that solves it.” (The Stuart News, July 21, 2013) TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 239 Undermined Employers Sounded Good On The Campaign Trail Ad: Murphy Said He Would Use His CPA Skills To Simplify The Tax Code, Reduce The Debt, And Create Jobs: In 2012, Murphy ran a television ad in which he said that he would use his accounting experience and his experience creating jobs to work across party lines to reduce the debt, simplify the tax code, and incentivize small businesses to grow jobs. (Murphy ad, “Get Right Down To It,” 10/9/2012) Voted For Minimum Wage Increase Murphy Voted To Increase Minimum Wage To $10.10: In March 2013, Murphy voted for a measure to increase the minimum wage from $7.25 to $10.10 per hour over three years. Upon enactment, the measure would have increased the federal minimum wage from $7.25 to $8.20 within three months. A year from this date, the federal minimum wage would increase from $8.20 to $9.15. A year from this date, the federal minimum wage would increase to $10.10. The measure failed, 184-233. (HR 803, Vote #74, 3/15/13) Voted Not To Freeze The NLRB Until Its Vacant Seats Could Be Filled Or Overturn Decisions Made Without A Quorum Murphy Voted Not To Freeze The NLRB Or Overturn Decisions It Made Without A Quorum: In 2013, Murphy voted against HR 1120, a bill that would prevent the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) from taking most official actions until the Senate confirmed new members, the Supreme Court upheld President Obama’s recess appointments, or the first session of the 113th Congress ended. It would also invalidate every action taken since January 2012 that required a quorum. The bill was approved 219-209. (HR 1120, Vote #101, 4/12/13) Voted Not To Eliminate 35 Duplicative And Ineffective Workforce Programs Despite Campaign Promises, Murphy Voted Not To Eliminate And Consolidate 35 Wasteful And Duplicative Programs To Streamline Workforce Investment Efforts: In 2011, the GAO identified nearly 50 programs in the nation’s workforce development program that were ineffective or duplicative. HR 803 would streamline federal workforce development programs by eliminating and consolidating 35 of them, including 26 identified by the GAO. Among other things it would also ensure that two thirds of state and local workforce investment board members were employers and that local elected officials would determine the remaining third. Despite Murphy’s campaign promise to eliminate duplicative and wasteful programs, he voted against this bill. It passed 215202. (HR 803, Vote #75, 3/15/13) Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 Sold Out Workers Promise Broken: Specifically Promised Not To Demonize Federal Workers Or Freeze Or Cap Their Pay And Benefits Murphy Refused To Demonize Federal Employees: In 2012, Murphy stated he would not demonize federal employees. (American Federation of Government Employees Candidate Questionnaire 2012) Murphy Opposed Efforts To Manage Federal Employees By Arbitrary Caps, Freezes, And Cuts To Employee Benefits: In 2012, Murphy said he opposed efforts to manage federal employees by arbitrary caps, freezes, and cuts to employee benefits. (American Federation of Government Employees Candidate Questionnaire 2012) Murphy Opposed Further Cuts To Federal Employee Salary Benefits: In 2012, Murphy said he opposed further cuts and freezes to federal employee salary benefits. (American Federation of Government Employees Candidate Questionnaire 2012) Murphy Opposed Murphy Opposed Increasing Federal Employee Contributions And Reducing Retirement Benefits: In 2012, Murphy said he opposed increasing federal employee contributions and reducing retirement benefits. (American Federation of Government Employees Candidate Questionnaire 2012) Voted To Freeze Federal Worker Pay And Decrease Their Rights Murphy Voted With Republicans To Attack Federal Workers’ Pay, Their Due Process In Employment, And Their Duty To Keep Information Confidential: In August 2013, Murphy voted with Republicans and only 14 other Democrats for the Stop Government Abuse Act, a combination of three bills that would limit bonuses for Federal employees during sequestration, allow citizens to record phone calls and meetings with federal workers, and give agencies the discretion to immediately fire workers for misconduct. Democrats countered that this was just more of Republicans’ attack on federal workers. They argued that bonuses were needed to retain talent, that recording phone calls could put confidential information at risk, and that immediate termination for federal workers would violate their right to due process. The bill passed 239-176. (HR 2879, Vote #436, 08/01/13; The Hill, August 1, 2013) Murphy Voted To Keep Federal Civilian Pay Frozen: In 2013, Murphy voted for a bill that would extend the statutory pay freeze for federal civilian employees, including Members of Congress, through the end of 2013. The bill would not affect an authorized increase in military pay. The bill passed 261-154. (HR 273, Vote #44, 2/15/13) Murphy Voted To Bar Anyone From Federal Employment Who Had Liens For Delinquent Taxes: In 2013, Murphy voted for a bill that targeted federal workers for their financial problems. The bill would bar the hiring or continued federal employment of anyone with seriously delinquent tax debt for which a lien had been filed in public records. (CQ Votes) The bill did not pass, failing to receive a two-thirds vote, 250-159. (HR 249, Vote #105, 4/15/13) TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 241 Promise Broken: Specifically Promised To Protect Overtime Pay Murphy Supported New Labor Regulations To Protect Overtime Pay For Workers: In 2012, Murphy told the United Food and Confectionary Workers that he supported creating new labor regulations to protect overtime pay for workers. (United Food and Confectionary Workers Candidate Questionnaire 2012) Co-Sponsored Legislation To Eliminate Overtime, A 75-Year-Old Protection Against Worker Abuse, For Insurance Adjusters For Two Years After Disasters Murphy Co-Sponsored A Bill To Exempt Insurance Claims Adjusters From Overtime Pay Requirements After Major Disasters: In September 2013, Murphy cosponsored a bill to amend the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to exempt from maximum hours requirements any employee who: (1) adjusts or evaluates claims resulting from or relating to a major disaster for at least $591 per week (or any minimum weekly amount established by the Secretary of Labor, whichever is greater) during the 2-year period after the disaster; and (2) is employed as an adjuster or evaluator by an employer not itself engaged, directly or through an affiliate, in underwriting, selling, or marketing property, casualty, or liability insurance policies or contracts. (CRS Summary, HR 3179, added September 26, 2013) Fought Attempt To Give Home Care Workers Same Overtime Rights As Anyone Murphy Tried To Derail Fair Overtime Protections For Home Care Caregivers: In March 2013, Murphy and others wrote to Boris Bershteyn, Acting Administrator of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs in the Office of Management and Budget, to protest the Department of Labor’s proposed rule on applying the Fair Labor Standards Act to domestic service, most notably to caregivers who take care of the elderly and disabled in their homes. They presented a laundry list of reasons why home care workers should not get overtime pay, including an attempt to say there just wasn’t enough money for it and that it would actually hurt them. Despite Murphy’s attempt to derail this plan for fair treatment of home care workers, the Department of Labor finalized the rule in September 2013, extending minimum wage and overtime protections to all direct care workers employed by home care agencies and other third parties. (Murphy et. al. letter to Boris Bershteyn, March 19, 2013; Department of Labor news release, September 17, 2013) The above items attack Rep. Murphy’s record on workers from the left. The below attacks from the right using a vote against a Republican wolf-in-sheep’s-clothing bill, as did the NRCC. In reality the bill was a loser for workers. See worker rights section in accomplishments chapter of this report. Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 Voted Against Bill That Would Give Workers The Option Of Paid Time Off Instead Of Overtime Pay Murphy Voted Against Giving Workers The Option Of Earning Paid Time Off For Their Overtime Hours Worked: In 2013, Murphy voted against the Working Families Flexibility Act, which would give private sector workers the option of paid time off in lieu of cash wages for overtime hours worked. The bill passed 223-204. (HR 1406, Vote #137, 5/08/13) National Republicans Criticized Murphy Over Paid Time Off Legislation: In April 2013, the National Republican Congressional Committee purchased online ads on regional mom-friendly blogs targeting twenty Democrats, including Murphy, for opposing the Working Families Flexibility Act, which would allow for paid time off for private sector employees. (St. Peters Blog, April 30, 2013) Billions Extra For The Wealthy, Billions Cut For The Poor Voted For The 2013 Farm Bill, Which Contained $9 Billion In Crop Insurance For Wealthy Farmers And Cut $20 Billion From Food Stamps Murphy Voted For 2013 Farm Bill, Which Contained Specialty Crop Insurance Programs For Wealthy Farmers But Would Have Gutted Funding For Food Stamps And Implemented Drug Testing And Work Requirements For Food Stamps: In June 2013, Murphy voted with Republicans and against the great majority of Democrats for the final version of the Farm Bill, which would have authorized $939 billion in funding for federal farm and food assistance programs through FY 2018. The bill, “would have cut projected spending in farm and nutrition programs by nearly $40 billion over the next 10 years. Just over half, $20.5 billion, would come from cuts to the food stamp program, known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.” The bill, as amended, would allow states to drug test applicants for food stamps and would require recipients to meet work requirements, mandating employment or job training. The bill, “eliminated the $5 billion-a-year subsidies paid to farmers and landowners whether they plant crops or not. The billions of dollars saved would be directed into the $9 billion [subsidized] crop insurance program, and new subsidies would be created for peanut, cotton and rice farmers. The bill adds money to support fruit and vegetable growers, and it restores insurance programs for livestock producers, which expired in 2011, leaving thousands of operations without disaster coverage during last year’s drought.” The bill failed 195-234. (H.R. 1947, Vote #286, 6/20/13; CQ Floor Votes, 6/20/13; New York Times, 6/21/13) Voted To Keep Wasteful Crop Insurance Subsidies For Wealthy Farmers Murphy Voted To Keep Subsidized Crop Insurance For Wealthy Farmers: In 2013, Murphy voted against an amendment to end subsidized crop insurance to farmers. The amendment, introduced by Rep. Ron Kind (D-WI), would have limited federal crop TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 243 insurance premium subsidies to producers with profits of less than $250,000, limit perperson subsidies to $50,000 per year, and cap crop insurance providers' reimbursement of administrative and operating costs at $900 million and reduce their rate of return to 12%. (Associated Press, 6/20/13) The amendment would save $11 billion over 10 years, and had the backing of a mix of organizations, including the R Street Institute, the National Taxpayer Union, and the Environmental Working Group. (Congressional Quarterly News, 6/20/13; Property Casualty 360, 6/21/13; Congressional Record, H3908, 6/19/13; Environmental Working Group press release, 6/20/13) The amendment was rejected by a vote of 208-217. (HR 1947, Vote #276, 6/20/13) Voted To Strike Dairy Protection From The Farm Bill And Replace It With An Insurance Program That Keeps Dairies Poor And Milk Processors Rich Murphy Voted To Convert Dairy Subsidies Into An Insurance Program That Guaranteed Milk Processors Cheap, Subsidized Milk At The Expense Of Dairies: In June 2013, Murphy voted with most Republicans and about half of Democrats for an amendment that would strike the dairy market stabilization program and the dairy producer margin protections program from the Farm Bill. With the amendment, farmers would have the option to enroll annually in a new insurance program at margin levels between $4 and $8 at increments of 50 cents. Support payments would be triggered when margins fall below the selected price, and coverage would be available for between 25 percent and 80 percent of a farmer's historic dairy production. (CQ Votes, 6/20/13) The dairy proposal, which was amended in Speaker John Boehner’s favor, was one of the most controversial of the bill. According to Jerry Kozak, president and CEO of the National Milk Producers Federation called this amendment, “a disappointment to America’s dairy farmers who recognize this amendment for what it is: An effort to ensure that dairy processors get a government-insured supply of cheap milk.” (Grand Forks Herald, 6/20/13) The amendment passed, 291-135. (HR 1947, Vote #278, 6/20/13; Farm and Dairy, June 20, 2013) Hypocrite On Campaign Finance Called For Getting Money Out Of Politics Candidate Murphy Called Citizens United Ruling “A Huge Step Backwards”: On the campaign trail, Murphy said that the Supreme Court’s 2010 Citizens United ruling was “…a huge step backwards for our country.” (Irish Times, October 25, 2012) After Expensive Race, Murphy Called For Election Reform: Murphy said the 2012 campaign convinced him of the need for election reform: “Only good sign is money can’t buy elections. We were outspent 4-to-1 and we still won.” (Digital Journal, November 19, 2012) Murphy Said He Wanted To Get Money Out Of Politics: Despite strong fundraising efforts, Murphy said, "I hate the fundraising aspect of politics.” He said, "I'm adamant about getting the money out of politics, making some serious changes.” (The Stuart News July 14, 2013) Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 Hypocritically Condemned Super PACs While Winning With Their Millions Of Dollars Of Assistance And Then Thanking Them For It Hypocrite Murphy Criticized Super PACs On The Campaign Trail, Even As His Father Gave Over Half A Million Dollars To Them, But Praised Them For Their Help After He Won: While campaigning in 2012, Murphy repeatedly spoke out against super PACs and the influence of big money in politics, including calling super PACs “gross”, even as his own father gave $250,000 to a super PAC called American Sunrise to run ads against Murphy’s opponent, Allen West, and $300,000 to House Majority PAC, a Democratic super PAC that spent $2.4 million on ads against West, making Murphy their top beneficiary nationwide. Yet Murphy said he wanted to put limits on gifts like that. But only weeks after being sworn in, he appeared in a testimonial video for House Majority PAC. “The thing about the House Majority PAC is, they know what it takes. They’re smarter, more efficient. Their ads on stem-cell research made a big difference in my campaign,” Murphy said in the video. (Palm Beach Post, February 3, 2013; The Stuart News/Port St. Lucie News, February 5, 2013) Murphy’s Father Bought Him An Ad Campaign For $250,000: Thomas P. Murphy Jr., Murphy's father and Coastal Construction Group CEO, gave $250,000 to a super PAC called American Sunrise that ran an ad attacking West in August 2012: “The ad blasts West's stances on seniors, women's health and tax issues by showing a cartoonish likeness of West in boxing gloves slugging an elderly woman and a younger woman who are white, and punching a black family and grabbing the family's cash.” American Sunrise got $250,000 of its initial $350,050 budget from Murphy’s father, and Murphy was the only candidate it supported as of the August primary. (Palm Beach Post, September 23, 2012 and August 11, 2012) NRCC Slammed Murphy For Super PAC Hypocrisy: When Murphy appeared in the January 2013 testimonial video for House Majority PAC after having spoken so harshly of super PACs on the campaign trail while, the National Republican Congressional Committee ran an ad against him and criticized him for this contradiction. “It only took a couple weeks, but Patrick Murphy has already gone Washington, starring in an ad to thank Nancy Pelosi's super PAC for using special-interest money to get him into office,” said the NRCC’s Nathaniel Sillin. Murphy responded, “I’m absolutely against Citizens United. I’m absolutely for serious campaign finance reform – that’s one of my most passionate issues.” But, he said, “The fact is that super PACs do exist, they’re there and they helped me out. The least I can do is thank them.” (Palm Beach Post, February 3, 2013; The Stuart News/Port St. Lucie News, February 5, 2013) Numerous Outside Groups Paid Millions To Help Murphy Win His Race: Multiple outside groups helped Murphy’s campaign. The Democratic House Majority PAC had spent $1 million as of September 2012 on an ad attacking West. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee also bought an ad that attacked West. At least three other groups provided manpower to help the campaign take on West: Stand Up TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 245 Florida, which is financed by the Service Employees International Union; Credo Super PAC, which set up an office in Palm Beach Gardens; and the George Soros-backed American Bridge 21st Century, which deployed a tracker to film West at his campaign events. (Palm Beach Post, September 23, 2012) Murphy Among 26 Incumbents Receiving 2014 DCCC Priority Support: In March 2013, Steve Israel named Murphy among a group of 26 incumbents who will receive 2014 fundraising support in a new Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee program called Frontline. Members of the group were made of freshman and Blue Dog Democrats facing re-election in 2014. As of September 30, 2013, the DCCC had already given him $15,000. (Congressional Quarterly News, March 5, 2013; fec.gov, accessed November 2013) Voted To Protect His Congressional Perks Voted Against A Budget That Would Have Suspended His Congressional Perks Murphy Voted to Protect Member Perks, Including First Class Airfare, Corporate Jets, House Gym, House Barber Shop, Salon, and Dining Room: By voting against the Democratic alternative budget for fiscal year 2014, Murphy voted to protect Congressional perks. The budget established: “It is the policy of this resolution that the House should lead by example and identify any savings that can be achieved through greater productivity and efficiency gains in the operation and maintenance of House services and resources like printing, conferences, utilities, telecommunications, furniture, grounds maintenance, postage, and rent. This should include a review of policies and procedures for acquisition of goods and services to eliminate any unnecessary spending. The Committee on House Administration shall review the policies pertaining to the services provided to Members of Congress and House Committees, and shall identify ways to reduce any subsidies paid for the operation of the House gym, Barber shop, Salon, and the House dining room. Further, it is the policy of this resolution that no taxpayer funds may be used to purchase first class airfare or to lease corporate jets for Members of Congress.” (H Con Res 25, Vote #87, 3/20/13; H Con Res 25, 3/18/13) Voted Not To Revoke The Government Subsidy For Health Care For Members Of Congress And Their Staff Murphy Would Not Give Up His Special Government Subsidy To Pay For His Obamacare Even To End The Government Shutdown: On September 30, 2013, Murphy voted with all but nine Democrats and against all but 12 Republicans against a bill that would end the government shutdown but would delay Obamacare’s individual mandate and would revoke the federal subsidy for members of Congress and their staff to pay for their Obamacare, a subsidy that normal Americans outside of government would not get. The bill passed 228-201. (HJ Res 59, Vote #504, September 30, 2013) The following day, he voted against the same provisions in a 228-199 vote. (H Res 368, Vote #505, October 1, 2013; Associated Press via Politico.com, October 1, 2013) Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 A Consultant Jailed For 2012 Election Fraud Also Worked For Murphy’s 2012 Campaign Murphy’s 2012 Campaign Employed Habitually Dirty Consultant Who Is Now In Jail For Election Fraud And Under Investigation For More Election Fraud Murphy’s 2012 Consultant Went To Jail For Absentee-Ballot Election Fraud Committed On Another 2012 Race: Murphy’s 2012 campaign hired consultant Jeffrey Garcia, who was also working for then-candidate Joe Garcia’s campaign at the time, and later became Rep. Garcia’s chief of staff. In mid-October 2013, he began serving a jail sentence after pleading guilty and being convicted of a felony and three misdemeanors for submitting hundreds of phony absentee-ballot requests online in that campaign for unsuspecting voters who had not given him permission. The state attorney presiding over the case, Katherine Fernandez Rundle, is the same one who presided over Murphy’s 2003 case for disorderly intoxication and possession of a fake ID. (Miami Herald, October 26, 2013 and October 20, 2013) Murphy’s 2012 Consultant Also Under Investigation For Involvement In Illegal Funding Of Phony Tea Party Candidate In 2010: In September 2013, the FBI began formally investigating Murphy’s 2012 consultant Jeffrey Garcia for possibly secretly funding a bogus tea party candidate, Jose Rolando “Roly” Arrojo, in 2010 as a way to peel off conservative votes from Republican David Rivera, who defeated Joe Garcia that year but then lost to him in 2012. Arrojo, sent out mailers that would have cost over $10,000 to produce and mail, yet in violation of federal law he reported none of that. (The Shark Tank, September 10, 2013; Miami Herald, October 20, 2013) Promises Broken Promise Broken: Once Elected, Murphy Voted For The Keystone XL Pipeline Candidate Murphy Opposed The Keystone XL Pipeline: In 2012, Murphy told the Sierra Club that he opposed the Keystone XL project. (Sierra Club Candidate Questionnaire 2012) Murphy Voted To Bypass The President And Approve Keystone XL Pipeline Permit: In 2013, Murphy was one of only 19 Democrats who voted with all Republicans for a bill that would bypass the president and approve the permit for the Keystone XL pipeline. Murphy noted that it would create jobs and potentially boost businesses. The bill passed 241-175. (HR 3, Vote #179, 5/22/13; Sun-Sentinel, September 24, 2013) TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 247 Promise Broken: Once Elected, Murphy Changed His Tune On Holding Medicare Sacrosanct Candidate Murphy Supported Democratic Stance Of Leaving Medicare Untouched: In an October 2012 debate, Murphy supported the Democratic position to leave Medicare largely untouched. (The Stuart News, October 21, 2012) Congressman-Elect Murphy Willing To Cut Entitlements In Tax Negotiations: After winning an election promising bipartisan cooperation, Murphy suggested deals could be made on reducing entitlement spending. "If the taxes are going to be on the table, we're going to have to put some entitlements on the table and I think there are some things we can look at there," he said. (Palm Beach Post, November 25, 2012) Promises Broken: Once Elected, Voted To Deport DREAMers And Block Abortion Candidate Murphy Supported Path To Citizenship For DREAMers: In 2012, Murphy told the SEIU and The United Food and Confectionary Workers that he supported the DREAM Act to provide a path to citizenship for certain young people that were brought to the U.S. as children. (Service Employees International Union Candidate Questionnaire 2012; United Food and Confectionary Workers Candidate Questionnaire 2012) Candidate Murphy Stated Firm Pro-Choice Stance: At an October 2012 debate, Murphy said he firmly supported a woman’s right to choose. "I support a woman's right to choose. This is an area where my opponent and I are at opposite ends of the spectrum," he said He attacked West’s stances and votes on abortion, labeling them “anti-women”. (TC Palm, October 4, 2012; Palm Beach Post, October 20, 2012) Ad: Murphy Said He Would Focus On Growing Jobs And Protecting Social Security, Medicare, And A Woman’s Right To Choose: In 2012, Murphy ran a television ad in which he said his focus in Congress, unlike Allen West’s, would be to work together to analyze and solve problems, not act like a playground bully. He said he would work focus on important issues such as growing jobs and protecting Social Security, Medicare, and a woman’s right to choose. (Murphy ad, “Kids Playground,” 10/29/2012) Murphy Voted For Homeland Security Funding Bill That Also Restarted Deportation Of Young Illegal Immigrants And Forbade Abortions For Detained Illegal Immigrants: On June 6, 2013, Murphy was one of only 25 Democrats to for HR 2217, a bill that would provide $46.1 billion in fiscal 2014 for the Homeland Security Department and related activities. Due to language adopted in the bill, it would also restart the deportation of young, undocumented immigrants previously halted by President Obama and prohibit federal funding for ICE to provide abortion for detainees, except in cases of rape, incest, or where the life of the mother would be endangered. The bill passed 245-182. (HR 2217, Vote #211, 6/6/13; Associated Press, 6/6/13) Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 Miscellaneous Co-Sponsored A Bill To Exempt Premium Cigars From FDA Regulation Even Though They Are As Dangerous As Other Forms Of Tobacco Murphy Co-Sponsored Bill To Exempt Large And Premium Cigars From FDA Regulation And Fees: In May 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Traditional Cigar Manufacturing And Small Business Jobs Preservation Act Of 2013, which amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to exempt traditional large and premium cigars from regulation by the Food and Drug Administration and from taxes assessed on tobacco products by the FDA. The cigar industry, which has a substantial presence and customer base in South Florida, supported the bill because they felt they would be overregulated under the FDA and feared the loss of small businesses and jobs, while public health and cancer groups opposed this bill. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 792, added May 17, 2013) American Association for Cancer Research Opposed HR 792 Because Cigars Are Addictive And Carcinogenic: In May 2013, The American Association for Cancer Research urged all members of Congress to oppose HR 792 and S 772, which would exempt many cigars from regulation. “Cigars, like cigarettes, are addictive and carcinogenic; the evidence is clear,” said Margaret Foti, Ph.D., M.D., AACR’s chief executive officer. “The idea that we should treat cigars differently from other dangerous tobacco products would be a step backward in protecting the health of our nation.” The organization also noted that the legislation would allow cigar manufacturers to continue to add candy flavorings to cigars, increasing their appeal. That is something prohibited of cigarette makers, which are regulated by the FDA. (American Association for Cancer Research, May 1, 2003) Murphy’s Bill Threatened Progress On Reduced Cancer Incidence: “Tobacco use is implicated in nearly one in three cancer deaths and takes an enormous financial and health toll on this country,” said Roy Herbst, M.D., Ph.D., chief of medical oncology at Yale Comprehensive Cancer Center and chair of the AACR Tobacco and Cancer Subcommittee. “We are slowly getting the smoking rate down and reaping dividends in terms of reduced cancer incidence, but this legislation will threaten that progress.” (American Association for Cancer Research, May 1, 2003) American Cancer Society Advocated For FDA Regulation Of Cigars Because They Are No Safer Than Cigarettes: The American Cancer Society’s Cancer Action Network said of cigars, “Like all other tobacco products, cigars should be subject to taxation and manufacturing and marketing rules to reduce the deadly and costly burden of tobacco use. Cigars, whether large or small, must be taxed at rates equivalent to cigarettes.” (American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, “Cigars: No Safer than Cigarettes”) American Cancer Society Opposed HR 792 Because Of The Dangers It Posed: The American Cancer Society’s Cancer Action Network put out an alert to rally Americans to press their representatives in Congress to oppose HR 792 and S 772. “Big Tobacco is TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 249 at it again. It wasn’t long ago that ACS CAN volunteers helped score a major health victory when Congress passed a law granting the FDA the authority to regulate all tobacco products, including cigarettes and cigars. Now, Big Tobacco is pushing Congress to exempt many types of cigars from the regulations. And, perhaps most worrisome, is that they’re succeeding. More than 150 Members of Congress have cosponsored a bill that could allow tobacco companies to continue selling flavored cigars, which make them more attractive to children. The bill would also ban the FDA from requiring health-related warning labels on certain cigars. (American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, March 7, 2012) Murphy Sided With The Tobacco Industry Against Major Health Organizations: The lobbying picture for HR 792 broke down as tobacco industry groups on one side vs. cancer associations, the major health associations for other health issues made worse by smoking, and doctors: For Altria Group Cigar Rights of America Hay Island Holding Institute of Makers of Explosives Intl Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers Assn Lorillard Inc Reynolds American Swedish Match AB Against American Academy of Family Physicians American Academy of Otolaryngology American Assn for Cancer Research American Cancer Society American Dental Assn American Heart Assn American Lung Assn American Public Health Assn American Thoracic Society Americans for Nonsmokers' Rights Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids (opensecrets.org, HR 792 lobbying clients) Murphy Pulled Strings To Get An Immigrant Out Of The Citizenship And Language Tests To Become A Citizen   Murphy Pulled Strings To Let A Latino Immigrant Become A Citizen Without Taking The Language Or Citizenship Tests: In July 2013 an elderly Ecuadorian woman was turned away by immigration officials in West Palm Beach because her daughter and doctor claimed that a small stroke and early signs of Alzheimer’s disease left her unable to learn English. However after the family contacted Murphy’s office, the woman was given a second interview by immigration officials and was given a medical waiver to bypass the language and citizenship tests required of every other person seeking to become a citizen. Later she celebrated with Murphy at his local office. (Palm Beach Post, August 26, 2013) Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 Equivocated On Attacking Syria   Murphy “Truly Undecided” On Attacking Syria: On September 5, 2013, Murphy said he was “truly undecided” on whether to support President Obama’s request for Congress to authorize military strikes in Syria in response to Bashar Assad’s use of chemical weapons. “I am more in favor of a more limited resolution (than Obama first proposed) with a more narrow time frame and no ground troops, but I still have reservations,” he said. (Palm Beach Post, September 5, 2013) Murphy Took Paid Trip To Israel By Exploiting A Loophole In The Law   Murphy Took $10,000 Trip To Israel Bankrolled By An Arm Of AIPAC: In August 2013, Murphy traveled to Israel on a trip valued at an estimated $10,000 paid for by the American Israel Education Foundation, an organization closely tied the American Israel Political Action Committee, the Washington lobby that promotes Israel's interests in Congress. Lobbying groups are banned from paying for private travel for government officials, but AIPAC was able to get around that by paying for the trip through AIEF. One of AIEF’s largest boosters is billionaire casino mogul Sheldon Adelson, who spent millions of dollars in 2012 attempting to defeat President Obama. (Gainesville Sun, August 8, 2013; Tampa Bay Times Blogs, August 6, 2013) Missed Vote To Prohibit Helium Exports To Sanctioned Countries Murphy Did Not Vote On Amendment To Prohibit Exporting Helium To Iran, North Korea, And Syria: In 2013, Murphy failed vote on an amendment to prohibit the export of helium from the Federal Helium Reserve to Iran, North Korea, or Syria, or any person in violation of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. The amendment, offered by Rep. Brad Schneider, failed 186-211. (HR 527, Vote #127, 4/26/13) Voted Against Boosting State And Local Security Funding By $22 Million Murphy Voted Not To Reallocate $22 Million From Homeland Security To Local Security Programs: In 2013, Murphy voted against an amendment that would cut $22 million from administrative accounts in the Department of Homeland Security spending bill and put that money into accounts for state and local security grants. The amendment sought to increase funding for the Urban Area Security Initiative for the purpose of funding cities that lost eligibility for federal security funding that was awarded based on risk formulas developed by the Department of Homeland Security. Las Vegas Review-Journal, 6/05/13) The amendment failed 156-268. (HR 2217, Vote #196, 6/05/13) TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 251 Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 4: Coastal Accomplishments Family Business Success Murphy Led Environmental Success At Coastal Environmental Murphy Listed Among Florida’s “People on the Move”: In a November 2010 edition of the Sun-Sentinel’s “People on the Move” and an October edition of the Miami Herald’s “Movers,” compilations of promotions and accomplishments among prominent businesses in South Florida, Murphy was named as on one of the “People on the Move.” The articles cited his recent joining of the Miami-based Coastal Construction Group as vice president of Coastal Environmental Services, LLC, “a newly formed affiliate specializing in disaster relief and clean-up efforts ranging from small oil leaks to multi-million dollar catastrophes. “Prior to joining Coastal, “Murphy, a certified public accountant, was an external audit senior for Deloitte & Touche, LLP, specializing in audit and enterprise risk services for public and private companies.” (Sun-Sentinel, November 22, 2010; Miami Herald, October 11, 2010; Engineering News-Record, October 4, 2010) Murphy Named VP Of Coastal Construction’s New Environmental Affiliate: In November 2010, Southeast Construction reported that Murphy had been named vice president of Coastal Environmental Services, a recently formed affiliate of the Coastal Construction Group “specializ[ing] in disaster relief and clean-up efforts.” From 2003-2006, Murphy served Coastal Construction “as a laborer, assistant project manager, assistant estimator and accounting clerk.” In his new role, Murphy’s responsibilities have changed to include overseeing the launch of Coastal Environmental Services and “seek[ing] to expand the company's business development opportunities in the U.S. and Caribbean.” (Southeast Construction, November 1, 2010) Coastal Environmental Services Launched State-Of-The-Art Oil Trap For Spill Clean Up: According to Business Wire in October 2010, Coastal Environmental Services, the green affiliate of Coastal Construction Group focusing on disaster relief, “launched a new line of oil skimming boats that promises to leave conventional skimming vessels in its wake.” The company’s Near Shore Rapid Response Oil Recovery Vessel (NSRRV) has already begun cleanup operations for the Deepwater Horizon Well spill. Murphy, vice president of Coastal Environmental Services, called the NSRRV “the most effective, economical and reliable boat in the industry.” Murphy also asserted that with other oil skimming vessels, oil is only collected from the first few inches of the water’s surface using a bulky operation of multiple mechanisms and moving parts. However, the NSRRV has demonstrated that it can “recover oil from depths up to three feet below the surface, and has no moving parts in the skimming operation that would require ongoing maintenance.” (Business Wire, October 13, 2010) TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 253 Coastal Construction Built Better Oil Trap: In October 2010, Business Wire release reported that Coastal Environmental Services, affiliate company of Florida builder Coastal Construction Group, “has found a way to build a better oil trap.” The company’s Near Shore Rapid Response Oil Recovery Vessel (NSRRV) “functions as a skimmer, separator and transporter. “ Its “one-of-a-kind design” allows it to be “driven through oil of any thickness and recover oil from depths of up to three feet below the surface.” Tests of the vessel conducted by the National Oil Spill Response Research and Renewable Energy Test Facility (OHMSETT) proved it to be “capable of collecting 100 percent of heavy oil and 90 percent of oil sheen while effectively collecting and storing tar balls.” Coastal Environmental Services vice president Murphy asserted that the NSRRV was “highly maneuverable, [could] spin within its own length, [was] trailerable, selflaunching and [could] be activated quickly whenever an oil spill is detected.” The NSRRV has already started operating in the Gulf to clean up from the Deepwater Horizon Well spill, “a major operation for both BP and the surrounding coastal communities.” Tom Murphy, CEO of Coastal Construction Group, claimed that, while the potential for an oil spill continues to exist, "rapid recovery vessels like the NSRRV are a safeguard for communities and for companies that drill." (Business Wire, October 13, 2010) Oil Spill Expanded Coastal Construction’s Disaster Relief Reach: According to a release in Business Wire in October 2010, Coastal Environmental Services, “extended its disaster recovery business unit to include oil skimming and cleanup efforts after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.” The company was created as an affiliate of the Coastal Construction Group, “one of the nation's leading general contractors with more than $1.2 billion in current projects.” In addition to oil skimming, Coastal Environmental Services has offer[ed] effective remediation and recovery services for relief efforts ranging from small oil spills to complex multi-million dollar catastrophes.” This has included relief from hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, earthquakes, fires and other major disasters. Following the Deepwater Horizon well spill, Coastal Environmental Services launched a stateof-the-art oil-skimming vessel capable of trapping more oil than all other vessels of its kind on the market. (Business Wire, October 13, 2010) Coastal Construction - A Family Affair Multiple Murphys Prepared To Maintain Coastal Dynasty: In October 2006, South Florida CEO reported that, although Coastal Construction chairman and CEO Tom Murphy was nowhere near retiring, the family business had 10 other Murphy employees preparing to assume responsibility, and a succession plan had been worked out. Though the CEO has insisted that nothing has been set in stone, his eldest son, Tommy C. Murphy, who had already been with the company for 16 years, was the company’s heir apparent. Additionally, Murphy’s middle son Sean joined the company 10 years prior, and was now Coastal’s vice president of operations. Patrick, the youngest brother just began working in Coastal’s accounting department in 2006. Additionally, Tom’s nephew Jason, wife Suzanne, brother and co-founder John, and his sons John Jr. and Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 Kenny all possessed major responsibilities in the company. Being a Murphy, however, has not provided any of them an easier workload. On the contrary, Tom Murphy” has [made] it clear during annual family gatherings that anyone who calls himself a "Murphy" is expected to show up early, stay late, and take home less pay. But he also expects them to be standouts at the company.” Teamwork, worth ethic, and maintaining a positive attitude are values that have been instilled in all of the Murphy progeny, and many leaders in the construction business, like John R. Nichols of Nichols Brosch Sandoval and Associates have expressed assurances that, should the time come for Tom Murphy to step down, the Murphy boys were “up to the challenge.” (South Florida CEO, October 1, 2006) Murphy Said He Wasn’t Pressured To Join The Family Business: An October 2006 article in South Florida CEO interviewed Murphy about his decision to join nine of his relatives as Coastal Construction once he completed college. Patrick, 23, assured the publication that he felt “no pressure from his father” to come work for him. Patrick explained, “He told us we could be doctors, astronauts--whatever we want. I always kept my options open.” In fact, Patrick reported that his brother Sean, a Coastal veteran, actually tried to discourage him form coming to work for the family. The youngest Murphy shrugged off challenges of nepotism, claiming that there [was] no guarantee of success just because his last name [was] Murphy.” Patrick said his father told him he would have to work twice as hard just to prove himself. Patrick admitted that he was not yet certain of his place in the company. Patrick said he was “trying to find [his] niche and not step on anyone's toes," adding that he had “no aspirations to run the show.” (South Florida CEO, October 1, 2006) Coastal Construction: A Family Affair: A November 2008 article in Construction Today revealed that Tom Murphy, Jr., CEO and chairman of Coastal Construction founded the company in 1989 with his brother John Murphy, now the company’s vice president. “A longtime veteran of the construction industry, Murphy was raised in a family of builders and became Florida's youngest licensed general contractor at the age of 19.” At 21, Murphy co-founded Seaboard Construction Inc., which ranked on Engineering News-Record’s top 400 contractors list while Murphy was president. Murphy sold Seaboard to a major national builder in 1988, but “realized he really wanted to run his own business again, his way.” When he founded Coastal Construction, Murphy initially focused on residential work, before expanding to multifamily and commercial markets. Over time, Murphy [said], Coastal Construction grew a reputation for the quality of its residential work, as it completed homes for celebrities including Dan Marino, Oprah Winfrey, Raymond Floyd, Sylvester Stallone, Don Shula and Jimmy Johnson. When clients began to associate the company strictly with homes, the company formed a separate entity, Coastal Homes, to distinguish the home building operation from the commercial division.” Though Coastal Homes had operated as a separate entity, Coastal Construction has divided its work among three divisions, with the man Coastal Construction Company offering commercial construction services for clients like Marriott International Inc., Ritz-Carlton, Miami-Dade County Public Schools, and the Archdiocese of Miami. Murphy said that over the years he has continued to enjoy “the variety of the construction industry,” and he has added more family members TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 255 to the Coastal team, including his two oldest sons Tom C. Murphy and Sean Murphy, who were brought on as vice president of pre-construction services and vice president of construction operations, respectively. At the time of the article, Murphy’s youngest son had recently completed his education in accounting at the University of Miami and was serving in the audit division of a major accounting firm. (Construction Today, November 1, 2008) Coastal Construction: A Family Business Built From the Ground Up: In September 2004 the Miami Herald reported on the Miami family building company Coastal Construction. The article explained that the Murphy family’s construction success was well earned—the family had been in the construction business for a century, and each new family member to join the company has had to work their way from the ground up. The Murphys all started as laborers on construction sites; they were not favored or paid more than and other worker. Patrick Murphy, the youngest son of Coastal CEO and chairman Tom Murphy, then-21, said that by starting as a laborer, he “learned to appreciate all levels of the business and how hard some of them are.” As a student at the University of Miami, Patrick spent his summers working construction sites, and was eventually promoted to the accounting department. His father and brothers agreed, saying that their start at laborers helped them learn about all aspects of construction and cultivated a good relationship. Patrick’s older brother Sean said that he wouldn’t want to work anywhere but with his family. (Miami Herald, September 6, 2004) Coastal CEO On Board Of Timeshare Group: According to SEC filings provided by the independent watchdog site Crane Watchdog, as well as the company’s website, Coastal Construction Group chairman and CEO Tom Murphy, Jr. was appointed to the Board of Directors of the Interval Leisure Group, a public company specializing in facilitating timeshare vacation properties. (Crane Watchdog; Interval Leisure Group) Coastal Construction Leadership Style And Success Coastal Construction CEO Said Running Family Business Required “Strong Management And Results”: In September 2010 the Miami Herald conducted an interview with Tom Murphy, CEO of Coastal Construction Group, and asked about his leadership style. Murphy said he has taken the “long-term view” in his approach. When asked about his business philosophy, Murphy said, “If you take a long view and build quality, the word will spread. I don't get into lawsuits. If there's a problem, I try to fix it. I preach quality and I hire real good people who buy into my philosophy. I drive a tough bargain but I make it a point to be fair.” Murphy said he has found quality employees by seeking them out. He has involved himself in several associations, and encouraged everyone at his company to do the same. According to Murphy, when looking to hire someone, they would seek out someone with a good reputation and would get to know him or her for a long time. Then, that person would seek them out to join the company. According to Murphy, “the more good people you have, the more good people will join you,” but if an employee turned out to be “a bad egg,” if they cheated, lied, or tried to steal, they were terminated instantly. Murphy was asked if the fact that Coastal Construction was a large family-run business had any effect on his employee approach. Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 Murphy was also asked about his business leadership style. He said that by working from the bottom up, he was able to “learn by mistakes”, and “can talk to anyone and understand what they are talking about.” Murphy said that his ability “to understand people and what made them tick” made him a good boss. He said that he would not take a job unless he has met the owner or the chairman. Murphy said that he “believe[s] if you deal with good people, you have a better chance of doing a good job.” (Miami Herald, September 13, 2010) Multiple Murphys—Coastal Construction Familial, But Not Nepotistic: In a September 2010 article in the Miami Herald, Coastal Construction chairman and CEO Tom Murphy said that he had nine family members working at the company, including his brother, his cousin, and, most recently, his youngest son, but that they all got the same speech when they joined. Murphy said that he told them that he would “love them to join the family business but they have to understand they will be treated unfairly. They will be expected to work harder, longer and never make a dollar more than anyone in their same position.” Murphy said he has had to fire two members of his family, and he would do it again. He said it was “the only thing you [could] do unless you want to ruin the business.” (Miami Herald, September 13, 2010) Tom Murphy Said Good People Made Good Business: In a September 2010 article in the Miami Herald, Coastal Construction chairman and CEO Tom Murphy was also asked about his business leadership style. He said that by working from the bottom up, he was able to “learn by mistakes”, and “can talk to anyone and understand what they are talking about.” Murphy said that his ability “to understand people and what made them tick” made him a good boss. He said that he would not take a job unless he has met the owner or the chairman. Murphy said that he “believe[s] if you deal with good people, you have a better chance of doing a good job.” (Miami Herald, September 13, 2010) Coastal Construction Top Florida Choice For World Class Florida Developers: According to an article in the Spring 2008 edition of South Florida Constructor, Coastal Construction Group, then celebrating its 20th Anniversary, was “well on its way to achieving its mission to ‘be the most preferred and successful contractor in South Florida.’” At the time of the article, Coast’s annual volume exceeded $400 million, and the company had just been awarded its largest contract ever, the $500 St. Regis Bal Harbour. The company has made its mark producing high-end, and, in some cases ultra-high-end, commercial and residential projects. According to the company’s president Dan Whiteman, “Many of [Coastal’s] high-rise residential projects have been built for world-renowned developers including Jorge Perez, Craig Robins and Donald Trump.” Whiteman added that “Coastal has consistently met or exceeded the expectations of these world-class developers. In fact, we make every effort to always meet or exceed the expectations of all of our clients on every project. As bold a statement as that may be, it accurately expresses our commitment to our clients.” Coastal’s CEO and chairman Tom Murphy, Jr. was quoted as saying that the company’s mission was “to continually provide [their] clients with superior value through quality construction, timely performance and outstanding customer service, while TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 257 always maintaining the highest level of integrity and professionalism.” (South Florida Constructor, Spring 2008) Market Variety Put Coastal Construction At The “Top Of Its Game”: In June 2010, Construction Today reported that Coastal Construction Group’s insistence on “building within a variety of market sectors” has allowed them to stay “at the top of [their] game.” The firm’s diverse range of construction services has included “educational, municipal, commercial, industrial, retail, hospitality and residential buildings.” Founded as Coastal Homes in 1988, the company started as “as a high-end, single-family residential builder which built its foundation on providing its clients the highest level of customer service and quality construction.” Since then, “the company expanded its client base to branch out to its existing diverse portfolio found under the Coastal Construction Group,” which has split into four divisions—Coastal Construction Company, Coastal Condominiums, Coastal Homes and Coastal Interiors—“all of which operate under its established high standards.” The article quoted Coastal Construction’s vice president Jeff Lee, who asserted that, "as the market decline has impacted every general contractor out there, our core values haven't waivered, in fact, more than ever, customer satisfaction remains our primary goal.” He added that Coastal Construction’s “ability to work with and satisfy the most discriminating clients [was] well-known throughout the industry.” (Construction Today, June 22, 2010; Miami Herald, June 2, 2007) Coastal Construction: Family Builders with Blueprint For Success: In April 2009 Construction Today published a profile on the Miami-based Coastal Construction Group, citing the luxury home builder as “a go-to company for Florida’s elite.” Though past clients have included major celebrities and power-brokering developers, Coastal’s chairman and CEO Tom Murphy has insisted that the company’s achievements have been the result of hard work instilled in the tradition of nearly a century of Irish family builders. “With a bloodline legacy in the construction industry…Tom Murphy Jr. had the blueprints in his genes to make his company a success.” Half of the Murphy family’s 100-year construction history has been in South Florida. “Tom Murphy, and his brother, John, founded Coastal "on the same family values that have been passed down from generation to generation," the company [said]. Coastal Construction was founded as a single company in 1989, but it soon expanded into four divisions, serving “every aspect of the luxury residential construction industry throughout Florida”—from “high-rise multifamily developments to single-family homes for high-profile customers.” In 2009, Coastal Construction had more than $1 billion in construction projects, and has been recognized by the construction industry with more than 50 awards for excellence in construction over the last 10 years, in addition to begin named among Engineering News-Record’s top 400 contractor’s in the U.S. and top 10 builders in Florida. The company said that their success has resulted from combining “the financial resources and professionalism of a large company with a small company attitude.” Coastal Construction has called its company’s commitment to excellence “an enduring family tradition that has resulted in superb quality and service, delivered within budget and on schedule every time,” adding that "Coastal's corporate goal is not to be Florida's largest builder, only its finest." (Construction Today, April 1, 2009) Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 Coastal Construction Built On “Simple Foundation” of Excellence: In November 2008, Construction Today published an article on Coastal Construction, “a general contractor and construction manager that has focused on building in South Florida.” At the time of the article, Coastal Construction had more than $1 billion in projects in progress, having built over 3,700 condo units and 3,000 hotel rooms in its 20-year history. The company has stated that Coastal Construction was “built on a simple foundation--a commitment to overall excellence,” and said that its goal was “to continually provide our clients with superior value through quality construction, timely performance and outstanding customer service, while always maintaining the highest level of integrity and professionalism.” Coastal’s chairman and CEO Tom Murphy said that the company’s success “has been driven by the principles of hard work, high integrity and customer service.” According to Murphy, “you've got to take care of your clients in this business.” (Construction Today, November 1, 2008) Focus On Quality A Hallmark Of Coast Construction Brand: In April 2007, Construction Today published a profile on the Miami builder Coastal Construction Group, calling it “a family run company with plans to continue in its niche in the southern Florida market” despite its reputation for building multimillion dollar custom homes and commercial developments. The Murphy family has remained in control of Coastal Construction, with CEO Tom Murphy’s sons Tom C., Sean, and Patrick Murphy all playing an active role in the company. Additionally, Murphy’s cousin, Mike Murphy, was appointed vice president for quality assurance. According to Coastal president Daniel Whiteman, quality assurance has been Mike Murphy’s “sole focus” since joining the company. Whiteman said that maintaining high quality standards was “one of the focuses Coastal had evolving from the high-end luxury market.” He explained that “Quality was ... required of Coastal, and it became a natural extension of Coastal Condominiums.” Whiteman said the company has maintained their quality focus in working on schools, having just completed seven school projects for Miami-Dade public schools worth $66 million. According to Whiteman, Coastal’s quality focus has extended to its employee selection and training as well. Whiteman asserted that one of his primary concerns at the company was “to hire, train and retain the best employees." (Construction Today, April 1, 2007) Coastal Construction Success Built On Quality Over Quantity: Southeast Construction’s October 2006 profile of Coastal Construction asserted that, although the company has seen major success, with $1 billion in construction projects at the time of the article and a $650 million backlog, quality of work has always taken precedence over large numbers. “Instead, the focus has been strictly on quality construction and client satisfaction.” Coastal’s chairman and CEO Tom Murphy started the company because he saw “a big void for quality-oriented, customer-driven contractors in South Florida”, and Murphy believed “he could build better than everybody else.” After years of quality construction, Murphy has convinced both his clients and his competitors to believe it too. “Rex Kirby, president and general manager with Suffolk Construction… said: ‘If they are going after a job, I know they will be our biggest competition. They have good relationships with subcontractors and seem to get the jobs done.’” Additionally, Bob Moss, CEO of Moss & Associates lauded Coastal’s success, stating TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 259 that the company was “at the high end as far as their professional approach and attitude in the marketplace…They have a good reputation and well-deserved." John Fish, CEO of Suffolk Construction was complimentary of Tom Murphy personally. Fish said that Murphy was “a very affable guy.” He added that, Murphy’s got “a tremendous amount of integrity. He's earned a lot of respect, and he's capitalized on it." According to Fish, “in the construction industry today, integrity is key.” (Southeast Construction, October 1, 2006) Negotiations Key For Coastal Construction: The October 2006 Southeast Construction profile also reported that Coastal has negotiated all of its work. Murphy said that he viewed the “hard-bid, low-bid’ process as “a waste of time and an undue risk.” This tack, however, as ensured that Coastal’s work has never been the cheapest available. According to Murphy, “"If some (owner) thinks it's all about the low number, they're absolutely talking to the wrong company.” In addition to ensuring quality, Coastal’s officials have been equally focused on always negotiating a good deal—“meaning a decent profit.” Murphy claimed that "the way {Coastal} elect[s] to make money is by doing a good job and not by ripping anybody off," adding, "We want to be good people, doing work for good people." (Southeast Construction, October 1, 2006) Coastal’s Success A Result Of Strong Commitment To Clients: According to Southeast Construction in October 2006, the tradeoff for Coastal’s hard line on negotiations has been its unwavering commitment to its clients, Coastal president Dan Whiteman claimed that on occasions that an owner has claimed that something was not done properly, Coastal CEO Tom Murphy has been more apt to take the owner’s side first. Murphy’s motto has consistently been, “if it isn't right, we'll make it right.'" Murphy’s philosophy has proven successful. “In more than 35 years, Murphy said he has never been to court against an owner and never needed arbitration. And, by his count, there are only six owners that he would never build for again.” (Southeast Construction, October 1, 2006) Southeast Construction: Coastal Construction A “Best Value” Contractor: In October 2006 Southeast Construction published a case study illustrating how Miami’s Coastal Construction Group exemplified the concept of a “Best Value” contractor. According to Southeast Construction, “Best value contractors experience improvement in both their efficiency and effectiveness, which results in making them more competitive regardless of the method used to select the contractor.“ Coastal Construction has demonstrated this concept through its client commitment, including the company's focus on a project's “triple constraints: quality (performance), schedule and price.” Coastal, however, has taken acting in the client's best interest to a greater level “by finding ways to increase the client's revenue,” primarily through its refusal to use the competitive bid process. Coastal’s insistence on selecting quality clients and quality employees has also solidified its status as a “Best Value” contractor. Southeast Construction named Coastal as one of its “best values” because the company has done “everything within its power to protect the client and deliver the highest valued product Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 possible to meet the client's specific needs. And its reward for all of this [has been] a stable of profitable repeat clients.” (Southeast Construction, October 1, 2006) Coastal Construction Group: Coastal Cowboy: In May 2006, Smart Business Miami published an article chronicling Miami builder Coastal Construction’s growth from a $20 million business to a $1 billion enterprise. The article identified three major themes in Coastal’s growth that were essential to the company’s success. First, CEO Tom Murphy, “a self-confessed entrepreneurial gunslinger… had to learn how not to shoot from the hip.” In planning Coastal’s expansion, Murphy instituted an environment of structure and discipline that had not been the focus of Coastal’s early operations. Secondly, Murphy had to make some difficult decisions regarding personnel. This included letting-go of long-time employees who were not likely to adapt to the new rigidity. Murphy said that the choice to take this step in his expansion was “the toughest decision [e] had to make.” Next, Murphy needed to seek and bring in the “right” people to create a solid organization. This included courting Daniel Whiteman to be Coastal’s president. Finally, Murphy needed to develop a strategic plan for Coastal. For that, he called in FMI, “the country's largest provider of management consulting and investment banking for the construction industry.” They created a benchmark for the company, and had FMI assess Coastal’s performance. Since then, Murphy has brought FMI in once a quarter to run their benchmark assessment of Coastal. According to Murphy, Coastal “won't stop doing that." He said the assessment provides “a third-party review every single quarter.” Murphy said he was “a big believer in that forest for the trees - you're so close to it you don't see the overall picture sometimes. You set the plan, you've got a these initiatives, then you've got to make sure you're doing them.” A decade after their expansion commenced, Murphy said that Coastal’s goal was to “"work on trying to stay on the course. We work on that real hard." (Smart Business Miami, May 1, 2006) Coastal Construction President Said Workers Encouraged To Take Vacation: In July 2009, the Miami Herald reported that during the recession many workers concerned about potential layoffs have avoided taking time off. Daniel Whiteman, president of Coastal Construction in Miami, however, said that he understood the “benefits of time off.” Whiteman said that Coastal wants its employees to take their annual 10 to 15 vacation days. He added that, “construction is an intense business, if they don't take vacation people get burned out.” Whiteman said that, although he has encountered some worker resistance to taking vacation, as the company has had to make layoffs, he encouraged workers to take vacation and let them know “he might even let some of them carry over vacations days to the first quarter of 2010.” (Miami Herald, July 29, 2009) Coastal Construction Sent Employees Back To School: In April 2009 Construction Today published an article explaining the value Miami-based builder Coastal Construction has placed on continuing education for its employees. In 2007, the company created the Coastal Training Institute, a program designed to “make education more convenient for employees to undertake.” Training director Shannon Santos operates the Institute, providing all Coastal employees, new and old, to complete the company’s requisite training “at their own pace.” According to Santos, the company TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 261 “wanted to standardize training and develop a program for the staff to take a part in education… We wanted them to be able to choose classes applicable to what they do and to contribute to their personal skill development." The program has created courses in construction fundamentals, project controls, professional development, operations and contracts, Management, Site Tours, and “Know Our Business,” a “refresher in Coastal's history, mission statement and values,” all of which have been offered to employees on the basis of position and tenure. Originally, courses were in instructor-led classroom settings at either Coastal's headquarters or its partner schools. “In summer of 2008, however, Santos began developing the Coastal Learn Center, which is a blended learning platform that allows employees to take online courses as well as enroll for instructor-led courses.” Santos explained that this process provided employees “more control over their training and more responsibility for it, as well.” (Construction Today, April 1, 2009) Coastal Construction Hired Risk Manager To Improve Workplace Safety: In August 2007, the Sun-Sentinel reported that the Miami-based Coastal Construction Group has recently appointed Richard Coble vice president and risk manager of the company. As risk manager, Coble was responsible for “identifying construction risks, avoiding unnecessary exposures and formulating an effective risk management plan.” According to Coble, “working for a proactive company means turning out a safe work product that results in a better building, and subcontractors feel good about partnering on the project.” (Sun-Sentinel, August 20, 2007) Coastal Construction Adopted New Vela System Track Quality And Increase Efficiency: In October 2007, M2 Wireless News published a release announcing that Coastal Construction had selected Vela Systems Solution “as a means to enhance overall work quality, cost-efficiency and building progress.” Coastal implemented the system on its Trump Royale and Axis projects, using it “to track work quality and accelerate progress” in the building process. Coastal’s vice president of operations, Sean Murphy asserted that, “by using Vela, field personnel [could] save eight to sixteen man-hours each week, time that otherwise would have been spent shuffling paper and transferring information from clipboards to computers.” (M2 Wireless News, October 21, 2007) Stayed Afloat During Economic Crisis Coastal Construction’s Flexible Business Plan Allowed Them To Weather Economic Storm: In a September 2010 interview with the Miami Herald, chairman and CEO of Coastal Construction Group Tom Murphy revealed how his firm has survived the recession that wiped out much of his competition--“branch[ing] into new geographic areas and sectors.” Murphy said that this recession has been the toughest time he has ever faced in business. Though Coastal Construction had to make cutbacks, reducing days, cutting salaries, and letting employees go, they began exploring new options. Though he built his business by constructing “a variety of large commercial construction projects and high-end single family homes in Florida,” Murphy said he started looking at new markets he hadn’t previously considered, like the Caribbean. Additionally, they Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 began working more in the disaster recovery business. According to Murphy, they started working in Haiti two months after the earthquake. He said that Coastal Construction planned to have four different projects in Haiti very soon. Additionally, they have been working on the Gulf oil spill cleanup, designing and building oil recovery vessels. This, Murphy said, has been “a business with a good return and not a tremendous investment.” He said that Coastal’s smaller boats could be “staged strategically in the Gulf within an hour.” Where traditional skimmers only picked up oil on the surface, their vessels could go “as deep as 3 feet below.” Murphy called oil recovery, “an opportunity that has legs.” By expanding their business parameters, Coastal Construction went from having only two contracts in 2009 to receiving eleven awards in 2010, and has been able to rehire several employees. (Miami Herald, September 13, 2010) Coastal Construction Reported Growth Despite “Dry Season” For Builders: According to Southeast Construction in September 2010, though construction activity has been limited in “an overbuilt condominium and office tower market” during the recession, the Coastal Construction Group of Miami has been able to see growth. Chairman and CEO Tom Murphy was quoted as saying that “There's much more activity than there was last year at this time.” His firm had only one project in 2009, forcing them to lay off employees. However, the firm has recently begun to rehire people, allowing them to “start back in positive territory as far as people,” according to Murphy. The firm now has contracts to build a “$20-millionplus private home in Broward County and a $50-million residence in Monroe County.” Additionally, Coastal Construction has started to build “a $15-million housing project in Key West for people with AIDS and has several projects moving forward in Miami.” According to Murphy, the construction business has begun to see activity again in niche markets. He said,” Florida is growing again; that’s the good news.” (Southeast Construction, September 1, 2010) Coastal Construction Stabilized After Recession Forced Major Cuts: In April 2010 the Miami Herald reported that Florida’s construction industry was one of the hardest hit by the recession, with “one out of every three construction jobs that existed in South Florida three years ago [having] since disappeared.” However, at the beginning of 2010, Florida’s construction industry began to show definite signs of recovery. Miami’s Coastal Construction Group was forced to cut 70 percent of its workforce in 2008 and 2009 “after seven multimillion-dollar building contracts were canceled due to the recession” in 2008. Chairman and CEO Tom Murphy said that, “With no new building contracts in the first 10 months of 2009, his company had no choice but to cut back its workforce from 500 to 150.” Murphy called it “the worst business climate in his 40 years in the industry.” However, encouraging signs started to emerge at the beginning of 2010. Murphy said that Coastal Construction “stabilized at the beginning of the year,” and was not expecting any more layoffs. “After 10 months of inactivity in 2009, Coastal has signed eight projects in the past six months.” At the time of the article, Coastal Construction had more than $750 million in building projects in TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 263 South Florida, including the 35-story 1450 Brickell office tower and the $480 million St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort.” (Miami Herald, April 17, 2010) Market Slump Forced Coastal Construction To Build On Smaller Budgets: In February 2010, Southeast Construction reported that Miami construction firms like Coastal Construction have adapted to the recession by taking on more public projects and working on smaller budgets. Coastal chairman and CEO Tom Murphy said that calling the current market slow was “an understatement.” According to Murphy, “South Florida was dead for a year. But since September, {Coastal Construction has] lined up six new projects.” However, contractors have said that the average cost of new construction projects that used to range from $50 million to $150 million has decreased to a range of $10 million to $50 million. Coastal has contracted to build” a $32-million affordable-housing project for Camillus House, as well as a few private homes--costing between $12 million and $50 million, each--for owners with the means to take advantage of lower pricing.” Murphy said that this tightening of project budgets was normal for a slow period. He claimed that, ´they can build 30% cheaper than they could this time last year and 40% less than two years ago,” but added that he doubted construction would get much cheaper than what has been seen lately. Nonetheless, Coastal also had recession-time contracts for “the $140-million, 35story, downtown office tower 1450 Brickell” and the “480-million St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort in Bal Harbour.” Murphy said that Coastal Construction “has enough work on the books to remain profitable for the next couple of years.” (Southeast Constriction, February 1, 2010) Six Coastal Construction Projects On Hold Due To Recession Market Uncertainty: In February 2009, Southeast Construction published an article on the devastating effect the market collapse had on Miami’s once-thriving construction industry, “leaving contractors with an evaporating pool of new starts for 2009 and few clues as to when a revival might occur.” Tom Murphy, chairman and CEO of Miami’s Coastal Construction Group, said the six projects worth $780 million his firm had slated to begin in 2009 were all placed on hold because they couldn’t make their loans. Murphy said that he suspected the projects would move forward at some point, but no one could say when. Regarding the condominium development, Murphy said that the market was far overbuilt. He predicted that it would take “five to ten years to absorb all that's out there.” (Southeast Construction, February 1, 2009) Coastal Placed Lien On Development Halted By Recession: In May 2008, the Florida Keys Keynoter, luxury development Marlin Bay Yacht Club fell victim to the market slump, and was forced to halt construction “after employees, contractors and vendors performing services hadn't been paid in at least 60 days.” The source of the funding issues was a $60 million loan that was not fulfilled by BankUnited, who committed the project. Since production has shut down, Coastal Construction, the project’s main subcontractor “placed a $593,326 lien on Marlin Bay on May 8.” Marlin Bay Developer Thad Rutherford was interviewed, and said “he hope[d] the work stoppage [was] just "a bump in the road." (Florida Keys Keynoter, May 17, 2008) Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 Planning Ahead Helped Coastal Construction Stay Afloat: According to Southeast Construction in February 2008, planning ahead helped Miami builder Coastal Construction maintain profitability during the development slump that accompanied the recession. “President and CEO Thomas P. Murphy Jr., [said] his firm began preparing for a downturn at the height of the condo boom.” Murphy explained that Coastal “secured $1 billion of new business for 2008,” but of the “12 major Gold Coast projects scheduled to start in the first half of the year, ‘not one is a condo.’” Murphy added that there was an upside to the stagnant condo market—an “increase in available labor at all levels.” Murphy said that Coastal has received many unsolicited resumes, as “people see things winding down and want to land on their feet." (Southeast Construction, February 1, 2008) Coastal Construction President Said Stimulus Needed More Focus On Building: In February 2009, the Miami Herald reported that Miami Mayor Manny Diaz was one of many city mayors to bring a list of demands form the economic stimulus bill to Washington. Diaz said that Miami has been hit hard by the recession, and, though there were differences of opinion about how it should be handed, something needed to be done. The paper interview Miami builder Coastal Construction president Daniel Whiteman, who said that he “[had] been watching the bill's progress from home and said he's worried there isn't enough emphasis on projects like roads, bridges and school construction.” Of the House bill’s $819 billion, $30 billion was set aside for projects like those suggested by Whiteman, with the Senate having just rejected a proposal to add $25 billion to that sum. Whiteman was quoted as saying that “''our country doesn't need just another spending bill… We need construction that would directly benefit the economy and put people back to work.'' (Miami Herald, February 5, 2009) Coastal Construction President Said Property Tax Amendment Harmful To Contractors: In an April 2008 article in Southeast Construction, Coastal Construction president Daniel Whiteman commented on the passage of Amendment 1, which proposed a reduction of property taxes. Whiteman, who, like many Florida contractors was “worried that government-funded construction plans could be negatively impacted,” said that the pay the amendment passed “was not a good day for publicly funded construction in the state of Florida.” Opposition to the measure came from local and county governments, which indicated that the measure would “force major cuts in their budgets. School and education construction spending was at the top of contractors' concerns.” (Southeast Construction, April 1, 2008) Corporate Breakdown Coastal Divided Into Four Successful Entities To Cover Contracting Spectrum: According to an article in the Spring 2008 edition of South Florida Constructor, the Coastal Construction Group was divided into four separate entities, each with a specific market sector. The Coastal Construction Company was designed to handle “ a broad range of construction services for many types of commercial projects including hotels, TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 265 schools, churches and office, industrial, retail and specialty buildings.” Its clients have included Hyatt, Marriot, Ritz-Carlton, and the University of Miami. Coastal Condominiums was created just for the construction of condominiums and timeshare residences. “. The company has completed more than 3,700 condominium units; more than 15 million square feet, including such projects as Ocean Reef Club, Verona and Siena at Deering Bay Yacht and Country Club” and many more. Coastal Interiors has constructed numerous “interior build-outs and renovations in both residential and commercial buildings, including condominiums, offices and retail spaces.” Finally, Coastal Homes was designed as a separate entity to build ultra-high-end residences, and has had clients such as “Sylvester Stallone, Oprah Winfrey, Frank and Kathie Lee Gifford, Dan Marino, Don Shula, Jimmy Johnson, Raymond Floyd, Bob Vila, as well as corporate leaders and executives.” (South Florida Constructor, Spring 2008) Keeping Score On Coastal: The Spring 2008 edition of South Florida Constructor reported that, at the time of its article, the Coastal Construction Group had completed over 3,700 condominium units, with over 15 million square feet and valued over $500 million, 3,000 hotel rooms valued over $150 million, 100 commercial buildings, 2 million square feet of industrial structures, valued at over $100 million, and 200 high-end custom residences, valued between $1 million - $50 million each. (South Florida Constructor, Spring 2008) Coastal Construction Reached $1 Billion In Projects: In April 2006, Business Wire published a release announcing that the Coastal Construction Group’s “portfolio of active projects in South Florida [had] surpassed the $1 billion level - a "riveting" record for the Miami-based general contracting company.” Coastal’s portfolio included 30 diverse projects totaling $1.1 billion, “ranging from public elementary schools to mixeduse developments to high-rise condominiums and ultra-high-end custom homes.” Because of their expanded business, Coastal Construction opened offices in Palm Beach and Fisher Island, in addition to moving its Miami headquarters to a larger office space. Coastal’s chairman and CEO Tom Murphy said “demand for quality general contractors [was] at an all-time high.” According to Murphy, Coastal was “in a very favorable position to be able to turn down work and only choose the best projects with the most seasoned owners and developers." (Business Wire, April 6, 2006) Coastal CEO Established Shell Corporations: According to the Florida Secretary of State Corporations Division, Coastal Construction co-founder, CEO, and chairman Tom Murphy, Jr. registered two corporations with the Secretary of State that were not affiliated with the Coastal Construction Group. Murphy established Briland Holdings, LLC in 2004, and Cocktails Leasing Company, LLC in 2006. The Secretary of State listed Murphy as the Manager of both corporations. According to the independent watchdog site, Crane Watchdog claimed that Murphy created these two corporations “to hold various pieces of real estate and other assets.” (Briland Holdings; Cocktails Leasing; Crane Watchdog) Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 Celebrities Go Coastal Coastal Homes: “Builder For The Stars”: In April 2009, Construction Today published a profile on Miami builder Coastal Construction Group in which the responsibilities of the company’s four divisions were outlined. Since its inception in1989, the Coastal family had expanded to include Coastal Construction, providing construction services for commercial projects, Coastal Condominiums for condo and timeshare residential construction, Coastal Interiors, handling interior build outs and renovations for commercial and residential buildings, and, finally, Coastal Homes, a separate company building “’ultra high-end' single family homes for a client list that [has included] celebrities like Oprah Winfrey, Sylvester Stallone, Dan Marino, Don Shula and Bob Vila.” Coastal Condominiums has built over 3700 condominium residences, including Deering Bay Yacht and Country Club, Jupiter Yacht Club, Bayview VIII at Fisher Island and Excelsior, and Coastal Interiors has claimed to have “earned the respect of its peers and the gratitude of its clients through the Murphy family tradition of integrity, professionalism and dedication to customer satisfaction,” but Coastal Homes has gained the most notoriety, having often been dubbed the “Builder for the Stars.” (Construction Today, April 1, 2009) Coastal’s Sophistication Won Over High-End Clientele: The April 2009, Construction Today article reported that as a separate entity from the Coastal family, Coastal Homes has constructed 250 luxury homes in South Florida over the last 40 years for a clientele of “wealthy, high-profile individuals” with “have the resources … to bring their personal fantasy to life.” Coastal has asserted that their sophisticated and demanding clients “were won over by Coastal's flawless reputation for creating breathtaking, master-crafted showplaces while delivering outstanding quality, value, timeliness and customer service.” Because their clients have often been in the public eye, Coastal Homes has strictly adhered to a privacy policy, and has worked with their client to ensure that each luxury home was equipped with the most stringent security measures possible. The company has claimed that “this dedication to client needs and comfort that has helped Coastal Homes becoming the leader in its marketplace today.” (Construction Today, April 1, 2009) Oprah Called Coastal’s Work “Best Construction Experience Of My Life”: In October 2006 Southeast Construction profiled Miami builder Coastal Construction, “a firm regarded as one of South Florida's premier builders of highrise condos and other structures.” Coastal, however, has not only seen success in condo building, “The company's luxury homes division, Coastal Homes, has built some of the most luxurious homes in South Florida.” Coastal’s successes have included building homes “for such celebrities as Sylvester Stallone, Dan Marino, Ray Floyd, Don Shula, Jimmy Johnson and Frank Gifford.” Coastal has also built “four South Florida homes for Oprah Winfrey” in addition to remodeling a home for Bob Vila. “Of the many projects she's undertaken, Winfrey called one of Coastal's efforts ‘the best construction experience of my life, by far.’” (Southeast Construction, October 1, 2006) TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 267 Going Green Coastal Construction Built Miami’s First New LEED Certified Building: In August 2010, the South Florida Business Journal reported that the first new building in Miami to receive final certification from the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program was the Rilea Group’s angular glass tower, 1450 Brickell, built by the prominent Miami firm Coastal Construction. “The LEED system is the nation's most common benchmark for the design, construction and operation of environmentally sound buildings.” Construction of the building included adding green features like “Low-flow water fixtures are projected to save more than 2.5 million gallons of water a year,” “preferred parking spaces for low emission, fuel-efficient vehicles,” and “pedestrian and cyclist-friendly amenities.” Additionally, the tower was built to be energy efficient, and 78% of construction waste was recycled and “40 percent of all materials came from sources within 500 miles.” According to LEED consultant for 1450 Brickell Rob Hink, the building “stands alone as the only newly constructed LEED Gold-certified office tower in downtown Miami, making it a model for green construction.” (South Florida Business Journal, August 19, 2010) Decision To Pursue LEED Certification Came Well Into Brickell’s Design Process: In May 2008, Construction Today interviewed Coastal Construction vice president Jeff Lee regarding their construction of the first new LEED-certified development in downtown Miami. According to Lee, the decision to go after the certification was made “well into the design phase,” so the company faced challenges in preconstruction of maintaining the predetermined budget. However, Lee said that the additional cost of the certification “was less than one percent of the original budget,” and “the savings on the maintenance and operational costs of the building” more than covered the additional expenditure. According to Lee, “the Coastal team worked closely with the project architect, Nichols Brosch Wurst Wolfe & Associates Inc. (NBWW), so that the design changes necessary to achieve the LEED certification were made without any schedule delays.” He said that “this project [was] one of the first Class A LEED-certified high rise buildings built on Brickell Avenue in recent years.” Lee said that it was Coastal Construction’s vast experience with the construction of high-rises in South Florida that got the attention of the project’s developer, the Rilea Group. Coastal CEO Tom Murphy said that 1450 Brickell was the first project they had done with Rilea, and the smooth construction process “reaffirm[ed] that’ success comes with good working relationships and satisfying the client from the start.” (Construction Today, May 1, 2008) 1450 Brickell Built To Weather Florida Storms: In June 2009, The Real Deal published an article explaining how Florida developers, wary to the glassshattering power of hurricanes like the recent ‘Wilma’, were beginning to take construction precautions before the storm season began. Coastal Construction, the construction management company contracted to build the 1450 Brickell tower, took things further by installing “a glass curtain wall system fashioned Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 entirely out of large missile-impact resistant glass that withstood wind loads of up to 327 mph during lab testing.” Designers said that the curtain wall system made 1450 Brickell the only building on the market able to meet that wind resistance standard. Coastal project executive Jeff Lee was quoted as saying that, “After enduring one of the most rigorous sets of glass testing ever conducted in the United States, we can say with confidence that 1450 Brickell's curtain wall system will set a new standard for building strength." (The Real Deal, June 3, 2009) Coastal Construction’s 1450 Brickell Named One Of “Southeast’s Top Projects”: In June 2008, Southeast Construction released its “Top Projects” report, “a ranking by construction contract value of the biggest projects to break ground during the preceding calendar year within Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina.” Coastal Construction’s $149 million project 1450 Brickell ranked 25th among the “Top Projects,” counting it among the 36 projects over $100 million in construction value that were included on the list. (Southeast Construction, June 1, 2008) Coastal Construction Named “Top Green Contractor”: In rankings released by Southeast Construction in April 2010, the Coastal Construction Group was ranked 23rd among the publication’s “Top Green Contractors.”. The rankings were determined by the firm’s “activity in the green construction market” according to revenues from regional construction associated with projects certified as green by a third-party rating system. According to Southeast Construction's annual Top Contractors survey, Coastal Construction earned $47.9 million in “green revenue” and employed 2 LEED certified professionals. Additionally, a 2009 ranking published by Engineering News-Record placed Coastal Construction 91st among its list of the “Top 100 Green Contractors.” Their rankings were determined “according to revenue for contractors' services generated in 2008 from projects that have been registered with or certified by a thirdparty organization that sets standards for measuring a building's or facility's environmental impact, energy efficiency or carbon footprint. Such groups include the U.S. Green Building Council and the Green Building Globes.” (Southeast Construction, April 1, 2010; Engineering News-Record, September 14, 2009) Coastal CEO Said Green Building Required “Learning Curve”: In June 2007, the Miami Herald interviewed Coastal Construction CEO Tom Murphy about his company’s capturing of niche markets as condo sales plummeted in South Florida. Murphy was asked whether ‘green building,’ which has become popular among developers, was more difficult than the traditional process. Murphy responded, saying that green building was “not any tougher to build,” and that, though he believed it to be a trend, Murphy was “sure there is some good to it.” Murphy said that green building had a “learning curve,” and that it would “cost some money. But over the long term it probably won't cost that much more.” The decision whether to make a building ‘green’ is up to the developer, Murphy said. “We build what the developer specifies.” (Miami Herald, June 2, 2007) TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 269 Coastal Officials On Immigration Coastal Construction CEO: “If the foreign workers disappeared, the country would go into a little tailspin”: In May 2007, the Miami Herald published an article discussing the Senate-White House “proposal to bring thousands of illegal immigrants into the legal workforce.” The article named construction as one of the industries likely to be most affected by the bill. Tom Murphy, chairman and CEO of Coastal Construction “estimate[d] 60 to 70 percent of his workers are foreigners.” Murphy said he supported “any agreement that lets them stay.” Murphy called the bill “a positive and necessary step for the country,” and said “if the foreign workers disappeared, the country would go into a little tailspin.” Murphy also expressed his support for “of an electronic verification process to screen workers.” According to Murphy, though Coastal Construction has required worker documentation of all of its projects, the company could not “ensure that their papers [were] authentic.” (Miami Herald, May 19, 2007) Immigrant Protests Had Major Burden On Florida Contractors: In May 2006, the Associated Press reported that a massive boycott by immigrants in Florida “to show their sizable role in the U.S. economy” had a devastating effect on construction productivity in South Florida. “Dan Whiteman, head of Coastal Construction Corp., said about 50 percent of construction workers hadn't shown up for nearly a week at the company's' 20 projects along the Southeast Florida Coast including the luxury Trump Royale Condominium project.” According to Whiteman, the boycotts cost the company “hundreds of thousands of dollars.” (Miami Herald, May 2, 2006) St. Regis Construction Marred By Foreign Worker Controversy: In February 2009, the CBS 4 I-Team reported that a subcontractor on the St. Regis Bal Harbour project, on which Coastal Construction was the general contractor, angered local workers, as well as some members of Congress, by bringing in foreign workers from Mexico to install the projects HVAC systems on the projects, while thousands of sheet metal workers in Florida remained out of work. The subcontractor, CYVSA International, one of the largest construction firms in Mexico, drew criticism when it was approved to bring in foreign workers from Mexico under the H2-B Visa program. The H2-B Visas were established “to be issued for seasonal work and only when there [were} no American workers available. Both the State of Florida and the U.S. Department of Labor certified there were no Americans available, even though they claimed to try and recruit the workers during a ten day period.” The CBS 4 I-Team, however, gathered over 100 unemployed local sheet metal workers within 72 hours for a town hall meeting where their grievances were heard. U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, the congresswoman serving the district including the construction site, was quoted as saying, "How can you bring folks from another country - no diss on Mexico - to do this construction project when you have so many folks here who could use the work?" CYVSA president Sergio Armella contacted the I-Team and asserted that, while his company had brought in workers from Mexico, and had been certified for the H2-B Visa program, they had not used the visas. Armella claimed that the St. Regis workers included a team of “key individuals who have worked on our international projects for a number of years,” but also added that CYVSA had hired “qualified workers from the local labor pool.” Armella Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 would not confirm what visa program the company had used, how many workers were brought in, or what they were begin paid, despite I-Team reports that the Mexican workers were being paid less than half of what the American workers were making. (CBS 4 I-Team, February 16, 2009) Contracts And Major Projects Coastal Construction Company Contracted For Sunny Isles’ Park Project: According to the Sun-Sentinel in October 2010, the Sunny Isles Beach Commission has contracted Coastal Construction Company to complete work on its Heritage Park project, a plan for a parking facility and public park at 19200 Collins Avenue. Stephanie DeThomas, Sunny Isles Beach public information and events specialist, said that they expected the park to be completed by mid-January. The plan for the park included “numerous amenities including walking paths, playgrounds, a dog park and basketball court,” as well as “a Heritage Wall and a Veterans Wall containing the names of residents who have contributed to the progress of the city and who have served the country honorably.” Coastal Construction was one of 31 firms to submit a bid for the project, and was awarded that $9.25 million contract in June 2009 with completion expected in summer 2010. (Sun-Sentinel, October 14, 2010; The Real Deal, August 7, 2009; Miami Herald, August 14, 2009; Engineering News-Record, August 31, 2009) Coastal’s “At-Risk” Method Won Them Public School Contract: According to Construction Today in June 2010, the Coastal Construction was drawn to the MiamiDade School System for potential construction opportunities because the school system had decided to “move toward a Construction Manager at-risk Program (CM at-risk).” The reason for the change was that the county had encountered problems with contractors in the past using the traditional “’low-bid’ method,” which had led to “excessive change orders and schedule delays, which led to numerous lawsuits.” Coastal Construction began using the CM at-risk method “because the process involve[d] everyone at the design phase of the project--from owners, architects, designers and construction managers--to create a more cohesive, team-oriented approach to building and making all the members of the team aware of the tasks required to complete a project successfully.” Furthermore, the ‘at-risk’ method forced construction managers to complete the project at a fixed price, making it “the construction manager's best interest to ensure budgets are adhered to and all schedules are met.” It was Coastal Constructions adherence to quality and budget that won them the contract to complete the modernization of Carol City Senior High School, which was completed in three phases while the school was still in operation. (Construction Today, June 22, 2010) Coastal Construction “Raised The Bar” By Completing School Construction Ahead Of Schedule: In June 2010, Construction Today reported that Coastal Construction, which had been contracted to modernize Miami-Dade Public Schools’ Carol City High had “raised the bar” by completing the project “more than four months ahead of schedule.” The $79.4 million project was scheduled for completion in September 2010, but “Coastal shaved weeks off the construction schedule by TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 271 implementing tilt-wall concrete construction for the project.” The tilt-wall system, more commonly used in commercial building construction, allowed for more rapid construction. Additionally, it created “solid, strong walls able to withstand hurricaneforce wind codes that are standard in Dade County.” The tilt-wall system had the additional benefit of life cycle analysis savings. “The limit of--water intrusion, common in concrete block construction, [was] virtually eliminated from the structure.” Coastal vice president Jeff Lee asserted that, “with tilt-wall construction, you don't have the cracking that is usually present in block construction… when covered with a textured coating, the exterior walls require much less maintenance.” Coastal ensured that quality control and assurance were among its top priorities for this project. They “retained an independent roofing consultant to ensure a quality roofing installation to avoid future water intrusion. Chamber tests were performed on the windows by a third-party consulting company retained to verify that all windows were leak-free, as well.” Lee also cited their talented group of subcontractors, as well as quality planning and coordination for their ability to complete the project so far ahead of schedule, claiming, “you are only as good as your subcontractors.” (Construction Today, June 22, 2010; Southeast Constriction, July 1, 2009) Coastal Construction’s Quality Service Earned School System’s Loyalty: In June 2010, Construction Today reported that Coastal Construction’s began reach into the educational sector over the past five years has allowed them to complete “more than 20 projects and generated more than $300 million worth of business for Miami-Dade County Public Schools (MDCPS).” The firm’s work with MDCPS has earned them “an outstanding reputation” with the school system and “recognition as MDCPS's top-ranked construction manager.” Coastal Construction vice president Jeff Lee asserted that Coastal “get[s] involved in the project very early on long before we're even awarded the contract, offering advice on cost-effective alternatives…we like to think of it as value design, partnered with value engineering." (Construction Today, June 22, 2010) Coastal Construction “Extremely Fortunate” For Relationship With Miami-Dade Public Schools: In an August 2009, Construction Today reported that Miami-Dade County Public Schools’ plan to reduce overcrowding by enhancing existing facilities has helped Miami contractor Coastal Construction by “boost[ing] the number of projects in the contractor's institutional portfolio.” Coastal vice president Tom C. Murphy was quoted as saying that the company has been “extremely fortunate to have the relationship that [it does] with Miami-Dade County Public Schools… They have been a pleasure to work with in the past several years, and I think we have been performing well for them.” MDCPS recently switched from the traditional “hard-bid” process to “using construction management at-risk and design/build delivery methods,” which has allowed it to attract more qualified contractors like Coastal Construction. Using this method, each contractor had to be “prequalified to meet specific bonding and capability requirements.” Murphy said that, while the district has several contractors to choose from, “Coastal came up with a guaranteed price that fit the bill.” One project awarded to Coastal by MDCPS was the three-phase modernization of Carol City Senior High School, a project that was so successful that the phases were completed weeks ahead of schedule. Senior Project Manager Goran Ljustina lauded the project’s success, claiming that “the team has worked seamlessly together, and it's really been a great Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 effort on everyone's part…Communication has been good with all team members, including the architect and school board and municipal agencies.” He added that Coastal’s ability to finish ahead of schedule was the result of “good coordination that started from when we were awarded the job, and [it] tends to resolve issues before we are forced to face them in the field.” Coastal vice president Tom C. Murphy also championed the firm’s ability to complete the project without interrupting the school’s operations. He asserted that, “Coastal takes great pride in its ability to understand and meet the needs of its clients while always making safety its No. 1 priority…Our coordination with school staff, which is sensitive to the 'learning environment,' is paramount to us." An entirely separate construction entrance also allowed for the fluid flow of materials and laborers to and from the site. A crucial part of the project was installing the site utilities, which the contractor implemented during summer recess.” (Construction Today, August 1, 2009) Coastal Construction Group Won $33 Million Contract For Key West School Construction: According to Tendersinfo News in October 2010, Coastal Construction was awarded a $33.1million contract “to reconstruct Horace O'Bryant Middle School in Key West, with a firm completion date of June 24, 2013.” The Monroe County School Board expressed concerns over the short timetable of the project, but “Superintendent Joseph Burke assured board members that Miami-based general contractor Coastal Construction Group and its subcontractors are well aware of the 33-month construction period.” “’The clock started ticking on June 24 when we signed the closing documents on a 36-month timeframe in which we need to complete this project and expend all of the funds,’ Burke said. If not, the contractor could face a penalty.” Board member Steve Pribramsky expressed concerns over who would be held responsible if the project was not completed on schedule. "If there's a problem, who do we go to?" he asked Burke. "I think we're bringing in these expert people so we're not left holding the bag here." "I think we're bringing them in so there is no bag," Burke said.” (Tendersinfo News, October 3, 2010) Coastal Construction Contracted For Miami School Production: According to Southeast Construction in July 2007, Coastal Construction was awarded contracts for two Miami-Dade public schools. The article revealed that the company constructed a “three-story, 36-classroom modular school addition at John A. Ferguson Senior High,” as well as a “modular addition at Palm Springs Elementary, which provided 14 classrooms with 308 student stations, P.E. shelter and basketball courts.” (Southeast Construction, July 1, 2007) Coastal Construction Built For Luxury: In June 2010, Construction Today reported that Miami-based Coastal Construction Group had completed the St. Regis Bal Harbour resort and residences, just north of Miami. Coastal was “no stranger to luxury building,” and constructed the resort to include “an ocean-facing, state-of-the-art health and fitness center, resort pool, as well as lavishly appointed common areas.” In the article, Coastal Construction stated its goal as continuing to provide “clients with superior value through quality construction, timely performance and outstanding customer service, while always maintaining the highest level of integrity and professionalism.” (Construction Today, June 22, 2010) TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 273 Dewatering A Challenge For Resort Design: In April 2009, Dixie Contractor reported that construction of the St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort and Residences, a complex comprised of a hotel and two condo towers 27-stories each located yards from the Atlantic Ocean had encountered some water challenges, as much of the concrete foundation for the complex had to be constructed below the water table. “Before any of the concrete work could begin, something had to be done about the water.” Coastal Construction Group, the project’s construction manager, and development manager The Related Group devised a dewatering plan. Working with Water Control Systems, Coast and Related “develop[ed] a multi-faceted plan to dewater the site and allow that foundation work to move ahead.” The plan involved “ a large fleet of pumps, including a variety of rotary, hydraulic, jet and vacuum assisted models, to handle the overall efforts.” Eventually, the pump network they constructed was handling as much as 35,000 gallons of water a minute. “Despite the scope of this dewatering operation, the dewatering system has operated smoothly.” Water Control Systems’ Roger Freeman asserted that this was not accidental. He pointed out that that “planning, scheduling and attention to logistics and maintenance are of tremendous importance on any dewatering project but especially on one of this magnitude.” (Dixie Contractor, April 6, 2009) Coastal Complete $500 Million Bal Harbour Resort With Record Dewatering Project: According to Construction Today in April 2009,Coastal Construction has also had experience with high-end hotel developments, in addition to luxury residences. The company has “completed more than 40 hotels with more than 3,000 rooms, including the Ritz-Carlton South Beach, InterContinental, Hyatt, Marriott, Hampton Inns and the Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables, Fla.” Coastal’s most recent hotel project, the St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort and Residences, “of three 27-story towers--a hotel tower with 293 hotel, condominium and fractional units and two towers with 115 luxury condo units” totaled $485 million. Since many of the resort’s amenities were two stories below sea level and the job site was on the coast, Coastal president Daniel Whiteman said that the project “this required one of the largest dewatering projects in South Florida's history.” Whiteman explained that, “when dewatering a nine-acre building that is two stories below grade, you want to thoroughly analyze each area to be constructed in a very carefully developed sequence of operations.” However, he insisted that Coastal’s close cooperation with developer The Related Group allowed problems with the project to be “being identified and solved almost immediately.” (Construction Today, April 1, 2009) Coastal’s St. Regis Resort Development Placed Third In “Southeast’s Top Projects” Ranking: In June 2008, Southeast Construction released its “Top Projects” report, “a ranking by construction contract value of the biggest projects to break ground during the preceding calendar year within Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina.” Coastal Construction’s $480 million project St. Regis Resort and Residences placed 3rd among the “Top Projects,” counting Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 it among the 36 projects over $100 million in construction value that were included on the list. (Southeast Construction, June 1, 2008) St. Regis Construction Marred By Foreign Worker Controversy: In February 2009, the CBS 4 I-Team reported that a subcontractor on the St. Regis Bal Harbour project, on which Coastal Construction was the general contractor, angered local workers, as well as some members of Congress, by bringing in foreign workers from Mexico to install the projects HVAC systems on the projects, while thousands of sheet metal workers in Florida remained out of work. The subcontractor, CYVSA International, one of the largest construction firms in Mexico, drew criticism when it was approved to bring in foreign workers from Mexico under the H2-B Visa program. The H2-B Visas were established “to be issued for seasonal work and only when there [were} no American workers available. Both the State of Florida and the U.S. Department of Labor certified there were no Americans available, even though they claimed to try and recruit the workers during a ten day period.” The CBS 4 I-Team, however, gathered over 100 unemployed local sheet metal workers within 72 hours for a town hall meeting where their grievances were heard. U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, the congresswoman serving the district including the construction site, was quoted as saying, "How can you bring folks from another country - no diss on Mexico - to do this construction project when you have so many folks here who could use the work?" CYVSA president Sergio Armella contacted the I-Team and asserted that, while his company had brought in workers from Mexico, and had been certified for the H2-B Visa program, they had not used the visas. Armella claimed that the St. Regis workers included a team of “key individuals who have worked on our international projects for a number of years,” but also added that CYVSA had hired “qualified workers from the local labor pool.” Armella would not confirm what visa program the company had used, how many workers were brought in, or what they were begin paid, despite I-Team reports that the Mexican workers were being paid less than half of what the American workers were making. (CBS 4 I-Team, February 16, 2009) Coastal Construction Part Of Development Team For Palm Beach Convention Center Hotel: In March 2010, the South Florida Business Journal reported that Coastal Construction, along with Hilton Worldwide, Catafulmo Construction and Coral Gablesbased architecture firm Nichols Brosch Wurst Wolfe & Associates were part of the development team put together by Related Cos. Of New York to design and construct “a 400-room, Hilton-branded hotel adjacent to the Palm Beach County Convention Center in West Palm Beach.“ the project was approved by a unanimous vote from the Palm Beach County Commission, bringing Palm Beach County’s long-awaited plan for a convention center hotel “one step closer to reality.” (South Florida Business Journal, March 10, 2010) Coastal Construction Group Developed Luxury Promenade Condo In Boynton Beach: In October 2009, the Palm Beach Post reported that Miami-based builder Coastal Construction Group had completed construction on The Promenade, a 14-story condominium in Boynton Beach complete with “a 5,000-square-foot clubhouse, a library, a theater, a game room and a business center.” However, the article reported that the property had not been able to close sale on any of its 395 condos, despite a TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 275 massive rush in pre-sales of the units, due to a Fannie Mae requirement “that 51 percent of a condo be pre-sold before Fannie Mae will buy mortgages made to that condo.” Coastal President Daniel Whiteman said that, “the certificate of occupancy was issued by the city on Aug. 25…. But the CRA has not been provided any information on when the Promenade will start closings.” (Palm Beach Post, October 19, 2009) Coastal Construction Awarded Two Luxury Development Contracts From Donald Trump: In April 2009, Construction Today reported that Coastal Constructions was the construction manager at-risk for two luxury condominium projects belonging to Donald Trump. The first, the Trump Royale, was a 55-story, 384-unit development in Sunny Isles Beach, FL. The scale of this project was so large that “the foundation required the largest single concrete pour in the history of Florida. The foundation used 14,000 cubic yards of concrete in a monolithic pour that was handled by a crew of 900 laborers that worked in three shifts over a 24-hour period.” Coastal Construction president Daniel Whiteman reported that “the pour required 150 trucks pouring concrete from eight plants.” Coastal CEO Tom Murphy said, “the Royale is the final phase of the $1 billion Trump Grande Ocean Resort and Residences, an 11-acre enclave.” Murphy was quoted in the Sun-Sentinel as saying that it was “pretty exciting to be part of something this big.” Coastal’s second Trump project was the $150 million Trump Hollywood, “a 42story condominium project with 208 units, 36 cabanas and a stand-alone, four-story garage located on oceanfront property in Hollywood, Fla.” The development’s proximity to the Atlantic Ocean presented a challenge, requiring extensive dewatering. However, “because of the company's experience in luxury condominium construction, the dewatering was planned out during preconstruction.” According to Whiteman, "Coastal has completed over 5,000 [units] representing approximately 20 million square feet in high-rise condominium projects." Coastal CEO Tom Murphy was interviewed in a June 2007 South Florida Business Journal article about receiving the Hollywood contract. Murphy was quoted as saying that Coastal was “extremely excited to be a part of this project and for the opportunity to continue working with such a reputable and powerful development team… The tower's sleek and innovative design is sure to make its mark on the Hollywood skyline, and we look forward to delivering it on time.” (Construction Today, April 1, 2009, November 1, 2008; Sun-Sentinel, January 9, 2006; South Florida Business Journal, June 13, 2007) Coastal’s Trump Hollywood Development Was Highest Ranked Condominium In “Southeast’s Top Projects” Ranking: In June 2008, Southeast Construction released its “Top Projects” report, “a ranking by construction contract value of the biggest projects to break ground during the preceding calendar year within Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina.” Coastal Construction’s $150 million Trump Hollywood project placed 18th among the “Top Projects,” making it the highest-ranked condominium project on the list, and counting it among the 36 projects over $100 million in construction value that were included on the list. (Southeast Construction, June 1, 2008) Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 Coastal Served As Construction Manager For Red Road Commons: In April 2009 Construction Today reported that Coastal Construction was contracted to be the construction manager for Red Road Commons, a $60 million for-rent apartment development with “six, four- and five-story building complex, including 10,700 sq ft of retail space, 1,900 sq ft of office space, a two-story basement parking garage, a separate four-story parking garage and an overhead pedestrian bridge” adjacent to the University of Miami. Over the past 20 years Coastal has constructed over 25 projects similar to Red Road Commons, building more than 800 units. In fact, although the University of Miami did not sponsor the project, the school closely monitored the project “as a potential prototype for its housing needs.” Red Road Commons was the second property Coastal built for developer Wood Partners; the first was The Edge, a high-rise condominium tower in West Palm Beach. (Construction Today, April 1, 2009, Engineering NewsRecord, June 9, 2008) Coastal Construction Awarded $45 Million Worthing Place Contract: In February 2009, Southeast Construction reported that developer Southcoast Partners had selected the Palm Beach office of the Coastal Construction Group to build the $45 million Worthing Place, a 217-unit condominium community in downtown Delray Beach.” (Southeast Construction, February 1, 2009) Coastal Construction Contracted For New Bacardi Headquarters: In November 2008, Construction Today reported that Miami Builder Coastal Construction had begun work on a new headquarters for Bacardi in Coral Gables, FL. The project was contracted at $50 million, and the facility was designed to be 15 stories tall and span 250,000 square feet. According to Southeast Construction in August 2007, the new headquarters was not a green design, meaning it had no sustainable features. (Construction Today, November 1, 2008; Southeast Construction, August 1, 2007) Coastal Construction Built Miami’s Axis Condo Towers: In November 2008, Construction Today reported that Miami Builder Coastal Construction’s past work included The Axis, a $158 million set of 40-story condominium towers in Miami with 718 units. The project was contracted with a budget of $160 million. According to Southeast Construction in February 2008, The Axis comprised a total 1.5 million square feet. Coastal project manager Ken Anderson said that it was “interesting in the sheer size of the project… our manpower peaked at 600 on any given day. It's a tight site. On the north and west side of the project is the Miami people mover." (Construction Today, November 1, 2008; Southeast Construction, July 1, 2006) Coastal Construction Awarded Contract For Promenade Condominium: In March 2007, the South Florida Business Journal reported that Coastal Construction had been appointed the general contractor for the Boynton Beach Promenade condominium, a set of “14-story towers to have 318 one-, two- and three-bedroom condos from the $300,000s and 77 fully furnished condo-hotel suites from the $200,000s, as well as 20,000 square feet of street-front shops, restaurants and boutiques.” The article reported that Coastal Construction ad already begun land preparation for the project, and that the development had recently “closed on a $114 million construction loan from Anglo Irish Bank.” (South Florida Business Journal, March 12, 2007) TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 277 Coastal Construction Named As Contender for Marathon City Hall Contract: In January 2007, the Florida Keys Keynote reported that Coastal Construction was one of three top contractors under consideration to be construction manager at-risk for the proposed construction of a new city hall proposed for Marathon City. (Florida Keys Keynote, January 20, 2007) Coastal Construction Awarded Contract For Wind Condo By Neo: In December 2006, the Miami Herald reported that Coastal Construction had been awarded a contract to build Wind by Neo, “a 489-unit condominium is on 13 Ω acres in River Front, a self-contained community [including] homes, stores and restaurants.” (Miami Herald, December 17, 2006) Coastal Construction Awarded Beachside And Marlin Bay Contracts: In November 2006, Engineering News-Record reported that Coastal Construction had been awarded contracts to construct both the $70 million Beachside condominium in Key West and the Marlin Bay Yacht Club, including “construction of 25 single-family residences, an 8,700sq-ft dockmaster facility and clubhouse.” (Engineering News-Record, November 13, 2006) Coastal Construction Contracted For Dania Beach Rec Center Repairs: In May 2006, the Sun-Sentinel reported that Coastal Construction had been awarded the contract to repair the Dania Beach recreation center that was damaged by Hurricane Wilma. The article explained that Coastal was waiting on permits to begin construction, and the contract required that the work be completed within 120 days. (Sun-Sentinel, May 26, 2006) Coastal Construction Awarded Contract For BellaMare Condominium: According to Southeast Construction in December 2005, Coastal Construction was contracted to build the 32-story BellaMare condominium on Williams Island—“the largest-ever ‘skyhome’ development for WCI Communities.” (Southeast Construction, December 1, 2005) Company Rankings And Awards Coastal Construction: Best In Show: According to an article in the Spring 2008 edition of South Florida Constructor, the Coastal Construction Group has been the recipient of “more than 50 awards in the past decade from distinguished local and national professional associations for projects ranging from new construction to historic preservations.” Such awards have included “Best in Show” from The Miami Herald and South Florida’s BEST Awards for a private residential project in Weston, FL. Additionally, Engineering News Record has consistently ranked Coastal as one of its top 400 contractors in the country and among its top 10 list of builders in Florida. Finally, Coastal was named South Florida Business Journal’s “Business of the Year in the category of construction organizations over $100 million in size.” Despite this, Coastal President Dan Whiteman asserted that the company’s greatest honor was “being chosen over and over again by our clients to do their next project.” He added that “over 75 percent of our projects [have been] with repeat clients or with customers to whom we have been recommended by their friends and associates.” (South Florida Constructor, Spring 2008) Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 Consistently Ranked A “Top Contractor” Coastal Construction Consistently in Top Half Of Engineering News-Record’s “Top 400 Contractors”: According to rankings released by Engineering News-Record in September 2009 and 2010, the Coastal Construction Group of Miami has been consistently named in the upper half of the publication’s “Top 400 Contractors.” In 2006, the company ranked 197th rising to 145th in 2007. Coastal placed 154th in 2008, and rose to 111th in 2009. Though the recession caused the firm to slip slightly in the rankings between 2009 and 2010, the Coastal Construction Group still placed 198th in the Engineering News-Record rankings. (Engineering News-Record, September 24, 2007, September 22, 2008, September 14, 2009, September 13, 2010) Coastal Construction Consistently Ranked Among Top 100 “CM At-Risk Firms”: In rankings released by Engineering News-Record in June 2008, 2009, and 2010, the Coastal Construction Group ranked among the publication’s “Top 100 Construction Management At-Risk Firms.” The rankings were determined by the annual revenue the firms took in from “from ´at riskª Construction Management or Project/Program contracts in which the firm is exposed to financial responsibilities and risk similar to those of a general contractor. “ In 2008, Coastal Construction ranked 81st among firms practicing the “Construction Management At-Risk” program. They rose to 55th in 2009. In 2010, the Coastal Construction ranked 73rd of the top 100 CM at-risk firms. (Engineering NewsRecord, June 7, 2010, June 8, 2009, June 9, 2008) Coastal Construction Consistently Ranked Among Southeast Construction’s Top Contractors: According to rankings released by Southeast Construction in April 20072010, which compared contracting firms from Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina, the Coastal Construction Group ranked 10th of the publication’s “Top Contractors” in 2009, jumping up 11 ranks from its 2006 and 2007-2008 positions at 23rd and 21st, and 24th in 2010. Additionally, the firm placed 12th in the list of “Top Florida Contractors” in 2006, 10th in 2008, jumped up to 1st place in 2009, and ranked 8th in 2010. Southeast Construction also ranked Coastal 15th among the “Top General Building Contractors,” 4th out of the “Top Hotels, Motels, Convention Centers Contractors,” 15th among the “Top General Contractors,” and 13th out of the “Top Private Contractors.” (Southeast Construction, April 1, 2010, April 1, 2009, April 1, 2008, April 1, 2007; April 1, 2006) Coastal Construction Ranked Third In List Of Region’s Largest Contractors: In February 2008 the South Florida Business Journal Reported that Coastal Construction placed third in the Business Journal’s 2007 list of the region’s largest general contractors, with a total of $401.8 million in South Florida gross billings. The article also discussed how the company had begun to diversify its market four years earlier, “residential represented less than 50 percent of its business.” According to Coastal president Daniel Whiteman, “the company has been growing consistently at 20 percent a year, and now has greater emphasis on schools, hospitality and high-end singlefamily homes.” (South Florida Business Journal, February 11, 2008) TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 279 Coastal Project Earned Silver Distinction From Professional Builder: In February 2008, Professional Builder published a list of its Silver winners for its Best in American Living awards. Coastal Construction’s Ocean Palm’s penthouse in Hollywood, FL earned Professional Builder’s award for “Best High-Rise Multi-Family 6 stories and over.” (Professional Builder, February 1, 2008) Coastal Construction Named A Top Private Company By South Florida CEO: In July 2007 South Florida CEO published a list of the 200 “Top Private Companies” in 2005 and 2006 for the region. Miami’s Coastal Construction Group ranked 65th on the list in 2005, with a 23% increase in its revenue from 2004, and rose to 51st in 2006, with a 51% increase in from its 2005 revenue. (South Florida CEO, July 1, 2007) Projects Received Many Honors Coastal Construction Project Won Top Honors At South Florida’s BEST Awards: In June 2001 the Miami Herald reported that the Coastal Construction’s project the Conference Center of the Americas (CCA) at The Biltmore Hotel was received high honors at South Florida’s BEST Awards, “a competition that recognizes excellence in the statewide building industry.” As the general contractor on the conference center, Coastal” won Platinum standing for its work in the category, Builder's Overall Product for Commercial Hotels.” Coastal CEO Tom Murphy was quoted as saying, "the BEST awards are a distinct honor, and we are grateful for this recognition." (Miami Herald, June 7, 2001) Coastal Homes Took Top Prize In National Competition: In February 2000, Business Wire published a release announcing that Coastal Homes, a subsidiary of Miami’s Coastal Construction Group, “garnered top honors by receiving the Platinum Award in the Best in American Living Award's (BALA) Custom Home category.” Coastal CEO Tom Murphy was quoted as saying that the company was “extremely honored to receive BALA's Platinum Award for Best One-Of-a-Kind Custom Home, a tribute to all of the hard work and commitment to excellence Coastal has always been dedicated to.” According to Murphy, the award showed how Coastal has “set the standard for superior custom home building, helping make "top-quality construction" synonymous with Coastal Homes." Key features to Coastal’s award-winning Key Largo home included: “a hand-framed roof, stucco walls, courtyard fountain and natural stone decks.” (Business Wire, February 1, 2000) Coastal’s Neumann Church Development Won 1997 AURORA Award: In July 1997 the Miami Herald reported that Coastal Construction’s St. John Neumann Catholic Church took home an AURORA award in the institutional category from the Southeast Builders Conference in Orlando. (Miami Herald, July 27, 1997) Coastal Construction won 1997 FAME Silver And Gold: In May 1997 the Miami Herald reported that Miami’s Coastal Construction Had Received several Florida Achievement in Marketing Excellence (FAME) Awards for their outstanding work in the Florida Building Industry. Coastal’s Gray Residence took home the overall product gold in the remodeling and conversion category, and its Dickerson and Floyd residences took home the silver and gold respectively in the custom single-family residence category. (Miami Herald, May 4, 1997) Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 Coastal Construction Won 1997 National Builder Award: In February 1997, the Miami Herald reported that Miami’s Coastal Construction “won a merit award from the National Commercial Builders Council for its entry, St. John Neumann Catholic Church.” The company and their winning project were featured in both Nation's Building News and in the Commercial Builder magazine. (Miami Herald, February 16, 1997) Coastal Construction Received Two FAME Awards For Building Achievement: In Mach 1992 the Miami Herald reported that Miami’s Coastal Construction Company has received two Florida Achievement in Marketing Excellence (FAME) Awards for their outstanding work in the Florida Building Industry. Coastal took home both a silver and a bronze award for overall product for its Ocean Reef Club private home that the company built in Key Largo. (Miami Herald, March 8, 1992) Community Involvement And Charitable Donations Coastal Construction Group Actively Involved In the Community: On their company’s website Coastal Construction has insisted that they “’walk the walk’ of a trusted and concerned community member.” The company has posted a list of more than 50 civic and charitable organizations that have received financial and active support from Coastal Construction. Included among them are Big Brothers and Sisters, Boys and Girls Club, American Cancer Society, United Way, Rebuilding Together, Educate Tomorrow, the University of Miami, and many others. (Coastal Construction GroupCommunity Involvement) Tom And Leslie Murphy Of Coastal Construction Donated Scholarship To 2006 Charity Gala For Schools: According to a release published by Black, Srebnick, Kornspan & Stumpf, P.A. in January 2006, Tom And Leslie Murphy Of Coastal Construction donated a $25,000 scholarship at the Ray and Lea Black 10th Annual Bay Point Schools Charity Gala. The Gala raised a total of $2.25 million to benefit Bay Point Schools, an alternative boarding school that provides educational, vocational and therapeutic services.” (“Roy and Lea Black Raise $2.25 Million with 10th Annual Gala,” January 30, 2006) Coastal Construction Sponsored 2010 Miami Wine And Food Festival: According to a release published by the United Way of Miami-Dade in May 2010, the Coastal Construction Group was a magnum level sponsor of the 15th Annual Miami Wine And Food Festival. Other sponsors at that level included: “Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida, Champagne GH Mumm, FreshPoint Produce, Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau, Hellmann Worldwide Logistics, Miccosukee Resort & Gaming, , NCL Norwegian Cruise Line, Ryder Charitable Foundation, Steiner Transocean Ltd and The Yachts of Seabourn.” (Miami Wined and Dined for a Good Cause, United Way, May 19, 2010) Coastal Construction Presenting Sponsor Of Baptist Hospital Charity Ball: According to an article in SocialMiami, Coastal Construction Group, along with Radiology Associates of South Florida, was a presenting sponsor of the Baptist Hospital TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 281 Ball, which raised $300,000 for the hospital’s radiology department. Additionally, Coastal Construction’s Tom and Leslie Murphy co-chaired the event with Hope and Jack Ziffer, M.D. (“Baptist Hospital ‘Jeans and Jewels’ Ball”, SocialMiami) Coastal Construction Sponsored Pandora’s “Golf For A Cause” Event: According to a release published by the Patient Alliance for Neuroendocrineimmune Disorders Organization for Research & Advocacy (P.A.N.D.O.R.A.) in May 2008, the Coastal Construction Group was a Silver level sponsor ($1,600) of the organization’s First Annual Golf Classic. (“Pandora’s First Annual Golf Classic”, P.A.N.D.O.R.A., May 23, 2008) Coastal Construction Participated In 2010 National Rebuilding Day Charity Event: In April 2010, the Miami Herald reported that Coastal Construction participated in Rebuilding Together Miami-Dade, a local group that joined over 200 nation-wide affiliates to celebrate National Rebuilding Day. Along with other sponsoring contractors, Coastal Construction provided supplies and helped repair and refurbish 14 homes for the poor in Naranja. Pearlie Butler, one of the homeowners who received repairs was a missionary in places like Africa, India, the Philippines, and China, before returning home to Naranja to care for her parents. Since then, numerous tumors have left her disabled, and unable to make the necessary repairs to her home herself. Executive director of Rebuilding Together Miami-Dade Donna Fales said that Pearlie Butler was exactly the type of person they were looking to help. Fales said, ”it’s an important part of our mission, to help people who don't have other options. We give them an opportunity to stay in their homes, to continue living there.” In addition to Butler’s home volunteers from local contractors like Coastal Construction, Moss & Associates, and First Florida Building Corporation, “painted, planted, fixed roofs and windows, and repaired just about anything necessary.” Rebuilding Together Miami-Dade had 275 volunteers in Naranja, and spent a total $200,000 on home repairs. (Miami Herald, April 29, 2010, September 14, 2009) Coastal Construction Launched Mentor Program For High School Students: In January 2010, the Miami Herald published an article discussing potential ways to find a career mentor, one of which was to consider a formal program like the one created by the Coastal Construction Group at the Miami-Dade Senior High it was building a new campus for. “Every two weeks, Coastal workers [taught] 15 students how to perform different aspects of construction on a real classroom being built.” Coastal’s senior project manager Goran Ljustina was quotes as saying that it was “easier to mentor young people in a program with structure to it.” Coastal vice president Jeff Lee said that he has learned “from mentoring students and young workers,” claiming, ``they are helping me continue to dream.'' Lee said his career prospered form having Coastal president Dan Whiteman as a mentor for 35 years. He said that, “he considers it his responsibility to develop his younger employees, just as he was guided. However, he believes a crucial part of mentoring relationships is the willingness to be taught. `’It takes asking for help and admitting you don't know it all.’” (Miami Herald, January 20, 2010) Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 Coastal Construction Professionals Became “Teachers For A Day”: In November 2007, the Miami Herald reported on an event sponsored by The Education Fund allowed nearly 400 white-collar professionals to become teachers for a day, in order to grant the local business community new perspective on the achievements and challenges faced by the public school system daily. “The idea was that if they get people in management positions to experience a teacher's daily achievements and struggles, it will be easier to get support.” Among the participants were two administrative employees from Coastal Construction, who taught students at the Bog Graham Education Center “the difference between fact and opinion in the media” by having them create an advertising campaign for cookies. (Miami Herald, November 13, 2007) Coastal Construction Vice President Participated In 2006 Miami “Teachathon”: A December 2006 article in the Miami Herald reported that Ken East, Coastal Construction’s vice president of school divisions participated in the Education Fund’s 2006 Teachathon in Miami, during which “teachers surrender[ed] their textbooks and hand[ed] the class over to a local business professional to teach practical application of the subject.” The program was designed to raise money for education, as “business professionals solicit[ed] coworkers, families and friends for financial contributions, which [were] donated to the fund and to their assigned schools. Half of the money [went] to the participating schools, the other half to Education Fund initiatives.” Coast’s Ken East spent his Teachathon day “morning working with students in Anna Carranza's business cooperative education program, a program that allows students to sample the work world.” (Miami Herald, December 10, 2006) Coastal Construction Donated To Sheridan House: In May 2006, the Miami Herald reported that the Coastal Construction Group was a major donor to the construction of the Sheridan House Family Resource Center. The article explained that Sheridan House Family Ministries provided residential housing for troubled children, counseling, and educational programs, reaching 90,000 people in South Florida, including 3,450 single mothers and children annually. (Miami Herald, May 6, 2006) Coastal Construction Donated $10,000 To Rotary Club Charity Event: According to the Florida Times-Union in November 2005, the Coastal Construction Group donated $10,000 to the Rotary Club of South Jacksonville’s Gingerbread House Extravaganza, the proceeds of which benefitted Ronald McDonald House of Jacksonville, HabiJax and the club's charities. (Florida Times-Union, November 30, 2005) Coastal Volunteered Work For Coral Gables Garden Club: In June 2002 the Miami Herald reported that Miami’s Coastal Construction had volunteered to complete the Coral Gables’ long-awaited grand entrance for free. The city’s founder George Merrick had dreamed on having something special at the entrance to the city, but when he died in 1942, his dream was put on hold until the Coral Gables Garden Club took up the responsibility. The club completed the first entrance in 1991, and collected money and volunteers to build the second one in 1997, but in 2002 the Club “embarked on its largest project -- at Ponce de Leon Boulevard and Southwest Eighth Street.” In order to TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 283 help the Garden Club with this process, the University of Miami “asked local high school students to submit sketches of what they imagined as the ideal gateway to the city.” The student with the winning design received a scholarship to the university, and Coastal Construction offered to build the entrance for free. This offer from the Miami-based contractor left the Club’s chairwoman Betsy Adams "dumbfounded by its generosity." (Miami Herald, June 20, 2002) Campaign Contributions Coastal And Its Associates Have Given Over $1 Million To Candidates And Committees: From 1993 to November 2013, Coastal Construction and its associates have given $1,142,894 to candidates and committees on both sides of the aisle. A total of $781,490 to Democratic candidates and committees (including $343,850 to Patrick Murphy, his PAC, or committees spending for his benefit), $318,229 has gone to Republican candidates and committees, $29,800 to an independent (Charlie Crist’s 2010 run), and $13,375 to committees without partisan affiliation. (infuenceexplorer.com, accessed November 2013) Coastal Construction And Its Associates Have Contributed Nearly $70,000 To Democratic National Committee: Coastal Construction Group contributed $15,500 to the Democratic National Committee in 1997 and 2000. Tom Murphy and other associates of Coastal Construction have contributed an additional $54,200 from 2000 to 2012 for a total of $69,700. (infuenceexplorer.com, accessed November 2013) Coastal CEO Contributed To DNC, RNC, Clinton, Obama, And Norm Coleman: Finance reports retrieved in March 2011 from OpenSecrets.org and the Federal Election Commission revealed that Tom Murphy, Jr. chairman and CEO of Coastal Construction Group, has consistently given campaign contributions to Republicans and Democrats alike. The FEC search showed that Murphy contributed money to the campaigns of Hilary Clinton, Barack Obama, John McCain, George Bush, Charlie Crist, John Edwards, Mitt Romney, and Al Franken. Additionally, Murphy has given soft money contributions to the RNC and the DNC, the DCCC, DSCC, and the Free and Strong America PAC. (OpenSecrets.org; FEC) Coastal Construction Gave $50,000 To Sink Campaign Committee: According to the Palm Beach Post in October 2010, the Coastal Construction Group contributed $50,000 to “Let’s Hold Them Accountable,” an independent 527 political action committee created by Democratic gubernatorial candidate Alex Sink. The $50,000 from Coastal Construction was the largest single contribution made to Sink’s PAC, which collected $61,000 during the last finance period. Other contributors to the PAC included: Christopher N. Ligori PA (Tampa lawyer), Hyde Park Equity Investments, Merricks Law Group PA, Radiology Imaging Associates PA, Shapiro Goldman Babboni & Walsh (Sarasota law firm), Floridians for Quality Healthcare, Marlin Law PA, Ghyabi & Associates/Maryam K. Ghyabi, (engineering firm/president), Florida PAC (electrical contractors committee). At the time of this article, “Let’s Hold Them Accountable” had Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 raised at total $103, 000. Republican candidate Rick Scott’s committee “Let’s Get to Work” raised $14.2 million, $11 million of which came from his wife’s trust fund. (Palm Beach Post, October 8, 2010; Orlando Sentinel, October 1, 2010) Coastal Construction Among Top Donors To Crist Senate Campaign: In August 2009, Naked Politics reported that Coastal Construction ranked among the top 15 donors to Governor Charlie Crist’s 2010 Senate campaign. The firm had contributed a total of $14,400 to “Crist's record-shattering $4.3 million fundraising haul for U.S. Senate.” It went on to more than double that amount to $29,800 by September 2010. Other top contributors represented some of the biggest special interests in the state Capitol, with law firms making up the second largest giving bloc. A Republican governor, Crist ran as an Independent in the Senate race against Republican Marco Rubio and Democrat Kendrick Meek. (Naked Politics, August 4, 2009; infuenceexplorer.com, accessed November 2013) Coastal CEO Contributed To Clinton, Obama, Romney, and Dodd: In January 2008, the South Florida Business Journal published a report indicating that major business executives in South Florida were trending toward the left when it came to political contributions. “A Business Journal search of Federal Election Commission (FEC) records for donations from top executives at the largest local companies and partners of the biggest law firms found that the value of donations to Democratic presidential hopefuls nearly doubled that of their Republican counterparts.” The report included Thomas Murphy, chairman and CEO of Coastal Construction in the list, revealing that the exec had contributed $4,600 to Clinton’s presidential bid, and $2,300 to Obama’s. Additionally, Murphy reportedly gave $2,300 and $500 to the Romney and Dodd campaigns, respectively. (South Florida Business Journal, January 28, 2008) Coastal Construction CEO Named To Romney Florida Finance Committee: In November 2007 the States News Service published a release from former Governor Mitt Romney listing the members he had selected for his Florida Finance Steering Committee Leadership. Among the business and community leaders helping to raise campaign funds for Romney in Florida was Coastal Construction Group chairman and CEO Thomas P. Murphy, Jr. (States News Service, November 15, 2007) Coastal Construction Contributed $10,000 To Miami Mayoral Candidate Gimenez: In January 2011, the Miami Herald reported that the Miami building company Coastal Construction had written a check for $10,000 to Common Sense Now!, a political action committee started by County Commissioner Carlos Gimenez, a candidate seeking to replace Carlos Alvarez at mayor of Miami-Dade County, Gimenez, a former city manager and fire chief, has been a vocal critic of Alvarez’s administration. Additionally, “the commissioner voted against using public dollars for construction of a new Florida Marlins stadium and, more recently, criticized union contracts that include pay raises. He opposed the controversial budget proposed by Alvarez and Burgess and adopted by the commission in September that raised the property tax rate.” Another donor to Gimenez’s PAC is “Developer Martin Z. Margulies, a financial backer of the campaign to unseat Alvarez.” By the end of 2010, Common Sense Now! Had raised over $150,000. (Miami Herald, January 28, 2011) TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 285 Coastal Contributed To Republican Kerry Highsmith In 1992 School Superintendent Race: In August 1992 the Miami Herald reported that in the open race for school superintendent, Republican Kerry Highsmith has raised the most money, a total $4.460. Of that, $500 came from a contribution made by Coastal Construction. (Miami Herald, August 6, 1992) Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 5. Coastal Vulnerabilities Coastal Negatives Miami Claimed Coastal Affiliate Owed City A Debt City Claimed Coastal Owed Balance On Impact Fees; Construction Company Said They Were Never Contacted: In December 2009, Miami Today reported that the City of Miami has claimed for that it was “owed more than $317,000 in undercharged impact fees overdue since 2005.” According to the city, Coastal Condominiums, a subsidiary of the Coastal Construction Group was the second largest among the debtors, “owing $86,607 from a September 2002 building permit application.” Coastal Condominiums, however, asserted “it never heard a word about it from the city” about unpaid impact fees. The city maintained that it sent 25 collection letters to the company between 20062009, but the address the city’s finance department had on file for the company was not where there operations were located at the time. After a 2005 city audit revealed that the impact fees had been undercharged, “the commission gave the city attorney's office the go-ahead to pursue the alleged debtors. At the time, there was concern that opportunities for legal action could be waning due to a four-year statute of limitations.” A November 20, 2009 memo by Assistant City Attorney Sacha Reyes “found that ‘the undercharged impact fees due by Coastal Construction, Inc.’ could not be collected by legal action because it would have had to have been filed by July 28, 2008.” The memo also said that Coastal Construction, Inc. was defunct, but “other city documents refer to the same debt amount as being owed by Coastal Condominiums, including in the city's collection letters.” According to Reyes, the Coastal Condominiums that filed the initial building permit had dissolved on January 18, 2008, but was reinstated as active on January 29, 2008. “Thus, Ms. Reyes said, the company that the city could have gone after to recover the fees it says are due is no longer in existence.” Coastal Construction president Dan Whiteman said, ”the purpose of the dissolution and reinstatement was because each of the entities that were subsidiaries of Coastal Construction Group needed to have the same Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN) to qualify as subsidiaries of the parent company.” Whiteman also provided the company’s business tax receipt that indicated payment was received by the county on August 4, 2009. "Coastal has never been contacted by anyone at the City of Miami about any alleged non-payment of Impact Fees," Mr. Whiteman wrote in an e-mail. "If there were additional Impact Fees due by the Developer, the City would have assessed them prior to issuance of a Final Certificate of Occupancy." Whiteman added that “Coastal Condominiums never pays for the Impact Fees on a project…Nor do most Contractors, these are negotiated and paid directly by the Developer." Orlando Toledo, city director of planning and zoning said, “while developers generally pay the impact fees, it depends on their agreement with their contractors.” Toledo said that he had not spoken with Coastal about the overdue impact fees. According to Whiteman, “because it hasn't heard otherwise, Coastal will continue to assume that the bill the city says it owes isn't its responsibility.” (Miami Today, December 24, 2009) TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 287 Coastal Criminal Activities Coastal Construction Worker Arrested For Cocaine Trafficking: In July 2008, the Tampa Tribune reported that Joe Luis Castanada, a mason for Coastal Construction was arrested on drug charges after he left a home the police had under surveillance for possible drug deal activity. Castanada was pulled over. He has a suspended license, so police put him under arrest and searched his car, where they found 268 grams of powdered cocaine. Castanada “was charged with trafficking in cocaine, conspiracy to traffic in cocaine, both felonies, and driving with a suspended license/habitual traffic offender, a misdemeanor.” (Tampa Tribune, July 13, 2008) Costal Hotel Opened Without Occupancy Certificate: In June 2001 the Sun-Sentinel reported that the new Fort Lauderdale Renaissance Hotel on which Coastal Construction had been the contractor, mistakenly opened for business before it had “passed its final life-safety test and was not authorized to accept guests.” City officials claimed a misunderstanding led to the premature opening, and, as a result, “, the $ 37 million Marriott project was in jeopardy of being shut down on Thursday and its guests told to seek other lodging.” Instead the hotel was issued a temporary occupancy certificate conditional to its passage of the final smoke test. Coastal Construction officials declined comment on the matter and referred all questions to the hotel’s general manager. (Sun-Sentinel, June 15, 2001) Coastal Construction Trailer Burglarized In 2007: Police briefs in a January 2007 edition of the Florida Times-Union reported a burglary “involving a Florida Coastal Construction trailer at 10 11th Ave. N. A company employee said burglars cut the lock to the trailer and stole numerous tools.” (Florida Times-Union, January 10, 2007) Liens Coastal Construction Placed Lien On Tampa Headquarters Of Disgraced Washington Company: In March 2006, the Tampa Tribune reported that Coastal Construction had placed a lien for work on a Twiggs Street property in Tampa that had been purchased to be the Florida headquarters of Washington-based company MZM, by Mitchell Wade, the company’s disgraced CEO who plead guilty to bribery and illegal campaign contributions. The work cost $941,000 and MZM had a remaining balance of $252,510 as of July 8, 2006. (Tampa Tribune, March 4, 2006) Coastal Construction Received Loan From Now-Failed Colonial Bank: According to a UCC Filing posted by the independent watchdog group Crane Watchdog, Coastal Construction Group, along with Coastal Homes of South Florida, received a loan from Colonial Bank of Montgomery, AL, which was filed with the state in September 2006, with the filing set to expire in September 2011. Colonial Bank, the principal financer of the loan was categorized as a “Failed Bank” and shut down in August 2009, and its branches were taken over by BB&T. (Crane Watchdog; CNN Money, August 15, 2009) Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 Construction Site Accidents 15-Foot Structure Toppled Onto Coastal Construction Worker At Brickell Ave Site: In September 2006 the Miami Herald reported that a female construction worker had to be rushed to the hospital after a 15-foot metal structure toppled onto her at the high-rise site at 1101 Southwest First Ave. “The woman, who was identified only as an ironworker, was working on the ground level when a story-high column form -- used to mold wet cement into a concrete column -- came loose, authorities said.” Dan Whiteman, president of Coastal Construction Services, the site’s construction management company, said that the women tried to keep the structure from falling but it hit her. The structure grazed the woman’s back, but she was fortunately standing too far away for it to have crushed her. The worker complained of serious back pain, and was taken to the hospital, “but Whiteman said there were no signs of external bleeding.” The article claimed that it was unclear what caused the structure to become dislodged, and Coastal refused to comment on the accident. “The incident [was] one of several construction accidents in Miami-Dade County [in 2006]. In May, three workers in Bal Harbour were crushed and suffocated by quick-drying cement. A month earlier, a construction worker downtown had plunged 39 stories after a collision between a moveable platform and a crane.” (Miami Herald, September 25, 2006) Coastal Subcontractor Worker Died In Elevator Shaft Accident: In August 2004, the Associated Press reported that a construction worker died after falling through an uncovered elevator shaft on the 19th floor of a beachfront development in Hollywood, FL. “Jose Altamirano, 42, of Miami, was seeking shelter from a morning downpour Tuesday when he ran to get behind a steel panel, then slipped and fell on a plywood deck near the elevator shaft, said Daniel Whiteman, president of Coastal Construction Services LLC, the project's contractor. “ The article said that it appeared to be an accident, though the Occupation Safety and Health Administration was investigating, as “it wasn't clear how he slipped through the elevator, which was secured with a guardrail.” In August 2004 the Sun-Sentinel quoted Whiteman, who said that Coastal was “extremely upset at this loss of human life. Our heart and prayers go to his family at this time.” He also asserted that the company kept “full-time safety directors working on construction sites.” Altamirano worked for G.T. Builders of Pompano Beach, one of Coastal’s subcontractors on the project. This was Coastal Construction’s second work fatality in less than two years. In the previous year a man working for a subcontractor died after building material fell on him on a Coastal Construction site in Aventura in north Miami-Dade County.” Whiteman said that OSHA did not fine the company “because no safety regulations were violated.” (Associated Press, August 18, 2004; SunSentinel, August 18, 2004) Man Died On Coastal Construction Site In 1995: An April 1999 article in the South Florida Business Journal reported that “in May 1995, a 28-year-old man died at the construction site of a Miami-Dade County church.” The man, who was bending over to pick something up, was struck on the back of the head, just below the hard hat, by a falling concrete block. Tom Murphy, CEO of Coastal Construction, the general contractor on the site, called the event “horrible and shocking and sickening.” Murphy TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 289 said, “it was a freak accident.” “Coastal's insurance inspectors were on the site when the accident happened, and Coastal "got a clean bill of health." A subcontractor, Tower Erector, was fined $ 6,000.” (South Florida Business Journal, April 30, 1999) Coastal Legal Records 33 Worker Claims Against Coastal Construction Since 1999: According to the Florida Department of Financial Services’ “Loss Run” Database, collected by the independent watchdog group Crane Watchdog, 33 worker injury claims have been filed against the Coastal Construction Group and its affiliates since 1999. The primary cause of injury reported in the claims was slipping and falling. As of March 2011, all claims were closed. (Florida Department of Financial Services, March 10, 2011; Crane Watchdog) Public Record – Court Cases Several of the cases brought against Coastal Construction, either as defendant or codefendant, are run-of-the-mill construction grievances. A few, however, can be portrayed as Coastal Construction not paying its subcontractors, which can be used to indicate financial irresponsibility and not living up to their responsibilities. The most concerning of the construction related cases is the matter of Coastal’s suit against a subcontractor for using defective Chinese drywall. Although Coastal was the plaintiff in the matter, the fact that a subcontractor was using the defective Chinese drywall could be seen as a lack of responsibility by Coastal. The health concerns and national attention to the issue lends added heft to any mention of the matter. Although dismissed upon motion by Coastal, the case of Mrs. Belinda AndrettiKasanzew filing suit for injuries resulting from a fall near a Coastal construction site could be portrayed as irresponsibility by Coastal. Coastal Construction Group Of South Florida Sued Precision Drywall In 2011 For Use Of Defective Chinese Drywall: In March 2011, Coastal Construction Group of South Florida, Inc. (Coastal), filed suit in the 11th Judicial Circuit Court of Miami-Dade, Florida, against Precision Drywall, Inc. (Precision), and Mid-Continent Casualty Company (MCC), for breach of contract and damages in excess of $15,000. The action arose over a subcontract regarding drywall and framing work at the Villa Lago condominiums. Coastal alleges that Precision’s drywall work was defective because Precision used defective Chinese drywall, exposing Coastal to the lawsuit Wendy Lee Hobbie et al. v. RCR Coastal, et al. Coastal demanded performance of the indemnification and defense obligations set forth in the subcontract with Precision that specified that Precision: shall … protect, defend, indemnify and hold [COASTAL] harmless from and against all liabilities, claims, damages, losses, and expenses [including legal fees Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 and costs] of every kind and nature arising out of or in connection with … [any] negligent act or omission of [PRECISION DRYWALL] or is sub-contractors, vendors or anyone directly or indirectly employed by them while performing [PRECISION DRYWALL’s] work hereunder. Precision refused to honor this part of the contract. (Coastal Construction Group of South Florida, Inc., vs. Precision Drywall Inc. Complaint: Case No. 11-07387 CA 04; Wendy Lee Hobbie et al. v. RCR Coastal, et al., Case No. 04-GL-00730055) Use Of Chinese Drywall Led To Suit, Health Concerns: In 2009, after widespread complaints about faulty drywall imported from China, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a bulletin titled “Imported Drywall and Health – A Guide for Healthcare Providers,” that detailed the complaints, possible health concerns, and treatment suggestions for those exposed to the faulty drywall. The bulletin detailed how residents were smelling, “a rotten egg smell or smell of matches or fireworks in their home,” and that many were seeing corrosion or blackening of metal components in their home. These were determined to be the effect of reactive sulfur gases, including hydrogen sulfide and carbonyl sulfide that were emitted from the Chinese drywall. These emissions were encouraged during times of high temperature and high humidity. CDC advised healthcare providers that short term exposure (hours) to low concentrations of sulfur gas could result in the following symptoms: eye irritation, sore throat, stuffy nose/rhinitis, cough, shortness of breath/chest pain, nausea, and headaches. Chronic exposure (days to years) to low concentrations could result in the following additional symptoms: fatigue, loss of appetite, irritability, poor memory, dizziness, insomnia, and headaches. Most residents reported irritated and itchy eyes and skin, difficulty breathing, nasal irritation, recurrent headaches, sinus infection, and exacerbation of asthma. (Coastal Construction Group of South Florida, Inc., vs. Precision Drywall Inc. Complaint: Case No. 11-07387 CA 04; “Imported Drywall and Health – A Guide for Healthcare Providers” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2009) Coastal Construction Group of South Florida, Inc. vs. MM Real Estate, LLC (Case No. 10-41018 CA 27) Complaint: In July 2010, Coastal Construction Group of South Florida, Inc. (Coastal), filed suit in the 11th Judicial Circuit Court of Miami-Dade, Florida, against MM Real Estate, LLC (MMRE), for breach of contract and damages in excess of $15,000. The action arose regarding a lease for a property at 5959 Blue Lagoon Drive, Suite 200, Miami, FL, that MMRE owns. Coastal alleged that MMRE breached the lease because they did not repair the air conditioning unit at the premises as was provided for in the lease. Coastal alleged that the state of the property resulting from the dysfunctional air conditioning unit resulted in damages, including lost revenues, diminution in lease value, and the expected cost of relocating out of the premises. (Coastal Construction Group of South Florida, Inc. vs. MM Real Estate, LLC, Complaint: Case No. 10-41018 CA 27) TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 291 Dismissal With Prejudice: In February 2011, Coastal Construction Group of South Florida, Inc. (Coastal) and MM Real Estate, LLC (MMRE) filed a Joint Stipulation for Dismissal with Prejudice of all claims. (Coastal Construction Group of South Florida, Inc. vs. MM Real Estate, LLC, Dismissal With Prejudice: Case No. 10-41018 CA 27) Coastal Construction Of Monroe Sued By Door Company In 2009 Over Alleged $181,518 Default, Case Settled: In December 2009, Doors Acquisition, LLC (Doors), filed suit in the 11th Judicial Circuit Court of Miami-Dade, Florida, against Coastal Construction Of Monroe, Inc. (Coastal), for breach of contract and damages. Doors had acquired certain assets of Arc One, LLC from Wachovia Capital Finance Corporation, which had foreclosed upon the assets of Arc One. Arc One was, at the time of the suit, going through Chapter 7 liquidation. Arc One was a supplier of materials and goods used in construction of a variety of different types of doors. Doors brought the complaint because it alleged that Arc One fulfilled its obligation by providing the materials to Coastal as agreed to in contract, but Coastal defaulted in making payments on the invoiced amounts, and subsequently failed and refused to remit payment to Doors. Doors claimed the total amount due from Coastal was $181,518.23 plus interest, plus $39.78 per day of statutory prejudgment interest, continuing to accrue per day. In December 2009, Coastal filed an Answer and Counterclaim in which it denied all substantive paragraphs of the complaint, largely on the point that Doors had no right to acquire any claims of Arc One because the subcontract between Coastal and Arc One expressly prohibited assignment without Coastal’s written consent, meaning that Doors did not have standing to bring the claims. Also, Coastal alleged that when it went out of business Arc One failed to finish the work contracted for, and thus breached the subcontract by, among other things, failing to properly perform the work under the subcontract, and filing to timely perform the work under the subcontract. Coastal alleged that the breach of contract resulted in damages. In April 2010, Doors and Coastal Construction Of Monroe, Inc., filed a Joint Stipulation of Dismissal with the action dismissed with prejudice. (Case 09-895897 CA 20, Doors Acquisition, LLC vs. Coastal Construction Of Monroe, Inc., 11 Court, filed December 11, 2009; cranewatchdog.com) th Judicial Circuit Coastal Construction Company of Palm Beach, Inc., d/b/a Coastal Construction of al Beach vs. Roll Plumbing Company, Inc. (Case No. 08-56455 CA 23) Complaint: In September 2008, Coastal Construction Company of Palm Beach, Inc. (Coastal), filed suit in the 11th Judicial Circuit Court of Miami-Dade, Florida, against Roll Plumbing Company, Inc. (Roll), for breach of contract and damages in excess of $15,000. The action arose over a subcontract regarding construction of the Promenade Condominium. Coastal alleged that Roll breached the subcontract by: failing to properly and timely pay its subcontractor and suppliers on the project; failing to properly perform the work under the contract; failing to timely perform the work under the Contract; and, filing an excessive and overstated lien on the project. Coastal claimed damages in an amount in excess of $15,000. (Coastal Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 Construction Company of Palm Beach, Inc., d/b/a Coastal Construction of al Beach vs. Roll Plumbing Company, Inc., Complaint: Case No. 08-56455 CA 23) Belinda Andretti-Kasanzew and Ivan Kasanzew vs. Coastal Construction Group of South Florida, Inc., Turner Construction Company and Darca Realty, Inc., 63rd Street Associates, LTD, and 63rd Street Associates, Inc. (Case No. 07-18511 CA 11) Complaint: (Original complaint could not be located in records.) Belinda AndrettiKasanzew and Ivan Kasanzew filed suit against Coastal Construction Group of South Florida, Inc. (Coastal), Turner Construction Company (Turner), and Darca Realty, Inc., 63rd Street Associates, LTD, and 63rd Street Associates, Inc., claiming negligence in regard to an accident that occurred in September 2003, at the Aqua Development Project. Coastal was contracted to construct townhouses on the premises of the Aqua Development Project. At the same time, co-defendants Turner Construction was constructing high-rise dwellings on a separate jobsite on the project premises. Darca Realty had a sales office located away from the construction. Belinda AndrettiKasanzew was working as a sales representative in the Darca office. She claimed to have tripped and fallen on debris in the parking lot of the Darca sales office, which caused her injuries. (Belinda Andretti-Kasanzew and Ivan Kasanzew vs. Coastal Construction Group of South Florida, Inc., Turner Construction Company and Darca Realty, Inc., 63rd Street Associates, LTD, and 63rd Street Associates, Inc. Motion For Summary Judgment: Case No. 07-18511 CA 11) Motion For Summary Judgment: In December 2008, Coastal Construction Group of South Florida, Inc. (Coastal), filed a Motion for Summary Judgment in its defense against the suit brought by Belinda Andretti-Kasanzew and Ivan Kasanzew against Coastal, Turner Construction Company and Darca Realty, Inc., 63rd Street Associates, LTD, and 63rd Street Associates, Inc. Coastal filed for summary judgment because they claimed that the parking lot where Mrs. Andretti-Kasanzew was injured was not under the control of Coastal, and Coastal did not cause or contribute to the condition that Mrs. Andretti-Kasanzew alleged caused her fall, and Coastal did not cause or contribute to the fall or subsequent injuries. (Belinda Andretti-Kasanzew and Ivan Kasanzew vs. Coastal Construction Group of South Florida, Inc., Turner Construction Company and Darca Realty, Inc., 63rd Street Associates, LTD, and 63rd Street Associates, Inc. Motion For Summary Judgment: Case No. 0718511 CA 11) Order On Motion To Dismiss For Lack Of Prosecution: In May 2010, the Circuit Court Judge granted the defendants’ Motion to Dismiss finding that no party opposed the motion to dismiss. (Belinda Andretti-Kasanzew and Ivan Kasanzew vs. Coastal Construction Group of South Florida, Inc., Turner Construction Company and Darca Realty, Inc., 63rd Street Associates, LTD, and 63rd Street Associates, Inc. Order On Motion To Dismiss For Lack Of Prosecution: Case No. 07-18511 CA 11) Coastal Construction of South Florida, Inc., d/b/a Coastal Condominiums vs. Admiral Insurance Company (Case No. 07-17542 CA 08) Complaint: In June 2007, Coastal Construction of South Florida, Inc., d/b/a Coastal Condominiums (Coastal), filed suit in the 11th Judicial Circuit Court of Miami-Dade, TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 293 Florida, against Admiral Insurance Company (Admiral) for breach of contract. Admiral had insured All Fire Services, Inc. (All Fire), a subcontractor that Coastal had hired to install a fire suppression sprinkler system in completion of part of its contract with Neo Vertika, LLC, to provide labor, materials and/or services to the project known as New Vertika Condominium located in Miami, FL. Coastal alleged that the sprinkler system All Fire installed was faulty, causing damage at various points when the system would fail, including failures that lasted up to the time the complaint was filed. Admiral had issued insurance policies to All Fire that named Coastal and Neo Vertika as additional insureds. When Neo Vertika demanded Coastal pay for damages caused by the faulty sprinkler system, Coastal declared All Fire in default of the subcontract and demanded payment from All Fire. Coastal provided notice to Admiral of its claim and damages, demanding coverage for the claims, which Admiral denied. Coastal alleged that pursuant to the terms of the policies, Admiral had the obligation to pay all sums that its insured, All Fire, and Coastal, became legally obligated to pay. (Coast Construction of South Florida, Inc., d/b/a Coastal Condominiums vs. Admiral Insurance Company. Complaint: Case No. 0717542 CA 08) Order On Motion To Dismiss: In September 2008, the Circuit Court Judge granted the defendants’ Motion to Dismiss finding that no party opposed the motion to dismiss. (Coast Construction of South Florida, Inc., d/b/a Coastal Condominiums vs. Admiral Insurance Company. Complaint: Case No. 07-17542 CA 08) Coastal Construction Of Monroe Sued For $15,000 Of Concrete In 2005, Case Dismissed: In October 2005, Continental Florida Materials Inc. (Continental), filed suit in the 11th Judicial Circuit Court of Miami-Dade, Florida, against Coastal Construction of Monroe, Inc. (Coastal), Arch Insurance Company (Arch), Suncoast Contracting Corp. (Suncoast), and Oscar Fernandez (an officer of Suncoast), for breach of contract and payment under a bond in excess of $15,000. Continental alleged that Coastal and Arch (as a surety), and the other named defendants, did not pay for ready mix concrete, which was furnished for construction at the Intercontinental West Miami Hotel, and was owed the principal sum of $15,393.47. In May 2007, the Circuit Court Judge dismissed the case, finding that no party opposed the motion to dismiss. (Case No. 05-20980 CA 01, Continental Florida Materials Inc., vs. Coastal Construction of Monroe, Inc., Arch Insurance Company, th Suncoast Contracting Corp., and Oscar Fernandez, 11 Judicial Circuit Court, 2005) Coastal Construction of Monroe, Inc., vs. Suncoast Contracting, Inc. (Case No. 05-17673 CA 24) Complaint: In August 2005, Coastal Construction of Monroe, Inc. (Coastal), filed suit in the 11th Judicial Circuit Court of Miami-Dade, Florida, against Suncoast Contracting, Inc. (Suncoast), for breach of contract and damages. Coastal alleged that Suncoast was in breach of contract for failure to maintain job safety requirements, failure to complete its work on time and on schedule, failure to timely address the punch-list items, failure to keep the work free of defects and deficiencies, and failure to properly and timely follow the directives of the contractor. Suncoast, and its surety Fidelity, failed and refused to correct these errors, so the defects and deficiencies had to be corrected by Coastal through use of other subcontractors. As a result of the material breach of the Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 subcontract by Suncoast, there was a projected deficit at the time of the complaint of $233,070.66. (Coastal Construction of Monroe, Inc., vs. Suncoast Contracting, Inc. Complaint: Case No. 05-17673 CA 24) Order On Motion To Dismiss: In May 2007, the Circuit Court Judge dismissed the case finding that no party opposed the motion to dismiss. (Coastal Construction of Monroe, Inc., vs. Suncoast Contracting, Inc. Order On Motion To Dismiss For Lack Of Prosecution: Case No. 0517673 CA 24) Coastal Construction Of South Florida Sued Over Alleged $65,000 Nonpayment, Case Dismissed: In July 2005, D.B. Smith, Inc. (Smith) filed suit in the 11th Judicial Circuit Court of Miami-Dade, Florida, against Coastal Construction of South Florida, Inc. (Coastal), and Pacific indemnity Company (Pacific) for damages in excess of $15,000. Coastal had contracted Smith to provide labor, materials and services for a project that Coastal had been contracted by WCI Communities, Inc. (WCI) to perform at 7 Avenue De La Mar, Palm Coast, Florida. Smith alleged that Coastal did not make payment pursuant to the agreement in spite of the fact that it had been paid by WCI for that stage of the project. Smith claimed damages of $65,177.27, plus interest. In March 2007, Coastal and Pacific moved to dismiss the complaint because in February 2007 the court had entered an order permitting plaintiff Smith 30 days to retain new counsel after previous counsel had withdrawn, but Smith had not retained new counsel in that time period. The judge dismissed the case accordingly. (Case No. 05-11737 CA 08, D.B. Smith, Inc., vs. Coastal Construction Of South Florida, Inc. d/b/a Coastal Condominiums, and Pacific Indemnity th Company, 11 Judicial Circuit Court, 2005) Coastal Construction Of Monroe Sued Over Alleged $121,000 Nonpayment In 2004, Case Dismissed: In August 2004, Biscayne Construction Corporation (Biscayne) filed suit in the 11th Judicial Circuit Court of Miami-Dade, Florida, against Coastal Construction of Monroe, Inc. (Coastal) d/b/a Coastal Construction Company, Hoar Construction, LLC (Hoar), and St. Paul Fire & Marine Insurance Company (St. Paul), for breach of contract and damages in excess of $15,000. In September 2002, Coastal and Hoar, as joint venturers (Coastal/Hoar), entered into a construction contract with DiLido Beach Resort Ltd for construction of the Ritz Carelton-DiLido Hotel in Miami Beach, Florida. Biscayne alleged that Coastal/Hoar did not pay Biscayne in full for materials and services furnished on the project, with $121,376.61 remaining due. However when Biscayne had made no filings of any kind in the case for one year, the judge dismissed the case. (Case No. 04-18449 CA 01, Biscayne Construction Corporation vs. Coastal Construction of Monroe, Inc. d/b/a Coastal Construction Company, Hoar Construction, LLC, and St. Paul Fire & Marine th Insurance Company, 11 Judicial Circuit Court, 2004) Coastal Sued By Cabinet Company In 2004 For Alleged $100,000 Nonpayment: In May 2004, Designer’s Specialty Cabinet Company, Inc. (Designer’s), filed an amended complaint in their suit in the 11th Judicial Circuit Court of Miami-Dade, Florida, against Coastal Construction of South Florida, Inc. (Coastal), d/b/a Coastal Condominiums, and Pacific Indemnity Company (Pacific), for breach of contract and damages in excess of $15,000. Coastal entered into a contract with the owner of the project known as Portofino at Hammock Dunes located in Palm Coast, Flagler County, Florida. Coastal then entered into a series of agreements with Designer’s to install cabinetry and related TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 295 mill work for the project. Designer performed $300,000 worth of work, $99,614 of which they did not receive payment for. (Designer’s Specialty Cabinet Company, Inc., vs. Coastal Construction of South Florida, Inc., d/b/a Coastal Condominiums, and Pacific Indemnity Company. Complaint: Case No. 03-29728 CA 21) Coastal Construction of Monroe Sued In 2004 For Alleged Nonpayment: In April 2004, Newman Quality Construction, Inc. (Newman), filed suit in the 11th Judicial Circuit Court of Miami-Dade, Florida, against Coastal Construction of Monroe, Inc. (Coastal) d/b/a Coastal Construction Company, Pacific Indemnity Insurance Company (Pacific), and University of Miami for breach of contract and damages in excess of $15,000. In January 2002, Coastal entered into a construction contract with the University of Miami to construct improvements to the University of Miami School of Business. In August 2002, Coastal subcontracted Newman to perform concrete shell work, masonry, and rough carpentry on the project for the contract price of $400,000. After Newman performed and furnished all labor, services, equipment, material, insurance coverage, and supplies pursuant to the subcontract, a balance of payment was still due to Newman. Despite repeated requests for payment, Coastal refused to pay the outstanding balance of the contract. In March 2006, Newman filed to dismiss the complaint. (Case 04-08512 CA 11, Newman Quality Construction, Inc., vs. Coastal Construction of Monroe, Inc. d/b/a Coastal Construction Company, Pacific Indemnity Insurance Company, and University th of Miami, 11 Judicial Circuit Court) • Manatee County: United Electric LLC, Coastal Construction Group Inc., $34,682.48, 2272 7484, 2008 CA 003958. Listed in order are the mortgagor, mortgage holder, amount mortgaged, instrument number, or book with page number and the location of the mortgaged property filed in Sarasota and Manatee counties. (Sarasota Herald-Tribune, September 15, 2008) • St. Lucie Civil Actions: Mortgage Foreclosure: Liberty Savings Bank v. Coastal Construction. (The Stuart News/Port St. Lucie News, September 15, 2008) • Civil Suit: Manatee County: Thursday May 1, 2008: United Electric LLC vs. Coastal Construction Group Inc. (contract and indebtedness) (Bradenton Herald, May 10, 2008) • Manatee County: Coastal Construction Group Inc., Allris Properties LLC, $170,187, 2243 5546, Block C, Rose Park. Listed in order are the mortgagor, mortgage holder, amount mortgaged, instrument number, or book with page number and the location of the mortgaged property filed in Sarasota and Manatee counties. (Sarasota Herald-Tribune, January 28, 2008) • Commercial Lien Over $1000: Sarasota: Johnson Equip Services, Coastal Construction, $2,075, 2007162303, 679 Avenida D. Listed in order are plaintiff, defendant, amount owed, instrument or book and page, and the location of the lien filed Sarasota and Manatee counties. (Sarasota Herald-Tribune, November 5, 2007) Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 • St. Lucie Civil Actions: Contract: John Tile & Marble vs. Coastal Construction. (Fort • Coastal Construction of Monroe, Inc d/b/a Coastal Construction Company, Appellant, v. Coastal Steel Construction, Inc., Appellee; Case No. 94-02516; Appeal from nonfinal order of the Circuit Court for Pinellas County; David Seth Walker, Judge; Opinion: Per curiam Affirmed; 2nd District Florida Court of Appeals • Caribbean Fire and Associates, Inc., a Florida corporation, Appellant, vs. Coastal Construction Group of South Florida, a Florida corporation, and RFS Partnership, L.P., individually and f/u/b/o The Travelers Indemnity Company of Illinois, a foreign corporation, Appellees; Case No. 3D06-3194; Court had ruled that subcontractor was liable for all attorneys' fees, all else had been settled, but had not set the specific amount; the appeal was dismissed because it was premature • Conart, Inc. v. Coastal Construction, et al; Case No. 04-cv-22682-PAS; DiversityContract Dispute; Demand was $144000; Disposition: Dismissed – Settled; Terminated: 10/11/2005 • Wendy Lee Hobbie et al v. Coastal Condominiums of Palm Beach, Inc. et al; U.S District Court, Southern District of Florida; Property Damage Product Liability; Filed: 2/26/10; Pending • Coastal Construction of South Florida, Inc. v. Lexington Insurance Company; U.S District Court, Southern District of Florida; Insurance; Filed: 5/15/09; Dismissed without Prejudice • Coastal Construction of South Florida, Inc. v. Admiral Insurance Company; U.S District Court, Southern District of Florida; Insurance; Filed: 7/18/07; Judgment in Favor of Defendant (Admiral) • Conart, Inc. v. Coastal Construction of Monroe, Inc.; U.S District Court, Southern District of Florida; Contract; Filed: 10/25/04; Dismissed without Prejudice • Dillon Pools, Inc. v. 
Coastal Construction of South Florida; State- Miami-Dade; Case No: 2010-4985-CA-01; Filed 1/26/10; Contract and Indebtedness; Pending • CLW Concrete v. 
Coastal Construction Company of Palm Beach, Inc.; State – Palm Beach; Case No: 502010CA001976; Filed 1/25/10; Contract and Indebtedness; Pending • Doors Acquisition (LLC) v. 
Coastal Construction of Monroe, Inc.; State- MiamiDade; Case No: 2009-89587-CA-01; Filed 12/11/09; Contract and Indebtedness; Pending • Bellamare at Williams Island Condo v. 
Coastal Construction Services, LLC; State- Pierce Tribune, August 6, 2007) TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 297 Miami-Dade; Case No: 2009-74397-CA-01; Filed 10/09/09; Condominium; Pending • Miami River (LLC) v. 
Coastal Construction of South Florida; State- Miami-Dade; Case No: 2009-64241-CA-01; Filed 09/01/09; Equitable Relief; Pending • Ceco Concrete Construction, LLC v. 
Coastal Condominiums of Palm Beach, Inc.; State- Miami-Dade; Case No: 2009-56327-CA-01; Filed 07/29/09; Contract and Indebtedness; Pending • Boynton Development Associates II, LLC v. 
Coastal Construction Company of Palm Beach, Inc.; State – Palm Beach; Case No: 502009CA015566; Filed 4/30/09; Contract and Indebtedness; Pending • M Ecker & Co. of Florida, Inc. v. 
Coastal Construction Services, LLC; StateMiami-Dade; Case No: 2009-24557-CA-01; Filed 03/26/09; Contract and Indebtedness; Pending • National Millwork, Inc. v. 
Coastal Construction Company; State – Palm Beach; Case No: 502009CA010578; Filed 3/26/09; Contract and Indebtedness; Dismissal without Prejudice, 5/8/09 • Executive Drywall, Inc. v. 
Coastal Construction Services, LLC; State- MiamiDade; Case No: 2009-18363-CA-01; Filed 03/6/09; Contract and Indebtedness; Pending • All Fire Services, Inc. v. 
Coastal Construction of South Florida, Inc.; State- MiamiDade; Case No: 2009-1259-CA-01; Filed 1/8/09; Contract and Indebtedness; Pending • Roll Plumbing, Inc. v. Coastal Construction of Palm Beach, Inc.; State- MiamiDade; Case No: 2008-77278-CA-01; Filed 12/12/08; Contract and Indebtedness; Pending • Consul-Tech Development Services, Inc. v. Coastal Construction Group, Inc.; State- Broward; Case No: 062008CA015510; Filed 4/9/08; Contract and Indebtedness; Pending • WCI Communities, Inc. v. Coastal Construction of South Florida, Inc.; StateMiami-Dade; Case No: 2008-18682-CA-01; Filed 4/7/08; Contract and Indebtedness; Pending • Ocean Palms Association, Inc v. Coastal Construction Services, LLC; State – Broward; 6/15/10; Improper Workmanship; Pending • Andalusia Condominium Association, Inc v. Coastal Construction of South Florida, Inc.; State – Miami-Dada; 6/11/10; Improper Workmanship Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 • WCI Communities, Inc. v. Coastal Construction of South Florida, Inc.; StateMiami-Dade; Case No: 2008-18682-CA-01; Filed 4/7/08; Contract and Indebtedness; Pending • Bellamare at Williams Island Condominiums Association, Inc. v. Coastal Construction Services, LLC; State – Miami-Dade; Case No: 09-74397CA10; Filed 10/9/09; Improper Workmanship and Failure to Follow Building Codes Building Permits • In April 2010, the Palm Beach Post reported that Coastal Construction Company had received a Palm Beach County building permit for new construction for the Block 77 Development Group at 30 S.E. 2nd Avenue, Delray Beach, valued at $15.5 million. (Palm Beach Post, April 12, 2010) • In July 2009, the Palm Beach Post reported that Coastal Construction Company had received a Palm Beach County building permit for new construction for the Block 77 Development Group at 30 S.E. 2nd Avenue, Delray Beach, valued at $15.5 million. (Palm Beach Post, July 6, 2009) • In February 2009, the Palm Beach Post reported that Coastal Construction Company had received a Palm Beach County building permit for new construction for the Block 77 Development Group at 30 S.E. 2nd Avenue, Delray Beach, valued at $15.5 million. (Palm Beach Post, February 23, 2009) • In February 2008, the Bradenton Herald reported that Coastal Construction had received 3 Bradenton building permits for new signs for Peoples Community Bank at 2207 Manatee Avenue, valued at $800, $800, and $1100. (Bradenton Herald, February 24, 2008) • In December 2007, the Palm Beach Post reported that Coastal Construction Company had received a Palm Beach County occupational license to be the general contractor for the new development Palm Beach Gardens at 3801 PGA Blvd., No. 101. (Palm Beach Post, December 10, 2007) • In November 2007, the Bradenton Herald reported that Coastal had received a Manatee building permit for all types of assembly for Palma Sola Bay Club Development at 3410 77th St W, valued at $460,000. (Bradenton Herald, November 18, 2007) • In May 2007, the Bradenton Herald reported that Coastal had received a Bradenton building permit for a single family house for MG & DS Properties, Inc at 1601 18th St. W., NCT, valued at $90,000. (Bradenton Herald, May 6, 2007) TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 299 6: Campaign Finance All Cycles Total Contributions Murphy Has Raised Nearly $6.4 Million In Campaign Career: Since running for office for the first time in 2012, Murphy had raised $6,370,412 as of September 30, 2013. (opensecrets.org) Total Raised Election Year Raised 2,012 $4,752,053 2,014 $1,618,358 Total $6,370,412 (opensecrets.org) Top Contributors Top Contributors, All Time Contributor's Associated Entity Individuals Coastal Construction Group $96,850 JStreetPAC $23,810 Deloitte LLP $11,450 Planned Parenthood DCCC (Employees) $20,800 Intl Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Avatar $20,400 Berkowitz Development Group $20,400 New Democrat Coalition Operating Engineers Union Winmar Construction $20,000 Limestone Property Management $16,200 Health Business Solutions $15,400 American Federation of Teachers $250 Kessler Group $15,200 Trump Group $15,200 American Assn for Justice American Fedn of St/Cnty/Munic Employees PACs $ 5,000 $15,500 $20,976 $20,500 $20,000 $20,000 $15,000 $15,000 $15,000 Total $96,850 $28,810 $26,950 $20,976 $20,800 $20,500 $20,400 $20,400 $20,000 $20,000 $20,000 $16,200 $15,400 $15,250 $15,200 $15,200 $15,000 $15,000 Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 AmeriPAC Berkowitz, Dick et al BRIDGE PAC Carpenters & Joiners Union Ferraro & Associates International Assn of Fire Fighters Machinists/Aerospace Workers Union PAC to the Future Service Employees International Union Teamsters Union $15,000 $15,000 $15,000 $15,000 $15,000 $15,000 $15,000 $15,000 $15,000 $15,000 $15,000 $15,000 $15,000 $15,000 $15,000 $15,000 $15,000 $15,000 $15,000 $15,000 (opensecrets.org) Top Sectors & Industries Retired People And The Finance, Insurance, And Real Estate Provide Most Financial Support to Murphy: Since 2011, Murphy has received more than $750,000 from the finance, insurance, and real estate industries. In the same period he has received over $485,000 from retired people. (opensecrets.org) Top Industries, All Time Industry Total Retired $ 485,730 Lawyers/Law Firms $ 303,078 Real Estate $ 293,548 General Contractors $ 168,200 Securities & Investment $ 142,030 Misc. Finance $ 114,900 Leadership PACs $ 111,600 Public Sector Unions $ 91,250 Democratic/Liberal $ 90,112 Building Trade Unions $ 78,500 Accountants $ 75,250 Industrial Unions $ 73,000 Special Trade Contractors $ 66,750 Pro-Israel $ 65,985 Business Services $ 61,050 Candidate Committees $ 59,500 Health Professionals $ 58,800 Construction Services $ 53,395 Education $ 52,870 Transportation Unions $ 51,000 (opensecrets.org) TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 301 Sector Totals, All Time Sector Individuals Finance, Insurance & Real Estate $608,848 Other $602,273 Ideological/Single-Issue $159,185 Lawyers & Lobbyists $331,781 Construction $339,095 Labor $750 Misc. Business $240,914 Health $119,670 Communications/Electronics $97,049 Agribusiness $44,400 Energy & Natural Resources $30,200 Transportation $30,800 Defense $4,200 PACs $145,030 $263,588 $21,500 $6,500 $318,000 $28,998 $32,500 $3,000 $7,000 $8,000 $2,000 $2,000 Total $753,878 $602,273 $422,773 $353,281 $345,595 $318,750 $269,912 $152,170 $100,049 $51,400 $38,200 $32,800 $6,200 (opensecrets.org) 2014 Campaign Overview Murphy Has Raised More Than $1,600,000: As of September 30, 2013, Murphy had reported $1,618,358 in receipts for his 2014 reelection campaign. (opensecrets.org) Murphy Has Spent Less Than $500,000: As of September 30, 2013, Murphy had spent $483,612 on his 2014 reelection campaign. (opensecrets.org) Murphy Has More Than $1 Million Cash on Hand: As of September 30, 2013, Murphy had $1,406,371 in cash on hand. (opensecrets.org) Contributions Murphy Raised 72% From Individuals: As of September 30, 2013, Murphy had received $1,166,658 in contributions from individuals, or 72%, and only $429,911 or 27% in contributions from political action committees. One percent or $21,788 came from other sources. (opensecrets.org) Murphy Raised 79% From Inside Florida: As of September 30, 2013, Murphy had received $568,995 in contributions (of over $200) from individuals in Florida, or 79%, and $146,935 or 21% from individuals outside of Florida. (opensecrets.org) Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 Murphy Raised Only About 10% From Inside His District In The First Half Of 2013: Murphy raised $117,560 from 90 itemized donors from inside his district in the first half of 2013, out of about $1.1 million raised overall at that point. During the same time he also raised $343,775 from about 215 donors in Miami-Dade and Broward counties. (SunshineStateNews.com via The Hotline, September 12, 2013) Top Contributors Top Contributors, 2014 Cycle Contributor Individuals Coastal Construction Group $20,100 Deloitte LLP $5,950 Intl Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Avatar $10,400 Berkowitz Development Group $10,400 Franklin L Haney Co $10,400 Health Business Solutions $10,400 New Democrat Coalition Operating Engineers Union St George's University $10,000 Winmar Construction $10,000 Lrp Publications $7,800 Nextera Energy $2,600 JStreetPAC $7,450 Akerman, Senterfitt & Eidson $2,250 PricewaterhouseCoopers Regions Financial Grossman & Roth $6,200 LNR Property $5,700 Capital One Financial Morgan Stanley $2,500 PACs $10,000 $10,500 $10,000 $10,000 $5,000 $5,000 $6,500 $6,500 $5,500 $3,000 Total $20,100 $15,950 $10,500 $10,400 $10,400 $10,400 $10,400 $10,000 $10,000 $10,000 $10,000 $7,800 $7,600 $7,450 $7,250 $6,500 $6,500 $6,200 $5,700 $5,500 $5,500 (opensecrets.org, based on partially processed data that does not yet total to FEC figures) TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 303 Top Sectors & Industries Top Industries, 2014 Cycle Individuals $86,600 $97,150 $47,050 $32,650 $6,200 $31,150 $30,100 Industry Real Estate Retired Lawyers/Law Firms Securities & Investment Accountants Misc. Finance General Contractors Leadership PACs Finance/Credit Companies Insurance Building Trade Unions Commercial Banks Industrial Unions Pro-Israel Public Sector Unions Hospitals/Nursing Homes Misc. Manufacturing & Distributing Education Health Services/HMOs Candidate Committees $10,200 $5,700 $1,500 $15,875 $2,600 $7,200 $13,720 $7,700 PACs $12,000 $10,500 $18,530 $27,000 $1,000 $29,000 $17,500 $21,000 $25,000 $23,000 $20,500 $2,000 $15,500 $12,000 $6,998 $6,000 $13,000 Total $98,600 $97,150 $57,550 $51,180 $33,200 $32,150 $30,100 $29,000 $27,700 $26,700 $25,000 $24,500 $20,500 $17,875 $15,500 $14,600 $14,198 $13,720 $13,700 $13,000 (opensecrets.org, based on partially processed data that does not yet total to FEC figures) Top Sectors, 2014 Cycle Sector Individuals Finance, Insurance & Real Estate $174,000 Other $121,720 Labor Ideological/Single-Issue $17,875 Misc. Business $48,450 Lawyers & Lobbyists $58,935 Construction $55,900 Health $27,050 Energy & Natural Resources $12,900 Agribusiness $8,800 PACs $124,030 $79,000 $61,000 $21,498 $10,500 $2,500 $22,500 $8,000 $6,000 Total $298,030 $121,720 $79,000 $78,875 $69,948 $69,435 $58,400 $49,550 $20,900 $14,800 Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 Communications/Electronics Transportation Defense $9,050 $8,600 $2,000 $2,000 $2,000 $11,050 $10,600 $2,000 (opensecrets.org, based on partially processed data that does not yet total to FEC figures) Political Action Committees Murphy Accepted Nearly $430,000 From PACs In The First Three Quarters Of 2013: From January 1, 2013 to September 30, 2013, Murphy accepted 269 contributions from political action committees totaling $429,910. (fec.gov, accessed November 2013) $2,500.00 $2,500.00 Top PAC Sector: Murphy Accepted $135,000 From The Finance, Insurance, And Real Estate Sector In The First Three Quarters Of 2013: Murphy accepted a total of $135,000 from PACs for corporations in the finance, insurance and real estate sector in the first three quarters of 2013. (fec.gov, accessed November 2013) 2012 Campaign Overview Murphy Raised Nearly $5 Million In His First Campaign: In 2012, Murphy received $4,752,054 in contributions. (opensecrets.org) Individuals Made Up Great Majority Of Murphy’s 2012 Contributors: In the 2012 cycle, Murphy received $3,927,631 (83%) in contributions from individuals and only $493,184 (10%) from political action committees. He contributed $66,743 (1%) to his own campaign and $264,496 (6%) came from other sources. (opensecrets.org) 73% Of Murphy’s 2012 Contributions Came From Florida: In 2012, Murphy received $2,103,512 (73%) in contributions from individuals in Florida and $766,014 (27%) from individuals outside of Florida. A total of $2,500 did not indicate a state. (opensecrets.org) 78% Of Murphy’s 2012 Contributions Before October Came From Florida: According to the Center for Responsive Politics, 78 percent of Murphy's campaign contributions prior to October 2012 came from within Florida. (Open Secrets Blog, October 10, 2012) Murphy Spent Almost $4.5 Million In His First Campaign: In 2012, Murphy made $4,480,428 in expenditures. (opensecrets.org) TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 305 Murphy Ended 2012 Cycle With Nearly $300,000 Cash On Hand: As of December 2012, Murphy had $271,626 in cash on hand. (opensecrets.org) Top Contributors Top Contributors, 2012 Cycle Contributor's Associated Entity Coastal Construction Group JStreetPAC Democratic Congressional Campaign Cmte Planned Parenthood Limestone Property Management Berkowitz, Dick et al American Fedn of St/Cnty/Munic Employees United Auto Workers Harold Ford Group Orion Investments Deloitte LLP Greenberg Traurig LLP Adler Group Plumbers/Pipefitters Union American Federation of Teachers (opensecrets.org) Top Sectors & Industries Top Industries, 2012 Cycle Industry Retired Lawyers/Law Firms Real Estate General Contractors Securities & Investment Misc. Finance Leadership PACs Democratic/Liberal Public Sector Unions Special Trade Contractors Total $389,580 $243,278 $194,448 $138,100 $90,850 $82,750 $82,600 $78,112 $75,750 $64,750 Total $76,750 $21,360 $20,800 $19,976 $16,200 $15,000 $12,500 $12,500 $12,000 $11,200 $11,000 $11,000 $10,500 $10,500 $10,250 Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 Health Professionals Building Trade Unions Industrial Unions Pro-Israel Business Services Candidate Committees Accountants Construction Services Transportation Unions Lobbyists $56,700 $53,000 $52,500 $48,110 $48,050 $46,500 $42,050 $40,495 $39,000 $38,068 (opensecrets.org) Top Sectors, 2012 Cycle Sector Other Finance/Insurance/Real Estate Ideology/Single-Issue Construction Lawyers & Lobbyists Labor Misc. Business Health Communications & Electronics Agribusiness Transportation Energy/Nat Resource Defense Total $477,053 $455,348 $343,898 $287,195 $281,346 $239,250 $195,464 $106,120 $87,999 $36,600 $22,200 $18,050 $4,200 (opensecrets.org) Political Action Committees Murphy Accepted Nearly $500,000 from Political Action Committees, A Plurality Of It From Labor: In 2012, Murphy accepted 260 contributions from political action committees totaling $497,088. This included $55,500 (11%) from businesses, $239,000 (48%) from labor unions, and $202,588 (41%) from single issue/ideological PACs. (opensecrets.org) TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 307 7. INDEX: Legislation Sponsored This section catalogs and categorizes legislation sponsored or co-sponsored by Rep. Murphy. It is duplicative of content in the accomplishments and vulnerabilities portions of this document, but does not include things such as votes or standalone news clips. It is categorized alphabetically by subject area and isolated here for easy reference. Sponsored Extend Grant Program To Help Small Manufacturers Expand Capacity In Clean, Efficient, And Modern Ways Murphy Introduced Legislation To Boost Small Business’ Manufacturing Capability And Create Jobs: In April 2013, Murphy introduced his first piece of legislation, HR 1418, the Partnering with American Manufacturers for Efficiency and Competitiveness Act. The bill would extend through FY2018 the authorization of appropriations to add capabilities to the Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership program (MEP), including the development of projects to solve new or emerging manufacturing problems. By reauthorizing the competitive grants program the bill would foster small businesses' manufacturing capabilities by promoting the use of clean, hightech, and efficient processes. The Manufacturing Extension Partnership is a force multiplier for the manufacturing sector and is one of the few effective and non-duplicative federally funded small business assistance programs that has yielded positive results for taxpayers. "My bill will create jobs. It incentivizes the development of new, cutting edge, publicprivate manufacturing assistance programs to generate jobs, promote commercialization of environmentally focused materials and processes, increase energy efficiency, and improve competitiveness," said Murphy. "The viability of the manufacturing industry is vital nationally as well as locally, with around 300 manufacturers located in Florida's 18th district." (congress.gov, HR 1418, April 8, 2013; patrickmurphyforcongress.com) Help Disaster-Struck Small Businesses Get Loans To Rebuild Murphy Introduced Zero-Cost Bipartisan Bill To Help Companies Get Back On Their Feet Faster After A Natural Disaster: In May 2013, Murphy introduced HR 1974, the Small Business Disaster Reform Act of 2013. It would help small businesses get disaster relief loans more easily and allow small business development centers from other states pitch in to help disaster-stricken areas. Specifically it would: • Amend the Small Business Act with respect to obtaining the best available collateral for a disaster loan of not more than $200,000 relating to damage to or destruction of the property of, or economic injury to, a small business concern. Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 Prohibit the Small Business Administration from requiring the small business owner to use the owner's primary residence as collateral if the owner has other assets with a value equal to or greater than the loan amount that could be used as collateral for the loan. • Authorize the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) to provide assistance to small businesses outside the state of that SBDC, without regard to geographical proximity, if the small business is in an area for which the President has declared a major disaster. • Express the sense of Congress that an SBDC is appropriately reimbursed for any legitimate expenses in carrying out such assistance. The bill was referred to several committees. "As a small businessman from Florida, I know firsthand the threats natural disasters pose to businesses owners. With small businesses serving as the backbone of our economy, we must ensure that the SBA is able to best assist them in the wake of disasters," said Murphy. "This bipartisan bill would do just that with zero cost by allowing small business owners to use assets other than their residences as collateral for small loans and by allowing neighboring SBDCs to help disaster-stricken areas. I hope that Congress will act swiftly to implement this common-sense solution." (congress.gov, HR • 1974, May 14, 2013; patrickmurphyforcongress.com) Save $200 Billion Over 10 Years By Eliminating Duplication And Waste Murphy Introduced Bipartisan Bill To Cut $200 Billion In Wasteful Spending Over 10 Years: In May 2013, Murphy and Rep. David Joyce (R-OH) introduced HR 1999, the Savings, Accountability, Value, and Efficiency Act or SAVE Act. It would cut $200 billion in government spending by eliminating duplication and waste, and by increasing efficiency. It would do that by eliminating programs like the USDA’s duplicative catfish inspection program, reclaiming billions of unused dollars in Department of Energy accounts, pushing federal agencies to compete hundreds of billions of dollars in contracts like the private sector, and moving the executive branch to dispose of hundreds of excess or underutilized buildings. Specifically it would: • Require the Office of Management and Budget publish a national strategy every two years for managing excess and underutilized federal real property. • Require the General Services Administration to implement a plan to improve the Federal Real Property Profile that ensures the data collected is complete, accurate, and consistent. • Require the Administrator for Federal Procurement Policy to issue guidance to federal agencies for reinvigorating the role of the competition advocate. • Require the OMB to issue government-wide savings goals for the strategic sourcing of goods and services by executive agencies. • Require agency chief information officers to report to OMB on agency efforts to identify and eliminate potentially duplicative information technology investment. • Require the Federal Chief Information Officer to develop and implement the Federal Data Center Optimization Initiative to optimize the usage and efficiency of federal data centers. TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 309 • • • • • • The Require the OMB to issue recommendations for reducing or consolidating the number of federal data centers by at least 40% by the end of FY2018 and by at least 80% by the end of FY2023. Rescind unobligated budget authority for the Department of Energy (DOE) Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing Loan Program. Require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to submit to Congress a report on efforts to finalize plans and schedules for fully implementing and expanding the use of the Integrated Data Repository and on actions taken to plan, schedule, and conduct training on the One Program Integrity System. Amend the USEC Privatization Act to expand the definition of "uranium" for purposes of transfers and sales to include depleted uranium and any byproduct of uranium processing. Require the OMB to develop a strategy to assess the collective results of federal funding for the reduction of mobile source diesel emissions and to identify and eliminate any unnecessary duplication, overlap, and fragmentation of such activities. Repeal a provision of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 establishing an inspection and grading program for catfish and other species of farm-raised fish or shellfish. legislation had 20 co-sponsors and was referred to multiple committees. (congress.gov, HR 1999, May 14, 2013; patrickmurphyforcongress.com) Save $26 Billion Through Efficiency Murphy Introduced Bill To Reduce Federal Deficit By $26 Billion By Capitalizing On Modern Technology And Commonsense Opportunities For Efficiency: In September 2013, Murphy introduced HR 3146, the Savings, Accountability, Value, and Efficiency II Act or SAVE II Act to cut $26 billion in government spending over 10 years. The bill was an extension of the bipartisan SAVE Act (HR 1999) that Murphy introduced in May 2013 to cut $200 billion in wasteful spending over 10 years. "As Congress works on a long-term solution to our nation's unacceptably high level of debt, we should not lose focus on economic growth, steady revenues, and cutting as much fat from government operations as we can find," said Murphy. "While tough fiscal decisions still need to be made, these measures represent a non-controversial approach to cutting billions from the deficit without hurting the economy or important national investments." SAVE II: • • • • • Requires greater interoperability for unmanned aircraft systems Restricts passports for individuals with seriously delinquent tax debt in excess of $50,000 Requires a report on switching from a retrospective antidumping and countervailing duty collection system to a prospective one Requires a report on the effectiveness of each USAID foreign assistance program and project Requires the conversion of all x-ray systems in federal prisons from analog to filmless digital Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 • • Prohibits the minting or issuance of any coin that costs more to produce than its face value Requires the Government Printing Office to switch from paper documents to electronic-only publishing on the internet with limited exceptions. The legislation was co-sponsored by Reps. Mike Coffman, R-Colo., Scott Peters, DCalif., Kyrsten Sinema, D-Ariz., and Mark Takano, D-Calif. The bill was referred to several committees. (congress.gov, HR 3146, September 19, 2013; Targeted News Service, September 24, 2013; Congressional Documents and Publications, September 19, 2013) Slow Or Reduce New Capital Requirements Regulations For Small To Regional Financial Institutions Murphy Introduced Legislation To Require Federal Agencies To Produce Assessments Of The Impact Of Any Basel III Risk-Based Capital Requirements Rules On Small to Regional Financial Institutions Before Implementing Them: In June 2013, Murphy introduced HR 2295, the Basel III Commonsense Approach for Small Entities Act or Basel III CASE Act. The bill directs the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, before issuing any final rule in relation to proposals they have issued for the International Basel III agreement on general riskbased capital requirements, to conduct an empirical study that includes: • A quantitative analysis of the rule's impact on the U.S. financial services sector, specifically community, mid-size, and regional financial institutions; and • A determination of the long-term impact of the rule, including changes to the current risk weight framework. It permits a financial institution to provide information voluntarily for the study upon agency request, but prohibits agencies from requiring such information. It requires the study to be made available to the public for notice and comment. The third Basel Accords were intended to improve banks’ ability to withstand shocks, such as the financial crisis in recent years, by strengthening capital requirements to increase liquidity and decrease leverage, improve risk management and governance, and increase banks’ transparency and disclosure. (congress.gov, HR 2295, June 6, 2013; Bank for International Settlements, Basel III overview) Save $2.4 Billion A Year By Ending Subsidies For Oil & Gas Titans Murphy Introduced A Bill To End Subsidies For The Oil And Gas Industry To Reduce The National Debt By $2.4 Billion Per Year: In August 2013, Murphy introduced HR 2956, the End Welfare for Big Oil Act of 2013, a bill to remove oil tax credits and subsidies for major oil companies in an effort to reduce the national debt. The bill would eliminate a variety of tax breaks -- such as the intangible drilling costs deduction and section 199 domestic manufacturing deduction -- for the five largest oil companies. It emerged from a competition he held among constituents to suggest ways to save the government money. "This bill is a common sense solution to cut wasteful spending and reduce our nation's deficit while evening the playing field for other energy sectors, including renewable energy," Murphy said in a statement. He said the changes TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 311 would amount to about $2.4 billion per year. The bill was referred to was the House Committee on Ways and Means and House Committee on Natural Resources. (HR 2956, National Law Review, August 20, 2013; congress.gov, HR 2956, August 9, 2013; Targeted News Service, August 7, 2013; Greenwire, August 2, 2013) Stop DoD Spending For Maintenance Or Improvement Of Unused Facilities Murphy Proposed And Won Passage Of An Amendment That Would Require The Department Of Defense To Stop Paying To Maintain Unused Facilities: As an extension of his SAVE Act, Murphy offered an amendment to the military construction and veterans affairs appropriations bill in June 2013 that would prohibit any of the funds to be used to maintain or improve Department of Defense real property with a zero percent utilization rate according to the Department's real property inventory database, with a few exceptions noted. Murphy pointed out that eliminating the spending on the hundreds or thousands of buildings and structures that aren’t being used for anything would save tens of millions of dollars in the next fiscal year alone. The amendment was agreed to by a voice vote. (congress.gov, H.Amdt. 95 to HR 2216, June 4, 2013; Congressional th Record, 113 Congress, page H3079) Boost Competitive Bidding On Defense Construction Projects Murphy Proposed And Won Passage Of An Amendment That Would Require The Department Of Defense To Get At Least Two Competitive Bids On Any Contract Over $1,000,000: As an extension of his SAVE Act, Murphy offered an amendment to the military construction and veterans affairs appropriations bill in June 2013 that would boost competitive bidding across defense construction projects. Murphy pointed out on the House floor that 43 percent of Department of Defense contracts are noncompetitively awarded and that it does not keep accurate records of why solesource contracts are awarded. His amendment would prevent the Department of Defense from awarding contracts worth over $1 million that have not received at least two competitive bids. The amendment was agreed to by a voice vote. (congress.gov, th H.Amdt. 91 to HR 2216, June 4, 2013; Congressional Record, 113 Congress, page H3078) Shift Cost Of Agricultural Quarantine Inspections From Taxpayers To Visitors Murphy Proposed An Amendment To Make Customs & Border Patrol And The USDA Pay For Agricultural Quarantine Inspections Of Incoming Vessels And Passengers With Fees On Those Vessels And Passengers Instead Of Handing The Bill To Taxpayers: In June 2013, Murphy offered an amendment to the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act that would bar any of the funds from being used for the Agricultural Quarantine Inspection program. It would cut over $300 million from a program that had been supposed to cost taxpayers nothing. Customs and Border Patrol, along with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, conducts agricultural quarantine inspections on incoming vessels and passengers to protect the nation’s agriculture and wildlife. The cost is supposed to be covered by fees imposed on incoming vessels and travelers, but the Government Accountability Office found in 2011 Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 that the fees covered only 60 percent of the program's cost. As a result, the taxpayers had to cover a $325 million shortfall. Murphy’s SAVE Act, a separate piece of legislation, would direct Customs and Border Patrol and the USDA to adjust its fees to fully cover the cost of the program. The current amendment would prevent Customs and Border Patrol from continuing to use taxpayer dollars to subsidize incoming vessels and travelers and make the program truly fee-supported. The amendment failed on a voice vote. (congress.gov, H.Amdt. 125 to HR 2217, June 5, 2013; Congressional Record, 113th Congress, page H3192) Co-Sponsored Budget, Debt Ceiling & Shutdown Press Congress To Pass A Budget Murphy Co-Sponsored A Resolution Calling On The Speaker To Appoint Conferees To Negotiate A Budget: In April 2013, Murphy co-sponsored a resolution that expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the Speaker should follow regular House procedure and immediately request a conference and appoint conferees to negotiate a FY2014 budget resolution conference agreement with the Senate. (H Res 174, added April 25, 2013) Murphy Co-Sponsored The No Budget, No Pay Act To Force Congress To Do Without Its Pay Until It Passes A Budget: In July 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the No Budget, No Pay Act, which prohibits the payment of any pay to any Member of Congress (excluding the Vice President): (1) if both houses of Congress have not approved a concurrent resolution on the budget for a fiscal year before October 1 of that fiscal year and have not passed all the regular appropriations bills for the next fiscal year by such date, or (2) until both houses of Congress approve such a budget resolution and pass all such appropriations bills. It prohibits any retroactive pay for such a period. (CRS Summary, HR 310, added July 18, 2013) Switch To Biennial Budgeting Murphy Co-Sponsored The Biennial Budgeting And Enhanced Oversight Act Of 2013 To Move The Government From Annual To Biennial Budgeting Stabilize The Budget Process And Avoid Crises: In July 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Biennial Budgeting And Enhanced Oversight Act Of 2013, which amends the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to: • Establish a two-year, “biennial” budgeting and appropriations cycle for the U.S. government • Year 1 of the biennium (odd-numbered years): Congress would draft and adopt a budget plan covering the next two years. This plan would provide the framework TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 313 • • for the consideration of legislation with fiscal implications over the course of the entire Congress. Year 2 of the biennium (even-numbered years): Congress would focus on conducting detailed oversight of government agencies and programs. Biennial process would provide more budget stability and certainty by doing away with the current ad-hoc appropriation process. Federal departments and agencies would know a full year in advance the resources they will have available, giving them the ability to plan into the future and implement cost-saving measures to make the most of every dollar. The bill’s sponsor, Reid Ribble (R-WI), outlined the its purpose: “Congress has relied on short-term, stop-gap budget measures for almost three decades, said Ribble. "This dysfunctional approach has caused Washington to stumble from budget crisis to budget crisis and disregarded the proper use of taxpayer money. As one of government’s most basic tasks, passing a budget prioritizes spending depending on the needs and values of our nation. The failure to do so is simply irresponsible and it’s time to fix the problem and hold Washington accountable. “In order to fix our nation’s broken budget process, I introduced a bipartisan solution that will implement a framework for financial responsibility. Biennial budgeting would provide greater stability because deadlines and responsibilities would be broken down in a two-year cycle. Year one would be focused on drafting and executing a responsible budget plan for both years, while year two would be focused on performing detailed oversight of government agencies and programs. By providing enhanced oversight and a more orderly budget process, this will stop the spectacle of a Congress that wastes taxpayer dollars and budgets from crisis to crisis.” (CRS Summary, HR 1869, added July 22, 2013; ribble.house.gov, Press release, May 9, 2013) Campaigns, Campaign Finance, Elections Require Online Voter Registration Murphy Co-Sponsored The Voter Empowerment Act To Enable Online Voter Registration In Every State: In January 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Voter Empowerment Act, which amends the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 to require each state to make available official public websites for online voter registration. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 12, added January 23, 2013) Require Disclosure And Shareholder Approval Of Corporate Political Spending Murphy Co-Sponsored The DISCLOSE Act To Require Corporations And Unions To Disclose Spending On Elections: In April 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the DISCLOSE Act, which amends the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to redefine Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 the term "independent expenditure" as an expenditure by a person that, when taken as a whole, expressly advocates the election or defeat of a clearly identified candidate, or is the functional equivalent of express advocacy because it can be interpreted by a reasonable person only as advocating the election or defeat of a candidate, taking into account whether the communication involved mentions a candidacy, a political party, or a challenger to a candidate, or takes a position on a candidates, qualifications, or fitness for office. Expands the period during which certain communications are treated as electioneering communications. It prescribes: (1) disclosure requirements for corporations, labor organizations, and certain other entities; and (2) disclaimer requirements for campaign-related disbursements and for certain communications. Requires any communication transmitted through radio or television to include an individual or organizational disclosure statement. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 148, added April 26, 2013) Murphy Co-Sponsored The Shareholder Protection Act To Require Publicly Held Companies To Publish The Amount And Nature Of Their Projected Political Spending In Their Proxy Statements And Get Shareholder Approval Of It: In May 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Shareholder Protection Act, which amends the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to require that any solicitation of a proxy, consent, or authorization with respect to any security of an issuer: (1) describe the specific nature (to the extent known) and total amount of expenditures proposed for political activities for the forthcoming fiscal year but not yet authorized by a vote of the issuer's shareholders, and (2) provide for a separate shareholder vote to authorize such proposed expenditures. It prohibits an issuer from making an expenditure for political activities in any fiscal year unless: (1) such expenditure is of the nature of those proposed by the issuer according to the requirements of this Act, and (2) authorization for such expenditure has been granted by votes representing a majority of outstanding shares. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 1734, added May 20, 2013) Murphy Co-Sponsored The Corporate Politics Transparency Act To Ensure That Shareholders A Public Company Can Know The Company’s History Of Political Spending: In May 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Corporate Politics Transparency Act, which amends the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to require that quarterly and annual reports of an issuer, any proxy solicitation, or consent or authorization in respect of any security, and the issuer's registration statement disclose total political expenditures in support of or in opposition to any candidate for federal, state, or local public office made by the issuer during the preceding six-year period. (CRS Summary, CoSponsorship memo for HR 2214, added May 24, 2013) TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 315 Citrus Use Duties From Citrus Imports For R&D On Citrus Diseases And Pests Murphy Co-Sponsored The Citrus Disease Research And Development Trust Fund Act To Use Duties On Citrus Imports To Support Research, Assistance, And Development On Citrus Diseases And Pests: In February 2013, Murphy cosponsored the Citrus Disease Research And Development Trust Fund Act, which establishes the Citrus Disease Research and Development Trust Fund, consisting of revenues from duties paid on imported citrus or citrus products, to support scientific research, technical assistance, and development activities to combat both domestic and invasive citrus diseases and pests harming the United States. (CRS Summary, CoSponsorship memo for HR 853, added February 27, 2013) Commemorations Misc. Murphy Co-Sponsored A Bill To Award A Gold Medal To Recognize Four Civil Rights Child Martyrs: In February 2013, Murphy co-sponsored a bill to award a gold medal to recognize and commemorate the lives of Addie Mae Collins, Denise McNair, Carole Robertson, and Cynthia Wesley, children who lost their lives in the September 1963 bombing of the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama, an incident recognized as a catalyst for the civil rights movement. The bill became law. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 360, added February 14, 2013) Murphy Co-Sponsored The Lena Horne Recognition Act: In October 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Lena Horne Recognition Act to posthumously award a gold medal in commemoration of Lena Horne in recognition of her achievements and contributions to American culture and the civil rights movement. (CRS Summary, HR 715, added October 28, 2013) Murphy Co-Sponsored The Sally K. Ride Congressional Gold Medal Act Of 2013 To Honor And Commemorate The First American Woman In Space: In July 2013, Murphy co-sponsored a bill for the posthumous presentation of a congressional gold medal in commemoration of Sally K. Ride in recognition of her exemplary service as an astronaut, physicist, and science education advocate. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 2422, added July 8, 2013) Murphy Co-Sponsored A Bill To Award A Gold Medal To Jack Nicklaus: In August 2013, Murphy co-sponsored a bill to present a congressional gold medal to Jack Nicklaus in recognition of his service to the nation in promoting excellence and good sportsmanship. (CRS Summary, HR 2203, added August 2, 2013) Murphy Co-Sponsored The Boys Town Centennial Commemorative Coin Act: In November 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Boys Town Centennial Commemorative Coin Act, which directs the Secretary of the Treasury to mint and issue up to 50,000 $5 gold coins, 350,000 $1 silver coins, and 300,000 half dollar clad coins to commemorate Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 the centennial of the founding of Father Flanagan's Boys Town. It requires the design of the coins to be emblematic of the 100 years of Boys Town, one of the largest nonprofit child care agencies in the United States. It permits issuance of such coins only between January 1, 2017, and December 31, 2018. (CRS Summary, HR 2866, added November 12, 2013) Murphy Co-Sponsored A Resolution Expressing Condolences For The Late Florida Rep. Clay Shaw, Jr.: In September 2013, Murphy co-sponsored a resolution expressing the condolences of the House of Representatives on the death of the Honorable E. Clay Shaw, Jr., formerly a Representative of the State of Florida. (CRS Summary, HRES 343, added September 12, 2013) Crime/Fraud Prevent And Punish Fraud, Especially Against Seniors Murphy Co-Sponsored The STOP Identity Theft Act To Crack Down On Tax Return Identity Theft: In April 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the STOP Identity Theft Act, which calls for the Attorney General to stiffen enforcement and penalties for tax return identity theft. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 744, added April 9, 2013) Murphy Co-Sponsored The SAFE ID Act Of 2013 To Guard Against Identity Theft: In May 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the SAFE ID Act Of 2013, which would require the use of a taxpayer identification number instead of a social security number in reporting wages of employees on W-2 forms. Currently many other tax forms do not require a full social security number, and W-2s present an opportunity for thieves to steal someone’s identity. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 1560, added May 8, 2013) Murphy Co-Sponsored The Seniors Fraud Prevention Act Of 2013 To Protect Seniors From Things Such As Investment, Charity, And Sweepstakes Scams: In May 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the bipartisan Seniors Fraud Prevention Act Of 2013, which directs the Bureau of Consumer Protection to advise the Federal Trade Commission on the prevention of fraud targeting seniors and to assist the FTC in monitoring the market for mail, television, Internet, and telemarketing fraud including recorded message telephone calls (robocalls) targeting seniors. It would guard against things such as fraudulent investment plans and asset management offers, sweepstakes, and charity scams. District 18 has a significant number of seniors and Florida has a hotbed of fraud. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 1953, added May 21, 2013) Murphy Co-Sponsored The Protecting Seniors From Health Care Fraud Act To Track And Report On The Most Prevalent Health Care Fraud Schemes Targeting Seniors: In September 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Protecting Seniors from Health Care Fraud Act. Health care fraud targeting seniors is on the rise. In 2012 alone, the number of health care scams targeting seniors rose 12 percent. The bill would require federal agencies to consolidate information on health care fraud and report to Congress TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 317 on the top 10 most prevalent health care fraud schemes targeting seniors, including ways to combat the schemes and policy recommendations for stopping them. The top ten list would be sent to senior Medicare beneficiaries annually. (CRS Summary, CoSponsorship memo for the as yet unnumbered Protecting Seniors from Health Care Fraud Act of 2013, received September 25, 2013) Prevent Juvenile Delinquency And Street Gangs Murphy Co-Sponsored The Youth PROMISE Act To Prevent And Address Juvenile Delinquency And Criminal Street Gang Activity: In October 2013, Murphy cosponsored the Youth Prison Reduction through Opportunities, Mentoring, Intervention, Support, and Education (PROMISE) Act, which establishes a an advisory panel to assist the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention in: (1) assessing and developing standards and practices to prevent juvenile delinquency and criminal street gang activity, and (2) collecting data to assess the needs and existing resources for juvenile delinquency and criminal street gang activity prevention and intervention. It authorizes award grants to local governments and Indian tribes to: (1) plan and assess practices for juvenile delinquency and criminal street gang activity prevention and intervention, and (2) implement PROMISE plans for coordinating and supporting the delivery of juvenile delinquency and gang prevention and intervention programs in local communities. It establishes a National Research Center for Proven Juvenile Justice Practices to provide research and information about practices related to juvenile delinquency and criminal street gang prevention or intervention. (CRS Summary, HR 1318, added October 22, 2013) Disaster Preparedness Improve Resilience Against Disasters Murphy Co-Sponsored The Strengthening The Resiliency Of Our Nation On The Ground Act To Coordinate And Improve The Nation’s Disaster Response Capability: In June 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Strengthening The Resiliency Of Our Nation On The Ground Act, which requires the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy to establish and chair an interagency working group with cabinetlevel representation from all relevant federal agencies in order to: (1) provide a strategic vision of extreme weather resilience; (2) conduct a gap and overlap analysis of current and planned federal activities related to achieving short- and long-term resilience to extreme weather and its impacts on the United States, such as flooding and drought; and (3) develop a National Extreme Weather Resilience Action Plan. (CRS Summary, CoSponsorship memo for HR 2322, added June 11, 2013) Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 Education Freeze Student Loan Rate Until 2015 Murphy Co-Sponsored The Student Loan Relief Act Of 2013 To Extend The 3.4% Interest Rate For Subsidized Stafford Loans Through 2015: In May 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Student Loan Relief Act Of 2013, which amends title IV (Student Assistance) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to extend the 3.4% interest rate on Federal Direct Stafford loans through July 1, 2015. The CBO estimated it would cost $5.98 billion. Fifty one percent of students at Florida colleges and universities receive federal student loans. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 1595, added May 23, 2013) Freeze Student Loan Rate Until 2017 Murphy Co-Sponsored The Stability To Ensure The American Dream For Youth (STEADY) Act To Extend The 3.4% Interest Rate For Subsidized Stafford Student Loans Through 2017: In May 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Stability To Ensure The American Dream For Youth (STEADY) Act, which amends title IV (Student Assistance) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to extend the 3.4% interest rate on Federal Direct Stafford loans to July 1, 2017. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 1876, added May 22, 2013) Protect Public Employees And Service Members From Higher Student Loan Rates Murphy Co-Sponsored The Student Loan Forgiveness Verification Act To Protect Public Service Employees And Military Service Members From Higher Student Loan Rates Due To Unqualified Loan Consolidation: In July 2013, Murphy cosponsored the Student Loan Forgiveness Verification Act, which would require the Department of Education to verify up front that borrowers are eligible for the benefits of reduced or forgiven loan debt before allowing them to consolidate and transfer private student loans to the government. Currently, there exist $390 billion in outstanding privately held student loans. The criteria for being eligible to transfer loans to the government—which DOE does a poor job of verifying prior to transferring loans—is that borrowers must be in default or in danger of default, must work in a public service job that would qualify them for debt forgiveness, or must be a member of the armed forces. Once their loans are consolidated and transferred to government, individuals who meet one or more of these criteria can benefit from lower payments or rates as well as loan forgiveness. However, because borrowers’ qualifications are not being verified before consolidation, many unqualified individuals have consolidated their loans but then have been unable to reap the benefits of the program. Without these benefits, consolidated loans often end up costing more with a higher interest rate. TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 319 Since DOE verifies borrowers before providing benefits anyway, it would be little extra cost or work to simply verify them earlier in the process before they consolidate and transfer their loans. The goal of the bill is to protect these borrowers from those higher costs and trouble. However since it would slow the rate of loan transfers from private borrowers to the government, it could be portrayed as a benefit to private student loan providers, which progressive and student groups often cast as predatory. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 1991, added July 30, 2013) Prevent And Disclose Bullying And Harassment In Schools Murphy Co-Sponsored The Safe Schools Improvement Act of 2013 To Crack Down On Bullying: In October 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Safe Schools Improvement Act of 2013, which requires states to direct their local educational agencies (LEAs) to establish policies that prevent and prohibit bullying and harassment. It requires LEAs to also provide students and parents with notice of prohibited conduct and of grievance procedures, and to provide the public with annual reports on such activities. It requires a biennial evaluation of programs to combat bullying and harassment in schools and the collection of data to determine the scope of such problem behavior nationwide. (CRS Summary, HR 1199, added October 28, 2013) Support American Education Week Murphy Co-Sponsored A Resolution Supporting The Goals And Ideals Of American Education Week: In November 2013, Murphy co-sponsored a resolution supporting the goals and ideals of American Education Week. (CRS Summary, H Res 414, added November 14, 2013) Energy, Efficiency, Oil, Renewables Disincentivize Oil & Gas Murphy Co-Sponsored The End Big Oil Tax Subsidies Act Of 2013: In July 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the End Big Oil Tax Subsidies Act Of 2013, which denies certain tax benefits to any taxpayer that is not a small, independent oil and gas company, including: (1) the tax credits for producing oil and gas from marginal wells and for enhanced oil recovery (2) expensing of intangible drilling and development costs in the case of gas wells and geothermal wells (3) percentage depletion (4) the tax deduction for qualified tertiary injectant expenses (5) the exemption from limitations on passive activity losses (6) the tax deduction for income attributable to domestic production activities Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 It limits or denies the foreign tax credit and tax deferrals for amounts paid or accrued by a dual capacity taxpayer to a foreign country or U.S. possession for any period with respect to combined foreign oil and gas income. Defines "dual capacity taxpayer" as a person who is subject to a levy of a foreign country or U.S. possession and receives (or will receive) directly or indirectly a specific economic benefit from such county or possession. (CRS Summary, HR 609, added July 31, 2013) Incentivize Renewable Energy Murphy Co-Sponsored The SEAM Act Of 2013 To Encourage Manufacture Of Clean Energy Parts And Equipment: In April 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the SEAM Act Of 2013, which would extend the Advanced Energy Manufacturing Tax Credit program, also known as the 48C program, by $5 billion. This program provides a 30% tax credit to companies that are constructing, expanding or retrofitting their manufacturing facility to build parts and equipment that are used in the production of energy from a renewable source, such as solar, wind, fuel cells, and other green technologies. If a company does not have a tax liability, it gets a grant in lieu of tax credits. The first allocation of funding for this tax credit was awarded to manufacturing facilities and proved successful in leveraging private capital and giving companies an incentive to open up their manufacturing in the US. The 48C program generated far more interest than anticipated. Clean energy advocates and environmental groups would likely support the bill, but it is not only a stimulus-funded program, but also a tax expenditure that benefits a special interest group, complicates the tax code, and reduces revenue. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 1424, added April 11, 2013) Murphy Co-Sponsored The Prioritizing Energy Efficient Renewables Act Of 2013 To Shift Incentives From Fossil Fuels To Renewables: In August 2013, Murphy cosponsored the Prioritizing Energy Efficient Renewables Act Of 2013, which Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) make permanent the tax credit for producing electricity from wind, geothermal and solar energy, hydropower, and marine and hydrokinetic renewable energy facilities (2) repeal the tax deduction for intangible drilling and development costs for oil and gas wells (3) repeal the tax deduction for income attributable to the production, refining, transportation, or distribution of oil, natural gas, or any primary product thereof (4) repeal the percentage depletion allowance for oil and gas wells. (CRS Summary, HR 2539, added August 1, 2013) Require Government To Conserve Energy And Water Murphy Co-Sponsored The Energy Savings Through Public-Private Partnerships Act Of 2013 To Require Government Agencies To Implement Energy And Water Conservation Measures: In July 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Energy Savings Through Public-Private Partnerships Act Of 2013, which amends the National Energy Conservation Policy Act to direct each federal facility energy manager to consider, not later than two years after completion of a comprehensive energy and water evaluation TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 321 of a federal agency's facilities: (1) implementing any energy- or water-saving or conservation measure that the agency identified in the evaluation that is life cycle costeffective, and (2) bundling individual measures of varying paybacks together into combined projects. (Under current law, the energy manager is not required to consider such actions.) (CRS Summary, HR 2689, added July 18, 2013) Environment & Wildlife Authorize Everglades Restoration Projects (CERP) Murphy Co-Sponsored The Everglades For The Next Generation Act To Greenlight Projects Under The Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan: In March 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Everglades For The Next Generation Act, which Amends the Water Resources Development Act of 2000 to authorize the Secretary of the Army, after completing a project implementation report prepared for a project under the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan and without any further congressional authorization, to carry out projects for: (1) the Caloosahatchee River (C-43) West Basin Storage Reservoir; (2) the Biscayne Bay coastal wetland; (3) Broward County water preserve areas; (4) the C-111 Spreader Canal; (5) any other project identified in the Plan for which a project implementation report is completed that is in accordance with an integrated delivery schedule approved by the Chief of Engineers and the South Florida Water Management District, provided that the report is completed not later than five years after this Act's enactment; and (6) any group of projects under the Plan that the Secretary determines will provide regional or watershed ecosystem or water supply benefits if the group of projects is constructed in accordance with a project implementation report approved by the Chief and the District within that time frame. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 913, added March 18, 2013) Incentivize Land Conservation Murphy Co-Sponsored The Conservation Easement Incentive Act Of 2013 To Make A Permanent Tax Deduction For Donating Land For Conservation Purposes: In July 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Conservation Easement Incentive Act Of 2013 to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to make permanent the tax deduction for charitable contributions by individuals and corporations of real property interests for conservation purposes. (CRS Summary, HR 2807, added July 24, 2013) Murphy Co-Sponsored The Farmland Preservation And Land Conservation Act To Exempt Farmland From The Estate Tax And Gift Tax: In May 2013, Murphy cosponsored the Farmland Preservation And Land Conservation Act, which allows an estate and gift tax exclusion for property which at the time of a decedent's death was being used for farming purposes or exclusively for conservation purposes. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 47, added May 7, 2013) Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 Protect Animals From Abuse Murphy Co-Sponsored The PAST Act To Protect Horses From Cruel And Painful Treatment: In May 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Prevent All Soring Tactics Act, which prohibits the use of cruel and painful methods to exaggerate the gait of walking horses. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 1518, added May 2, 2013) Murphy Co-Sponsored The Puppy Uniform Protection And Safety Act To Regulate Standards Of Care For Dog Breeders: In April 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Puppy Uniform Protection And Safety Act, which requires all breeders who sell more than 50 dogs annually -- whether through pet stores or online -- to undergo inspections and meet USDA standards for caring for the dogs. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 847, added April 17, 2013) Murphy Co-Sponsored The Animal Fighting Spectator Prohibition Act To Make It Illegal To Attend Animal Fighting Events: In July 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Animal Fighting Spectator Prohibition Act, to prohibit any person from knowingly attending an animal fighting venture or causing a minor to attend such a venture. (CRS Summary, HR 366, added July 30, 2013) Murphy Co-Sponsored The End All Shark Finning Resolution: In July 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the End All Shark Finning Resolution, which calls for the US to end the importation of shark fins from foreign fisheries that practice shark finning. (H Res 285, added July 30, 2013) Murphy Co-Sponsored The Safeguard American Food Exports Act To Prevent The Sale Of Horses For Food: In March 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Safeguard American Food Exports Act to prohibit the sale or transport of equines and equine parts in interstate or foreign commerce for human consumption. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 1094, added March 18, 2013) Protect Against Invasive Species Murphy Co-Sponsored The Invasive Fish And Wildlife Prevention Act: In March 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Invasive Fish And Wildlife Prevention Act, which would give the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service streamlined authority to utilize modern scientific approaches to prevent species invasions. The bill also creates a category of “Injurious II” species, which are not suited as private pets or aquarium species but can be held safely by qualified zoos, aquaria, research facilities, and other institutions without a need for a Federal permit. This exemption is broader than current law, which requires a Federal permit for transactions in all listed species, a requirement that is becoming unworkable as more animals are listed. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 996, added March 6, 2013) TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 323 Financial Services Do Not Require Regulatory Bodies To Indemnify CTFC Against Legal Expenses When CTFC Shares Derivative And Swap Information Murphy Co-Sponsored The Swap Data Repository And Clearinghouse Indemnification Correction Act To Revoke Requirement That Regulatory Bodies Indemnify The CTFC Against Legal Expenses When It Shares Swap Information: In March 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Swap Data Repository And Clearinghouse Indemnification Correction Act, characterized as a “technical correction” to the DoddFrank financial reforms, that would amend the Commodity Exchange Act, with respect to derivatives clearing organizations and swap data repositories (SDRs), to repeal the prerequisite that, before the Commodity Futures Trading Commission may share information with specified regulatory agencies abroad, such agencies must agree to indemnify the CFTC for expenses arising from litigation relating to information so provided. The Depository Trust and Clearing Corporation, a non-profit co-op created by the financial services industry to clear swaps, believes that the indemnification provision, as currently drafted, will significantly impede global regulatory cooperation, risk fragmentation of a global data set for over-the-counter derivatives, and undermine efforts to increase market transparency and mitigate risk in this market. Under current law, derivatives clearing organizations and SDRs are required to report information about swap transactions to CFTC, or in the case of security-based SDRs, to the SEC. Because the concept of indemnification is based on U.S. tort law, many regulators worldwide have indicated that they would be unable or unwilling to provide such an indemnity agreement. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 742, added March 19, 2013) Delay Expanding Definition Of “Fiduciary” To Broker-Dealers Murphy Co-Sponsored The Retail Investor Protection Act To Delay Defining Broker-Dealers As Fiduciaries Under ERISA: In September 2013, Murphy cosponsored the Retail Investor Protection Act, which would forbid the Department of Labor from finalizing a rule on who was to be defined as a fiduciary under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) until the SEC had issued its own rule on the topic in regard to the inclusion of brokers and dealers. The Dodd-Frank financial reforms authorized but did not require the SEC to extend the definition of fiduciary (currently applicable to investment advisers) to broker-dealers when they provide advice about securities to retail customers. While the securities industry was generally supportive of the SEC’s deliberations and initial proposals on this matter, this bill would also require the SEC, before it promulgated its own rule, to determine whether retail investors are actually being harmed because broker-dealers are held to a different standard than financial advisers, to determine whether holding broker-dealers to the fiduciary standard would limit retail investors’ access to Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 personalized investment advice, and consider the differences in the registration, supervision, and examination requirements applicable to brokers, dealers, and investment advisers. Some expressed concerned that the Department of Labor’s proposed rule on this topic would make it much more expensive to provide services to a pension plan sponsor and IRA accounts. In particular, many commenters indicated that Labor’s proposal would result in many institutions that currently provide services to holders of self-directed IRA accounts to abandon such accounts, given the low compensation and the higher risk of being considered to be a fiduciary. Securities and financial services industry groups have been generally, but quietly, supportive of the bill, while numerous advocates for consumers, financial advisers, and financial reform (e.g., AARP, AFL-CIO, Financial Planning Association, etc.) have opposed it. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 2374, added September 9, 2013) Keep Appraisers Of Employee Stock Ownership Plans Impartial Murphy Co-Sponsored A Bill To Modify The Definition Of "Fiduciary” Under ERISA To Exclude Appraisers Of Employee Stock Ownership Plans So That They Will Adhere To Impartial Appraisal Standards And Nothing Else: In July 2013, Murphy co-sponsored a bill to modify the definition of fiduciary under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) to exclude appraisers of employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs). As part of their 2010 fiduciary duty proposed rule, the Department of Labor applied the fiduciary standard (under which one must act in the client’s best financial interest) to a broad swath of financial advisers. The Department of Labor withdrew the rule after widespread industry concern and ideologically broad-based opposition from Members of Congress. One of the many troublesome features of the proposed rule was the application of fiduciary standard to appraisers of employee stock ownership plans. It is nonsensical for an appraiser to act in the client’s best financial interest. To illustrate, would it not be in an employee’s best financial interest for the appraiser to undervalue stock holdings to strengthen the employee’s hand in compensation negotiation? An appraiser should be bound by appraisal standards not the financial interest of the client, because their job is to impartially appraise. Additionally, if ESOP appraisers were to be defined as fiduciaries, the nation’s approximately 11,000 ESOPs would incur significant compliance costs. And the appraisers themselves would be forced to purchase expensive fiduciary insurance, employ specialized ERISA counsel, and be exposed to unwarranted litigation. The AICPA supported this measure while the Department of Labor opposed it. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 2041, added July 29, 2013; aicpa.org) TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 325 Exempt Most Private Equity Firm Advisers From Dodd-Frank SEC Registration Murphy Co-Sponsored The Small Business Capital Access and Job Preservation Act To Exempt Most Private Equity Firm Advisers From Dodd-Frank Financial Reform Requirements That They Register With The SEC: In September 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Small Business Capital Access and Job Preservation Act, which would exempt most private equity firm advisers from SEC registration requirements. The bill would exempt advisers to certain private equity funds from the new registration requirements imposed by Title IV of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. Specifically, it would exempt from SEC registration private equity fund advisers that have not borrowed and do not have outstanding a principal amount in excess of twice their funded capital commitments. Title IV of Dodd-Frank Act required all advisers to private funds with more than $150 million in assets, including private equity funds, to register with the SEC. Private equity and small business investors supported the bill while advocates for consumers and financial reform opposed it. Murphy voted for the bill in committee. (CRS Summary, CoSponsorship memo for HR 1105, added September 25, 2013) Slow Or Reduce New Capital Requirements Regulations For Banks Murphy Co-Sponsored The Determination Of Appropriate Risk-Based Capital Requirements For Community Financial Institutions Act Of 2013 To Require The Government To Do An Impact Study Before Implementing Any Rules From The Third Basel Accords On Bank Capital Adequacy And Market Liquidity Risk: In June 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Determination Of Appropriate Risk-Based Capital Requirements For Community Financial Institutions Act Of 2013, which directs the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (federal banking agencies) to conduct an empirical impact study before issuing a final rule in relation to proposed regulatory capital rules for the international Basel III agreement. The third Basel Accords were intended to improve banks’ ability to withstand shocks, such as the financial crisis in recent years, by strengthening capital requirements to increase liquidity and decrease leverage, improve risk management and governance, and increase banks’ transparency and disclosure. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 2547, added June 28, 2013; Bank for International Settlements, Basel III overview) Increase The Size And Types Of Small Financial Institution Holding Companies That Can Be More Highly Leveraged And Less Capitalized Murphy Co-Sponsored A Bill To Exempt More Small Financial Institution Holding Companies From Dodd-Frank Financial Reform Restrictions And Other Capital Requirements: In October 2013, Murphy co-sponsored a bill to allow more small bank holding companies to be more highly leveraged and to exempt more financial institution holding companies from some of the leverage and liquidity thresholds of the DoddFrank financial reforms. Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 Under the Federal Reserve Board’s Small Bank Holding Company Policy Statement, which facilitates the transfer of ownership of small community-based banks in a manner consistent with bank safety and soundness, small bank holding companies can still qualify for favorable treatment even if they have debt levels that are higher than what would be permitted for larger bank holding companies, as long as several conditions and restrictions are met. Currently small bank holding companies with assets of less than $500 million who meet the debt requirements and other restrictions receive favorable treatment under the Policy Statement. This bill would make savings & loan holding companies eligible under the Policy Statement and raise the threshold to $1 billion. The companies could not be engaged in any nonbanking activities involving significant leverage or have a significant amount of outstanding debt held by the general public. Additionally, the bill would add savings and loan companies to the exemption from the minimum leverage and risk-based capital requirements of the Dodd-Frank financial reforms, specifically Section 171, the Collins Amendment. (CRS Summary, HR 3329, added October 23, 2013; Committee on Financial Services Memorandum on the November 14, 2013 Full Committee Markup, including HR 3329, November 8, 2013) Allow Mortgages With Higher Points And Fees To Still Be “Qualified Mortgages” Murphy Co-Sponsored The Mortgage Choice Act of 2013 To Allow Mortgages With Higher Expenses To Still Qualify As “Qualified Mortgages” Contrary To The Intent Of The Dodd-Frank Financial Reforms: In September 2013, Murphy joined 18 Republicans and 5 other Democrats to co-sponsor the Mortgage Choice Act of 2013. In general it would amend the Truth in Lending Act’s definitions of “points and fees” in connection with a mortgage transaction. It would amend the Act’s requirements for disclosure to a consumer of points and fees on a consumer credit transaction. It would also exclude from the computation of such points and fees any escrow for future payment of insurance. It also amends the definition of “points and fees” to exclude certain other mortgage-related expenses. According to the law and lobbying firm of McIntyre & Lemon PLLC, which specializes in consumer protection news of interest to the banking and insurance industries, and has clients in those industries, "Congressman Bill Huizenga introduced the Mortgage Choice Act of 2013, which would amend the Truth in Lending Act’s (TILA) definition of “points and fees” in connection with a mortgage transaction. Under the CFPB’s (Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's) QM (Qualified Mortgage) Rule, a mortgage loan cannot qualify as a QM loan if points and fees associated with the loan are in excess of 3 percent of the loan amount. Among other changes, Huizenga’s bill would exclude from the definition of “points and fees” the escrow for future payment of insurance (TILA currently excludes escrow for future payment of taxes). As such, any insurance amount that is escrowed would benefit from the carve-out." TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 327 The “Qualified Mortgage Rule” is a new rule issued by the CFPB in January 2013 that aligns with the Ability-to-Repay rule contained in the Dodd-Frank financial reforms. Like the Ability-to-Repay rule, the Qualified Mortgage Rule is intended to ensure that lenders do not issue, and borrowers do not take on, mortgages that they cannot afford to repay over the long term in order to avoid the conditions that led to the housing crisis and financial meltdown. The rule prohibits or limits certain high-risk products and features (e.g. balloon payments, terms longer than 30 years, points and fees above 3% of the loan amount, etc.) and requires documentation to verify a borrower’s ability to repay. In exchange, lenders that make QM loans receive a degree of legal protection against borrower lawsuits. HR 3211 does not address the definition of Qualified Mortgages, only the definition of and calculation of points and fees in general. However the above McIntyre & Lemon analysis appears to illustrate a downstream scenario that would be affected by changes to what is included in points and fees. If funds paid into escrow for future payment of insurance formerly would have been counted as part of the overall points and fees on a given transaction (points and fees which are limited to 3% under QM), but would no longer be counted if this law were to pass, then some mortgages that formerly would not have met the definition of Qualified Mortgage due to having overall points and fees above the allowable threshold would now meet the definition. In other words, since mortgage insurance typically amounts to one half of one percent of the total amount of the loan according to bankrate.com, the legislation would have an effect equivalent to raising the 3% threshold to 3.5%. Thus the legislation weakens the intent of the protections sought by the Dodd-Frank financial reforms. (CRS Summary, HR 3211, added September 28, 2013; McIntyre & Lemon PLLC legislative update on HR 3211, October 15, 2013; qualifiedmortgage.org; bankrate.com) Prevent Requirement For Mandatory Rotation And Forced Selection Of Auditors For Securities Firms Murphy Co-Sponsored The Audit Integrity And Job Protection Act To Prevent The Requirement That Auditors Of Security Issuers Rotate Or Be Specifically Assigned: In June 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Audit Integrity And Job Protection Act, which amends the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (SOX) to deny the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board any authority to require that audits conducted for a particular issuer of securities in accordance with SOX standards be conducted by specific auditors, or that such audits be conducted for an issuer by different auditors on a rotating basis. This legislation was drafted in response to the PCAOB’s August 16, 2011, Concept Release on Auditor Independence and Audit Firm Rotation, which sought public comment on “whether mandatory auditor rotation would significantly enhance auditors’ objectivity and ability and willingness to resist management pressure.” Opponents of mandatory rotation argue that it would impose onerous costs on issuers and that only certain audit firms may have the subject-matter expertise to understand the business models of certain industries. Further, some opponents note that since only Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 four audit firms are responsible for 98 percent of the market share of audits of public companies with revenue of more than $1 billion, that rotation between so few firms would serve little value. The Government Accounting Office had already studied this issue in 2003 and found that "mandatory audit firm rotation may not be the most efficient way to enhance auditor independence and audit quality." Groups such as banks and auditing associations supported this bill while groups such as the AFL-CIO, the Consumer Federation of America, and the California Public Employees Retirement System opposed it. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 1564, added June 25, 2013; opencongress.org, HR 1564) CBO: Bill Would Cost $1 Million To Implement: The CBO estimates that the bill would not affect direct spending or revenues, but that implementing HR 1564 would have a discretionary cost of about $1 million for the GAO to update a report completed in 2003 that reviewed the potential effects of mandatory rotation for auditing firms. (CBO Cost Estimate, HR 1564, July 3, 2013) Regulate Online Payday Lenders Separately From Brick And Mortar Ones Murphy Co-Sponsored The Consumer Credit Access, Innovation, And Modernization Act To Regulate Online Payday Lenders Separately From Brick And Mortar Payday Lenders: In July 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Consumer Credit Access, Innovation, And Modernization Act, which would move primary jurisdiction for regulating online payday lending from Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency under a new charter. Supporters of the bill want regulation to distinguish themselves from the bad apples – offshore online lenders. However under current law, many online lenders are already regulated at the state level, and all are subject to CFPB regulation like brick and mortar lenders. Storefront payday lenders oppose the bill because it would bifurcate them from online payday lenders. They argue that this puts them at an unfair playing field and enhanced regulatory risk. This bill is supported by online payday lenders such as CashAmerica, PayDayOne, etc., and opposed by storefront payday lenders and a host of groups that advocate for consumers, underserved populations, and financial reform. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 1566, added July 19, 2013) Murphy Accepted $5,000 From Payday Lender CashAmerica: In July and September 2013, Murphy accepted a total of $5,000 from the PAC for payday lender CashAmerica International. (fec.gov, accessed November 2013) Protect Investors From Fraud And Abuse And Increase Confidence In Market Murphy Co-Sponsored The Restoring Main Street Investor Protection and Confidence Act To Protect Investors From Fraud, Abuse, And Malfeasance, Such As Ponzi Schemes, And Foster Greater Confidence In US Capital Markets: In November 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the bipartisan Restoring Main Street Investor Protection and Confidence Act, which amends the Securities Investor Protection Act of TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 329 1970 to confirm that a customer's net equity claim is based on the customer's last statement and that certain recoveries are prohibited, to change how trustees are appointed, and for other purposes. Its purpose is to protect innocent investors from fraud, abuse, and malfeasance and to foster greater confidence in U.S capital markets to encourage economic growth, increase job creation, and efficiently allocate capital. It “would address one of the issues that seemed to most rankle [Ponzi schemer, Bernie] Madoff’s defrauded victims: whether or not to calculate their losses based on the fraudulent account statements they received.” According to Rep. Scott Garrett (R-NJ), one of the bill’s sponsors, “By reforming and modernizing the Securities Investor Protection Act (SIPA) of 1970, we will ensure greater equity for victims of fraud, enhance efficient functioning of U.S. securities markets for main street investors, and strengthen the oversight and accountability of the Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC). Given that physical securities are no longer individually mailed to customers, investors must be able to trust the SIPC seal of approval and have confidence in the account statements they receive. The bill’s other sponsor, Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), said, “Markets run as much on confidence as capital, and this bill will restore investors’ confidence in the markets by modernizing the Securities Investor Protection Corporation, and by protecting innocent victims of Ponzi schemes and other frauds from further clawbacks by the very government agency that is charged with protecting them.” (CRS Summary, HR 3482, added November 14, 2013; garrett.house.gov, press release, November 14, 2013; LexisNexis Legal Newsroom, November 18, 2013) Foreign Policy & National Security Expand US Cooperation With Israel On Weaponry, Defense, Energy, Water, Agriculture, Cyber-Security, And Immigration Murphy Co-Sponsored The United States-Israel Strategic Partnership Act To Add To Expand US Cooperation With Israel On Defense, Energy, And More: In March 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the United States-Israel Strategic Partnership Act, which recognizes that Israel is a major strategic partner of the United States. It: • Amends the Israel Enhanced Security Cooperation Act of 2012 to extend authority to: (1) make additions to foreign-based defense stockpiles, and (2) transfer certain obsolete or surplus Department of Defense (DOD) items to Israel. • Authorizes the President to carry out U.S.-Israel cooperative activities and to provide assistance for cooperation in the fields of energy, water, homeland security, agriculture, and alternative fuel technologies. • Amends the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 to extend the grant program for U.S.-Israeli cooperation on research, development, and commercialization of renewable energy or energy efficiency. • Expresses the sense of Congress that the United States and Israel should increase cyber-security cooperation. Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 • • Urges the President to provide assistance for enhancement of the David's Sling Weapon System, the joint United States-Israel Arrow Weapon System, and the Iron Dome short-range rocket defense system. States that it shall be U.S. policy to include Israel in the visa waiver program when Israel satisfies such program's inclusion requirements. (CRS Summary, CoSponsorship memo for HR 938, added March 12, 2013) Include Israel In The Visa Waiver Program And Vice Versa Murphy Co-Sponsored The Visa Waiver For Israel Act Of 2013 To Establish Conditions For Waiving The Visa Requirement For Israelis, Including Reciprocal Rights For US Citizens: In February 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Visa Waiver For Israel Act Of 2013, which would include Israel in the visa waiver program upon the Secretary of Homeland Security's determination that Israel: (1) has entered into an agreement with the United States to report, or make available through Interpol or other means, information about passport theft or loss; (2) has entered into an information sharing agreement with the United States regarding whether Israeli citizens and nationals traveling to the United States represent a U.S. security threat; (3) cooperates with the U.S. government on counterterrorism initiatives, information sharing, and preventing terrorist travel; (4) issues all new and reissued passports with biometric identifiers; and (5) has made every reasonable effort, without jeopardizing Israeli security, to ensure that reciprocal privileges are extended to all U.S. citizens. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 300, added February 26, 2013) Call For A Two-State Solution In Israel Murphy Co-Sponsored The Resolution Calling For A Two-State Solution For Israel And The Palestinians: In October 2013, Murphy co-sponsored a resolution that expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that: (1) achievement of a twostate solution that enhances stability and security in the Middle East can ensure Israel's survival as a secure Jewish and democratic state and fulfill the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people for a state of their own; and (2) while the United States remains indispensable to any viable effort to achieve that goal, only the Israelis and the Palestinians can make the choices necessary to end their conflict. It commends Secretary of State Kerry for his efforts to advance a negotiated two-state solution and supports a U.S. diplomatic initiative to facilitate direct negotiations between the Israelis and Palestinians, with the support of other Arab states and the international community, to reach an agreement to end their conflict. (CRS Summary, HRES 365, added October 2, 2013) Give A Congressional Gold Medal To Shimon Peres Murphy Co-Sponsored A Bill To Award The Congressional Gold Medal To Shimon Peres: In October 2013, Murphy co-sponsored a bill present a Congressional gold medal in honor of President Shimon Peres of Israel. (CRS Summary, HR 2939, added October 30, 2013) TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 331 Recognize 65th Anniversary Of Israel, Affirm US-Israeli Alliance Murphy Co-Sponsored A Bill Recognizing The 65th Anniversary Of The Independence Of The State Of Israel: In April 2013, Murphy co-sponsored a bill recognizing the 65th anniversary of the Independence of the state of Israel. It recognizes the independence of Israel as a significant event in providing refuge and a national homeland for the Jewish people and in establishing a democracy in the Middle East. It commends the bipartisan commitment of successive U.S. administrations and Congresses since 1948 to stand by Israel. Asserts the commitment of Congress to stand with Israel during times of uncertainty and reaffirms its bipartisan support for the alliance and friendship between the United States and Israel. It supports Israel's right to exist as a democratic, Jewish state and to defend itself and its people. It congratulates the United States and Israel for the strengthening of bilateral relations during the past decade in the fields of defense, diplomacy, and homeland security. It congratulates the people of Israel as they celebrate the 65th anniversary of Israel's independence. (H Con Res 30, added April 15, 2013) Get Tough On Iran Regarding Terrorism, Sanctions, Nuclear Technology Murphy Co-Sponsored The Nuclear Iran Prevention Act To Make Determinations On Whether Iran’s Republican Guard Are Terrorists, Recommend Sanctions In Response To Various Abuses, Prevent Iran From Getting Funding And Sensitive Tech: In March 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Nuclear Iran Prevention Act, which: • Directs the Secretary of State to determine if Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) meets the criteria for designation as a foreign terrorist organization and: (1) if so, designate the IRGC as a foreign terrorist organization; and (2) if not, report to Congress concerning those criteria which have not been met. • Expresses the sense of Congress regarding the imposition of sanctions on certain Iranian government persons responsible for, or complicit in, human rights abuses, diversion of food and medicine, and censorship. • Amends the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act of 2010 to subject to mandatory sanctions a financial institution that facilitates a significant transaction or provides significant financial services for a person that: (1) is subject to human rights-related sanctions, or (2) exports sensitive technology to Iran and is subject to the prohibition on procurement contracts. Amends the Iran Threat Reduction and Syria Human Rights Act of 2012 to authorize the President to impose sanctions on a foreign person that knowingly conducted or facilitated a significant financial transaction with the Central Bank of Iran or other Iranian financial institution subject to sanctions for the purchase of goods (other than petroleum or petroleum products) or services by or from a person in Iran, or on behalf of a person in Iran. In July 2013, Murphy also voted for the bill, which passed 400-20. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 850, added March 4, 2013; HR 850, Vote #427, July 31, 2013) Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 CBO: Bill Would Cost $22 Million To Implement: “CBO estimates that implementing the bill would have discretionary costs of about $22 million over the 2014-2018 period…”. (CBO Cost Estimate, HR 850, June 28, 2013) Government Abuse, Corruption, Ethics Block Government Agencies From Political Targeting Murphy Co-Sponsored The STOP IRS Act To Make It Illegal For The IRS To Engage In Political Targeting: In July 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the STOP IRS Act, which would reform the IRS Restructuring and Reform Act of 1998 to add political targeting to the existing list of offenses IRS employees can be immediately terminated for. Sponsors of this bill signify that they will not tolerate the IRS being used for political purposes. The bill passed the House without amendment by a voice vote. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 2565, added July 22, 2013; HR 2565, voice vote, July 31, 2013) Deny Government Benefits To Felonious Members Of Congress Murphy Co-Sponsored The TRUST Act To Deny Retirement Benefits To Any Member Of Congress Convicted Of Any Felony: In May 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Trust Returned to the United States Taxpayer Act, which denies retirement benefits under the Civil Service Retirement System and the Federal Employees' Retirement System to a Member of Congress who is convicted of any crime that is a felony under federal or state law. Under current laws this sort of revocation is limited to only certain specified felonies under federal law. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 1547, added May 6, 2013) Make Federal Spending Data Reporting Transparent, Efficient, And Accessible Murphy Co-Sponsored The Digital Accountability And Transparency Act To Make Federal Spending Information Accessible And Transparent To The Public In An Efficient Way: In July 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Digital Accountability And Transparency Act, which would improve financial data standards across the federal government to streamline reporting and avoid duplication. The bill would: • Require the OMB to maintain a website to provide public information about awards of federal funds; require spending data for all federal funds to include information such as the appropriation, federal agency, sub-agency, account, program activity, and object class; • Require the Secretary to establish government-wide financial data standards for federal funds; • require the Director of OMB to review the financial reporting required by federal agencies to consolidate financial reporting and reduce duplicative reporting; • Require the Inspectors General at each federal agency and the Comptroller General to report biennially on the completeness, timeliness, quality, and accuracy of spending data submitted by each agency; TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 333 • • • • • • Require the Recovery Accountability and Transparency Board (Board) to develop and test information technology resources and oversight mechanisms to enhance the transparency of, and detect and remediate waste, fraud, and abuse in, federal spending for Inspectors General; and Require the Board to maintain a website to inform the public about activities to identify waste, fraud, and abuse in federal spending. Require the Board to establish a pilot program relating to reporting by recipients of federal funds to increase financial transparency to: (1) display the full cycle of federal funds, (2) improve the accuracy of federal financial data, and (3) develop recommendations for reducing reporting requirements by consolidating and automating financial reporting requirements across the federal government. Amend the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 to terminate on September 30, 2013, reporting requirements relating to the use of funds under such Act, oversight functions of the Board, and the requirement that the Board maintain a public website. Extends the termination date for the Board until September 30, 2017. Amend the Disaster Relief Appropriations Act of 2013 to eliminate the Board's responsibility for monitoring the expenditure of funds related to Hurricane Sandy. Require the Director of OMB to make required financial management status reports and government-wide five-year financial management plans available on the OMB website. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 2061, added July 29, 2013) CBO: Bill Would Cost $395 Million To Implement: “CBO estimates that implementing the bill would cost $395 million over the 2014-2018 period, assuming appropriation of the necessary amounts, mostly for collecting and reporting financial information across government agencies.” (CBO Cost Estimate, HR 2061, November 13, 2013) Government Waste Use GAO And Other Agency Recommendations To Cut Waste Murphy Co-Sponsored The Government Waste Reduction Act Of 2013: In March 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Government Waste Reduction Act Of 2013, which would establish a temporary Independent Government Waste Reduction Board to develop legislative proposals that address government waste as exposed in 2011 and 2012 GAO reports. Each legislative proposal would decrease spending or increase revenue without cutting benefits for veterans, members of the Armed Forces, or seniors—including Medicare and Social Security. This bill would require that the Board’s legislative proposals be put to a straight up-or-down vote with no amendments— bypassing regular order—in the House and Senate. The Board would be required to submit legislative proposals at one year after its inception, and would dissolve four months after that. The Board would consist of 15 members chosen by the President with the consent of the House and Senate majority and minority. (CRS Summary, CoSponsorship memo for HR 530, added March 12, 2013) Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 Murphy Co-Sponsored The Duplication Elimination Act Of 2013 To Require The President To Justify The Exclusion Of Any GAO Recommendation For Elimination Of Duplicative Government Programs And That The Recommendations Be Executed And Used To Lower The Deficit: In June 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Duplication Elimination Act Of 2013, which requires the President, within 90 days after publication of the annual Government Accountability Office report on duplication, consolidation, and elimination of duplicative government programs, to send Congress a proposed joint resolution accompanied by a special message specifying: any recommendations outlined in the GAO report that are excluded from the proposed joint resolution; in detail why they were excluded; and the outlined GAO recommendations included in the proposed joint resolution. Limits the proposed joint resolution to one that: (1) makes legislative changes needed to carry out the recommendations contained in the GAO report for a year that the President did not exclude, and (2) requires that any savings attributable to the legislative changes be transferred to the General Fund of the Treasury and be used to reduce the deficit. It sets forth procedures for expedited congressional consideration of the proposed joint resolution. (CRS Summary, CoSponsorship memo for HR 2506, added June 26, 2013) Murphy Co-Sponsored The Government Efficiency Act To Create A Body To Recommend Legislation To Eliminate Government Waste: In July 2013, Murphy cosponsored the Government Efficiency Act, which creates a Commission for Government Transformation that recommends legislation based on Government accounting reports and requires straight up or down votes. (CRS Summary, HR 2675, added July 11, 2013) Require Government Agency Procurement To Be More Strategic And Efficient Murphy Co-Sponsored The Buy Smarter And Save Act Of 2013 To Require Government Agencies To Be More Efficient In Their Purchasing: In July 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Buy Smarter And Save Act Of 2013, which directs the President to establish: (1) an annual government-wide goal to procure goods and services using strategic sourcing, and (2) an annual government-wide goal for savings from the use of strategic sourcing. Defines "strategic sourcing" as a structured and collaborative process of critically analyzing an organization's spending patterns to better leverage its purchasing power, reduce costs, and improve overall value and performance. (CRS Summary, HR 2694, added July 18, 2013) Close Unused Government Bank Accounts Murphy Co-Sponsored The CLEAN Act To Close Long-Empty Government Bank Accounts: In May 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Closing Long-Empty Accounts Now Act of 2013 or CLEAN Act, which directs the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency to submit a report that: (1) lists each U.S. government bank account that has a zero balance for 180 days or more, and (2) recommends which of such accounts should be immediately closed. It requires the appropriate agency to close each such account recommended for closure not later than seven days after the report is submitted. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 1856, added May 7, 2013) TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 335 Guns Expand Background Checks For Guns, Close Loopholes, Protect 2nd Amendment Murphy Co-Sponsored The Public Safety And Second Amendment Rights Protection Act Of 2013 To Improve The Background Check System While Preserving Second Amendment Rights: In June 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the bipartisan Public Safety And Second Amendment Rights Protection Act Of 2013, which amends the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act to reauthorize for FY2014-FY2017 the grant program for improvements to the criminal history record system. It would expand the existing background check system to cover all commercial firearm sales, including those at gun shows, over the internet or in classified ads. It would close a number of gun sale loopholes by requiring comprehensive and enforceable background checks on all commercial gun sales, with reasonable family and friend exceptions. Background checks would be conducted though a federally licensed dealer on potential gun buyers. Dealers would then retain the sales records the same way they currently do, and have done for the last 40 years. The legislation also would support the Second Amendment rights of lawful gun owners. It would provide reasonable exceptions to the background check requirement for firearm transfers between family, friends and hunting buddies. The bill also would explicitly bans the federal government from creating a registry and makes the misuse of firearm records a felony punishable by up to 15 years in prison. H.R. 1565 allows active military to buy firearms in their home states and the state in which they are stationed. It would allow gun owners to purchase firearms with a state concealed carry permit issued within the last five years in lieu of a background check because background checks are required to receive conceal carry permits in the first place. It would improve Florida law by requiring background checks for private-party gun sales in commercial settings, including at gun shows and on the internet. An estimated 99.3% of Florida residents live within 10 miles of a gun dealer. There are 2,392 licensed dealers in Florida, 3.2 times the number of post offices and 2.8 times the number of McDonald’s locations. Supporters include anti-gun-violence groups, school groups, police groups, and brick and mortar gun shop owners (for equal footing with independent gun show dealers). Opponents include the usual gun rights groups. The bill was co-sponsored by 182 Democrats and two Republicans (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 1565, added June 4, 2013) Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 Health - General End Breast Cancer Sooner Murphy Co-Sponsored The Accelerating the End of Breast Cancer Act of 2013: In October 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Accelerating the End of Breast Cancer Act of 2013, which directs the President to establish the Commission to Accelerate the End of Breast Cancer to help end breast cancer by January 1, 2020. It directs the Commission to: (1) identify opportunities and ideas within government and the private sector that are key components in achieving the end of breast cancer and which have been overlooked, yet are ripe for collaboration and investment; (2) recommend projects to leverage such opportunities and ideas in the areas of the primary prevention of breast cancer and the causes and prevention of breast cancer metastasis; and (3) ensure that its activities are coordinated with, and do not duplicate the efforts of, programs and laboratories of other government agencies. (CRS Summary, HR 1830, added October 8, 2013) Prevent Sequester Cuts To Cancer Drugs Murphy Co-Sponsored The Cancer Patient Protection Act To Keep Cancer Drug Reimbursement Under Medicare From Being Cut By The Sequester: Certain drugs and biologics used to treat cancer patients are covered under Part B of Medicare instead of Part D like other drugs. Part B reimbursements were cut 2% due to the sequester. So in May 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Cancer Patient Protection Act, which would repeal sequestration of cancer drug reimbursement. (CRS Summary, CoSponsorship memo for HR 1416, added May 16, 2013) Prevent And Better Treat Eating Disorders Murphy Co-Sponsored The Federal Response To Eliminate Eating Disorders (FREED) Act: In May 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Federal Response To Eliminate Eating Disorders (FREED) Act, which would create a comprehensive federal response to eating disorders by increasing research to improve understanding and treatment, providing for evidence-based standards of care, establishing education and prevention grant programs for the training of health professionals and school personnel, and enhancing access to care for those who suffer from eating disorders. (CRS Summary, CoSponsorship memo for HR 2101, added May 7, 2013) Create Tax Exempt Accounts For Pay For Disability Expenses Murphy Co-Sponsored The Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act of 2013 To Authorize Tax Exempt Accounts For Disabled People To Use To Pay For Disability Expenses: In October 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act of 2013, which establishes tax-exempt ABLE accounts to assist an individual with a disability in building an account to pay for qualified disability expenses such as for education, residence, transportation, obtaining and maintaining TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 337 employment, health and wellness, and other personal support expenses. It treats a qualified ABLE program and an ABLE account in the same manner as a qualified tuition program for income tax purposes (i.e., allowing a tax exemption for such program and an exclusion from gross income of amounts attributable to a contributor to or a beneficiary of a program account). (CRS Summary, HR 647, added October 4, 2013) Tighten Controls On Hydrocodone Murphy Co-Sponsored The Safe Prescribing Act To Reclassify Hydrocodone From A Schedule III Drug To A Schedule II Drug: In March 2013, Murphy cosponsored the Safe Prescribing Act, which amends the Controlled Substances Act to reclassify dihydrocodeinone (hydrocodone) from a schedule III controlled substance to a schedule II controlled substance. It directs the Attorney General to immediately allow manufacturers and distributors to store hydrocodone compound products in accordance with the physical security requirements for schedule III, IV, and V controlled substances for three years beginning on the date enactment of this Act. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 1285, added March 20, 2013) Health - Medicare & Medicaid Add Alzheimer’s Screening And Planning Benefit To Medicare Murphy Co-Sponsored The Health Outcomes, Planning, And Education (HOPE) For Alzheimer's Act To Add A Medicare Benefit For An Alzheimer’s Evaluation And Planning Services: In July 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Health Outcomes, Planning, And Education (HOPE) For Alzheimer's Act, which would add a Medicare benefit for an Alzheimer’s diagnostic evaluation. Additionally, if the beneficiary is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, the bill would cover care planning services including assistance understanding the diagnosis as well as the options for ongoing treatment, services, and supports, and information about how to obtain such treatments, services, and supports. Care planning services would address other co-morbid chronic conditions. Individuals facing a diagnosis and family members facing a diagnosis of a loved one are forced to begin considering end of life, long-term care, and treatment options. Medical professionals familiar with this process and the disease would be greatly beneficial to families and patients. FL-18 likely has one of the highest number of Alzheimer’s patients and caregivers. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 1507, added July 29, 2013) Expand Medicare’s Medication Compatibility Benefit To Single-Disease Patients Murphy Co-Sponsored The Medication Therapy Management Empowerment Act: In July 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Medication Therapy Management Empowerment Act. Medication Therapy Management (MTM) is a service provided by licensed pharmacists in which a beneficiary’s entire prescription regimen is analyzed for adverse interactions, efficacy, and regimen adherence. This is a particularly valuable benefit for individuals with multiple chronic or complex diseases that require Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 management – preventing costly hospitalizations and reduction in quality of life. Under current law, seniors with multiple chronic conditions are entitled to MTM benefits under Medicare Part D. This bill would extend the benefit to seniors with a single chronic disease – only if the Chief Actuary of The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services determines that the new benefit would reduce total Medicare costs over five years. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 1024, added July 10, 2013) Clarify And Streamline Standards For Injured Workers On Medicare Murphy Co-Sponsored The Medicare Secondary Payer And Workers’ Compensation Settlement Agreements Act To Clarify And Streamline Standards For Injured Workers On Medicare: In October 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Medicare Secondary Payer and Workers’ Compensation Settlement Agreements Act, which would provide clear and consistent standards for injured workers on Medicare. Medicare is typically the first payer when a beneficiary has an emergency or medical condition. However, when a Medicare beneficiary receives medical care due to an accident on the job or in a car, Medicare is the secondary payer behind workers’ comp or car insurance. In order to protect the integrity of this second payer status, Medicare administrators require a “set-aside” of damages awarded to cover potential future medical costs associated with the incident. Requiring settlement money to sit in an account to possibly cover future expenses is inconvenient for beneficiaries and discourages the settlement process. The Medicare Secondary Payer and Workers’ Compensation Settlement Agreement Act would provide clear and consistent standards for an administrative process that offers reasonable protections for injured workers and Medicare. Currently, workers’ compensation settlements that overlap with Medicare coverage are subject to a lengthy, cumbersome review by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to determine appropriate “set-aside” coverage amounts for future medical expenses. This proposal would: • Establish clear criteria for when a future medical set-aside may be reviewed by Medicare; • Create certainty for calculating the amounts to be included in set-asides; • Provide a reasonable time frame in which CMS is to review set-aside submissions; • Provide an appeals process for parties to CMS determinations; • Provide an optional direct payment of set-aside amounts to Medicare; • Assure that settlements that meet the terms of federal statute at the time of settlement are not disapproved based on later changes in law, regulations or administrative interpretations by CMS; • Provide for an alternative “safe harbor” option under which the parties to a workers’ compensation settlement could make payment of a percentage of a total settlement amount directly to CMS to cover Medicare set-aside responsibilities related to the settlement. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 1982, added October 2, 2013) TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 339 Restore Post-Acute Nursing Facility Benefit For Inpatients Murphy Co-Sponsored The Improving Access To Medicare Coverage Act So That Medicare Patients Who Spend Three Days In The Hospital Can Once Again Be Classified As Inpatient And Get The Medicare Benefit Of Post-Acute Care In A Skilled Nursing Facility: Medicare patients who spend three days in a hospital under the inpatient classification qualify for a post-acute stay in a skilled nursing facility. Recently, hospitals have been attempting to lower costs by reclassifying certain patients under outpatient observation status. They are still staying in the hospital. They are just no longer “inpatient”. Medicare beneficiaries assumed that after three nights in the hospital, they would get the Skilled Nursing Facility benefit – only to learn that they failed to meet the three day “inpatient” requirement. So in July 2013, Murphy cosponsored the Improving Access To Medicare Coverage Act, which would count days in outpatient observation status as inpatient for purposes of qualifying for post-acute care in skilled nursing facilities under Medicare. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 1179, added July 26, 2013) Delay Medicare Competitive Bidding For Equipment To Assess Effectiveness Murphy Co-Sponsored The Transparency And Accountability In Medicare Bidding Act To Delay Medicare’s Competitive Bidding: In June 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Transparency And Accountability In Medicare Bidding Act, which would delay the Medicare durable medical equipment competitive bidding program for six months and require the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to convene an auction team to evaluate and report on competitive bidding implementation so far. (CRS Summary, CoSponsorship memo for HR 2375, added June 18, 2013) Health - Obamacare Keep Preferred Individual Health Insurance Plan For First Year Of Obamacare Murphy Co-Sponsored And Voted With Republicans To Force Obama To Honor His Promise That People Could Keep Their Existing Individual Health Insurance Plans Under Obamacare: In November 2013, Murphy co-sponsored a Republican bill to let people keep their current individual insurance plans under Obamacare for another year. Prior to the law’s passage, President Obama had told the American people that “If you like your health insurance, you can keep it.” However, once the enrollment period opened on the health care insurance exchanges, insurance companies began dropping coverage for millions of their customers, including about 300,000 individuals on Florida Blue plans, because the plans did not meet the minimum requirements for plans under the Affordable Care Act. In regard to President Obama’s administrative fix that would allow insurers to keep offering plans that don’t meet the bill’s requirements through the end of 2014, Murphy said it was “the right thing to do,” but said he would continue to support the bill he co-sponsored. “Whether it’s a Republican or Democrat that’s got a solution, I’m on board for it. Whether it’s legislatively or through the administration….the Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 bottom line is, we’ve got to get it right,” he said. On November 15, 2013, Murphy was one of only 39 Democrats to vote with all but four Republicans for the bill, which passed 261-157. (CRS Summary, HR 3350, added November 13, 2013; TCPalm.com, November 13, 2013; HR 3350, Vote #587, November 15, 2013; NBCnews.com, November 15, 2013; Post on Politics, November 14, 2013) Repeal Funding Mechanism For Obamacare Transitional Reinsurance Program Murphy Co-Sponsored A Bill To Repeal Obamacare's Funding Mechanism For The Transitional Reinsurance Program In The Individual Coverage Market: In November 2013, Murphy co-sponsored a bill to repeal the current funding mechanism for the Transitional Reinsurance Program authorized by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. According to an IRS FAQ, “Section 1341 of the Affordable Care Act establishes a Transitional Reinsurance Program to help stabilize premiums for coverage in the individual market during the years 2014 through 2016. The statute requires all health insurance issuers and third-party administrators on behalf of self-insured group health plans to make contributions under this program to support payments to individual market issuers that cover high-cost individuals (payment-eligible issuers).” According to the National Electrical Contractors Association, a supporter of the bill, “Currently, the program’s funding source falls on the backs of the self-insured, employer-sponsored health insurance plans, including many of the multiemployer health and welfare plans that NECA contractors contribute to. This program is expected to collect $25 billion over a three year period. The fee is set for $63 per covered life in 2014 and is estimated to be $42 in 2015 and $26.50 in 2016. Selfinsured, not-for-profit health plans provided by responsible employers are unfairly subject to this fee and will reap no benefit from the program.” According to the Washington Post’s WonkBlog, “The Transitional Reinsurance Program is undoubtedly one of the most important and most boring parts of the Affordable Care Act. It's a huge reason why health plans are even participating in the health law's marketplaces. [...]The health law's reinsurance program was thought up as a way to coax insurance companies into the insurance marketplaces that launched on Oct. 1. Jumping into these new markets was a big risk; insurance plans had no clue whether they'd get people who were really sick, really healthy or somewhere in the middle. If one plan unintentionally got all the sick people, perhaps because they structured their benefit package in a certain way, that could drive them out of business. The reinsurance program is essentially protection against that, where the government collects $10 billion in 2014 to redistribute to the insurance plans that get super sick enrollees. […]Nearly all health insurance plans are required to pay into the reinsurance plan, even big employer plans that don't sell on the new marketplaces. For each TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 341 subscriber, the health plans are charged $63 per enrollee annually or $5.25 per member per month. This is why the reinsurance program wasn't especially popular with health plans that focus on the group market, who wouldn't see much in the way of benefit from this program.” (CRS Summary, HR 3489, added November 14, 2013; irs.gov; Washington Post WonkBlog, October 15, 2013) Delay Obamacare Individual Mandate And Fines Until Healthcare.gov Fixed Murphy Co-Sponsored The Health Care Access Fairness And Penalty Delay Act Of 2013 To Delay The Individual Mandate And Fines For Violating It Until Healthcare.gov Is Fully Operational: In October 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Health Care Access Fairness and Penalty Delay Act of 2013, which amends the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to delay the individual health insurance mandate and any penalties for violating the individual mandate until after there is a certification that the healthcare.gov website is fully operational. (CRS Summary, HR 3425, added October 30, 2013) Repeal Obamacare’s Premium Tax On Health Insurers Murphy Co-Sponsored A Bill To Repeal Obamacare’s Annual Fee On Health Insurance Providers To Keep Premiums Lower And Save Jobs: In May 2013, Murphy co-sponsored a bill to repeal the premium tax on health insurers, which the CBO estimates will be passed directly on the consumers in the form of higher premiums. This would prevent premiums from going up 2% in 2014 and would reduce federal government revenue by $102 billion over ten years. NFIB estimates that the tax would cost 146,000 jobs. The Joint Committee on Taxation estimates that repeal of the tax would save families $350 in 2016. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 763, added May 16, 2013) Eliminate “Use It Or Lose It” For Flexible Spending Accounts Under Obamacare Murphy Co-Sponsored The Medical FSA Improvement Act Of 2013 To Get Rid Of The “Use It Or Lose It” Flexible Spending Account Model And Let People Have Their Money Back To Help Offset Obamacare’s Lower FSA Contribution Limit: Lowering the annual contribution limit to tax-free flexible spending accounts (FSA) was one of the ways Obamacare raised revenue. So in May 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Medical FSA Improvement Act Of 2013, which would allow any leftover balance in an FSA to be disbursed as taxable income, whereas, current law employs a “use it or lose it” model. Current law incentivizes beneficiaries to set aside the minimum expected amount, so they do not lose money they put in. This change would incentivize beneficiaries to set aside the maximum expected amount, resulting in greater spending on medical products and services and lower tax revenue. The bill is somewhat controversial because taxpayers would be spending more on FSA, which is more of an upper-middle class benefit. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 1634, added May 16, 2013) Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 Repeal Obamacare Tax On Medical Device Manufacturers Murphy Co-Sponsored The Protect Medical Innovation Act To Repeal The Obamacare Tax On Medical Device Manufacturers: In May 2013, Murphy cosponsored the Protect Medical Innovation Act, which would repeal Obamacare’s 2.3% excise tax on medical device manufacturers and importers. The $30 billion tax was designed to help finance the Affordable Care Act under the thinking that 32 million newly insured (customers) at taxpayer expense should not be a windfall for any industry. The issue is that some medical suppliers (such as of heart stents) have emergency-only customers, so their business would not increase if 32 million Americans gained insurance. On the other hand, orthopedic supplies manufacturers will gain more customers. All Republicans oppose this Obamacare tax. Democratic opposition to the tax is driven by members from states with significant medical device manufacturing like Minnesota and Pennsylvania. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 523, added May 17, 2013) Exempt Orphan Drugs For Rare Diseases From Obamacare User Fee Murphy Co-Sponsored The Preserving Access To Orphan Drugs Act To Fix The Unintentional Omission Of Certain Drugs For Very Rare Diseases From The Exemption From Obamacare’s User Fee On Prescription Drugs: In August 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Preserving Access To Orphan Drugs Act. Obamacare included a user fee on prescription drugs to help fund the expansion of coverage. “Orphan” drugs/therapies (which treat rare diseases in fewer than 200,000 people, such as hemophilia) were exempt from this user fee due to the extremely small population served, but only as long as the manufacturer took the Orphan Drug Act tax credit for that drug. However not all orphan drugs and therapies qualified for that tax credit, such as plasma protein therapies, and their manufacturers instead took a research and development tax credits. So some kinds of orphan drug would be exempt from Obamacare’s prescription drug fee while others would not. But orphan drugs of any kind were never intended to incur the user fee, so this bill clarifies that the exemption from the user fee is based on whether or not a drug is an orphan drug, not on whether it qualifies for the Orphan Drug Tax credit. The change would have no cost since the fee is fixed and would be shifted to non-orphan therapies. The shift is so small that nonorphan therapies are agnostic on the bill. Drug manufacturers along the Research Coast and the plasma collection facility in Port St. Lucie would be affected. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 2315, added August 1, 2013) Exempt Religious Objectors From Obamacare Mandate Murphy Co-Sponsored The Equitable Access To Care And Health Act (EACH) Act To Exempt From The Obamacare Individual Mandate People Whose Faith Prohibits Medical Treatment, Such As Christian Scientists: In July 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Equitable Access To Care And Health Act (EACH) Act. A key tenet for Christian Scientists is objection to medical health care. Without an exemption for individuals whose sincerely held religious beliefs would forego the need for health TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 343 insurance, the individual mandate of ACA amounts to a religion tax for Christian Scientists. The bill would waive the individual mandate tax if an individual submits a sworn statement that “the individual’s sincerely held religious beliefs would cause the individual to object to medical health care.” The individual loses the ability to waive the tax if the person received medical care at any point in the year (vaccinations and required physical examinations are excluded from “medical care”). By contrast, a group such as Southern Baptists would not qualify. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 1814, added July 29, 2013) Housing, Mortgage Finance Streamline And Lower Cost Of Refinancing Of Fannie Mae And Freddie Mac Secured Loans Murphy Co-Sponsored The Responsible Homeowner Refinancing Act To Help People With Fannie Mae Or Freddie Mac Secured Loans Get Streamlined Refinancing: In March 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Responsible Homeowner Refinancing Act, which helps people with Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac secured housing loans by ensuring that streamlined refinancing is available, regardless of whether the borrower is underwater or not. It would also reduce up-front fees on refinancing, eliminate appraisal costs for all borrowers, and extends the Home Affordable Refinance Program by one year to enable more borrowers to access the program. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 736, added March 13, 2013) Help Lower And Moderate Income Families In Rural Areas Get Mortgage Credit Murphy Co-Sponsored The Rural Housing Preservation Act To Help Lower And Moderate Income Families In Rural Areas Get Mortgage Credit: In April 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Rural Housing Preservation Act, which states that any area classified as "rural" or a "rural area" before October 1, 1990, and determined not to be "rural" or a "rural area" as a result of data received from or after the 1990, 2000, or 2010 census shall continue to be classified as such if the area has a population of between 10,000 and 25,000, is rural in character, and has a serious lack of mortgage credit for lower and moderate-income families. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 858, added April 19, 2013) Immigration Enact Comprehensive Immigration Reform Minus The Militarization Of The Border In The Senate Version Of The Bill Murphy Co-Sponsored The Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act: In October 2013 Murphy co-sponsored the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act, an immigration reform bill addressing border security, legalization of the undocumented, interior Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 enforcement of immigration laws, and offers fixes for legal immigration programs. The bill is based on S.744, the bipartisan bill passed by the Senate in June 2013. However, it replaces the controversial Corker-Hoeven "border surge" border security amendment, criticized for militarizing the border, with the bipartisan House border security bill, H.R. 1417, which takes a more measured approach involving regular reporting on surveillance and control, a strategy to gain control over the southwestern border in five years, and either a biometric entry-exit system or a feasible alternative of an equivalent level of security. (HR 15, added October 2, 2013; immigrationpolicy.org guide to HR 15) Allow Foreign Students With Postgraduate Degrees In STEM Fields To Stay Here Murphy Co-Sponsored The Startup Act 3.0 To Let Foreign Students Who Get Masters Or Doctorates In Science, Tech, Engineering, Or Math Become Permanent Residents If They Go Into Those Lines Of Work: In March 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Startup Act 3.0, which amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to authorize the Secretary of Homeland Security to adjust to conditional permanent resident status up to 50,000 aliens who have earned a master's or doctorate degree in a science, technology, engineering, or mathematics field (STEM field) and permit such an alien to remain in the United States: (1) for up to one year after the expiration of the alien's student visa, if the alien is searching for STEM field employment; and (2) indefinitely if the alien remains actively engaged in a STEM field. It removes a STEM alien's conditional status after five years of maintaining eligibility during the entire fiveyear period. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 714, added March 19, 2013) Protect “Permanent Partners” From Discrimination In Immigration Decisions Murphy Co-Sponsored The Uniting American Families Act To Recognize “Permanent Partners” As A Class To Be Recognized For The Purposes Of Visa Sponsorship: In March 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Uniting American Families Act, which amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to include a "permanent partner" within the scope of such Act. Defines a "permanent partner" as an individual 18 or older who: (1) is in a committed, intimate relationship with another individual 18 or older in which both individuals intend a lifelong commitment; (2) is financially interdependent with the other individual; (3) is not married to, or in a permanent partnership with, anyone other than the individual; (4) is unable to contract with the other individual a marriage cognizable under this Act; and (5) is not a first, second, or third degree blood relation of the other individual. It defines: (1) "permanent partnership" as the relationship existing between two permanent partners, and (2) "alien permanent partner" as the individual in a permanent partnership who is being sponsored for a visa. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 519, added March 20, 2013) Indian Interest Murphy Co-Sponsored A Resolution Condemning Violence And Discrimination Against Sikhs: In August 2013, Murphy co-sponsored a resolution condemning the discrimination, hate crimes, racism, bigotry, bullying, and brutal violence perpetrated TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 345 against Sikh-Americans, and all acts of vandalism against Sikh Gurdwaras in the United States, and remembering the tragedy that occurred at the Sikh Gurdwara of Wisconsin a year prior. It called for educational efforts to prevent bullying of Sikhs, supported outreach by law enforcement to prevent violence and hate crimes, and urged the FBI and Department of Justice to track hate crimes against Sikhs and other groups. (H Res 328, added August 2, 2013) Murphy Co-Sponsored A Diwali Commemorative Stamp Resolution: In July 2013, Murphy co-sponsored resolution that expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that: (1) the United States Postal Service should issue a postage stamp honoring the holiday of Diwali, and (2) the Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee should recommend to the Postmaster General that such a stamp be issued. (H Res 47, added July 30, 2013) Jobs & Business Incentivize Businesses To Repatriate Jobs And Businesses To America Murphy Co-Sponsored The Bring Jobs Home Act To Give Tax Credits For Bringing Overseas Business Branches Back Home To Create More Jobs For Americans: In August 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Bring Jobs Home Act, which would grant businesses a tax credit for up to 20% of insourcing expenses incurred for eliminating a business located outside the United States and relocating it within the United States. It would require an increase in the taxpayer's employment of full-time employees in the United States in order to claim the tax credit for insourcing expenses. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 851, added August 2, 2013) Repatriate Profits To Guarantee $1 Trillion In Loans For Infrastructure Projects Murphy Co-Sponsored The Partnership To Build America Act To Guarantee Loans Of Up To $1 Trillion To States For Infrastructure Projects And Allow Businesses To Repatriate Up To $200 Billion To Invest In The Program: In May 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Partnership To Build America Act, which would generate a one-time, cost-free mechanism for funding up to $1 trillion in infrastructure projects such as transportation, energy, water, communications, or educational facilities. A new Office of Infrastructure Partnerships (OIP) would raise $50 billion by selling subpar bonds to corporate buyers. Corporations would be incentivized to buy these bonds because they would be allowed to repatriate four dollars in profits from abroad for every one dollar they invested in the bonds. The low rate of return (one percent) on these long-term (50-year) bonds would create an effective tax rate of about 8.75 percent on the amount repatriated. OIP would leverage its $50 billion to guarantee up to $1 trillion in loans for specific infrastructure projects. States would be required to secure at least 20 percent in private financing to be eligible for an OIP loan guarantee. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 2084, added May 22, 2013) Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 Technically, companies will be allowed to repatriate $200 billion tax free. Although the bill levies an effective tax rate of about 8.75 percent, some groups will oppose the appearance of corporate favoritism. Conservatives may oppose this bill for creating OIP, a new bureaucracy. Maintain Access To Capital For Small Businesses Murphy Co-Sponsored The CREED Act To Expand Access To Capital For Small Businesses: In April 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the CREED Act, which would be a very low-cost way to maintain access to capital for small businesses. It would extend for five years the exemption for small businesses to refinance debt not related to expanding their businesses using the SBA-backed 504 loan program. The 504 program traditionally has financed the purchase of fixed assets—equipment and real estate— specifically to promote business growth. In an effort to expand access to capital, Congress in 2010 passed an exception allowing non-expansion-related 504 loans, but this measure expired in September 2012. The 504 program since 2011 helped provide 2,731 refinancing loans amounting to $2.5 billion. So far, only one 504 refinancing loan—with a balance of less than $1 million—has been purchased by SBA and is in liquidation, indicating that the cost to taxpayers is very low. 504 loans are capped at $5 million. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 1240, added April 9, 2013) Double Startup Deduction For Small Businesses Murphy Co-Sponsored The Help Entrepreneurs Create American Jobs Act Of 2013 To Double The Startup Deduction For Small Businesses: In April 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Help Entrepreneurs Create American Jobs Act Of 2013, which would make permanent a doubling of tax deduction—from $5k to $10k—for new small, start-ups, directly helping to create jobs by boosting the generation of new small businesses. Any business with less than $60K in start-up costs would be eligible for $10k in deductions. The deduction ramps down linearly for companies with between $60 and $70k in start-up costs. Companies with over $70k in start-up costs are not eligible. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 1621, added April 18, 2013) Encourage Investment And Assistance For Small Businesses Murphy Co-Sponsored A Resolution Honoring National Small Business Week And Calling For Continued Investment In And Assistance For Small Businesses: In June 2013, Murphy co-sponsored a resolution honoring National Small Business Week, stressing the importance of guaranteeing access to capital, ensuring that the Small Business Administration’s management assistance programs are adequately funded, disaster assistance is provided to small businesses in a timely manner, internet access is affordable to all, duplicative regulations on small businesses are eliminated, and contracting opportunities are made available to small businesses. (H Res 265, added June 18, 2013) TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 347 Simplify Tax Return Due Dates For Small Businesses And Lengthen Automatic Extensions Murphy Co-Sponsored The Tax Return Due Date Simplification and Modernization Act of 2013: In October 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Tax Return Due Date Simplification and Modernization Act of 2013, which changes tax return due dates for partnerships (from April 15 to March 15, with a six-month extension), S corporations (from March 15 to March 31), and C corporations (from March 15 to April 15). It requires the Secretary of the Treasury, for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2013, to modify by regulation the due dates for extensions of tax returns for partnerships, trusts and estates, employee benefit plans, tax-exempt organizations, and certain trust funds. It sets a due date of April 15 for the annual information return of a foreign trust with a U.S. owner and for the report of foreign bank and financial accounts (with extensions until October 15). It extends the automatic extension for corporation income tax returns from three to six months. (CRS Summary, HR 901, added October 30, 2013) Forgive Small Businesses For First-Time Paperwork Errors Murphy Co-Sponsored The Small Business Paperwork Relief Act of 2013 To Waive Fines On Small Businesses For First-Time Paperwork Mistakes: In August 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Small Business Paperwork Relief Act of 2013, which would direct agencies not to impose fines for first-time paperwork violations by small businesses unless there is potential for serious harm to the public interest, the detection of criminal activity would be impaired, the violation is not corrected within six months, the violation is a violation of law concerning the assessment or collection of any tax, or the violation presents a danger to the public health or safety. Reduced fines for insignificant paperwork violations would allow small businesses to focus on generating more jobs. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 1321, added August 2, 2013) Create Jobs In The Tourism Industry By Adjusting Policies To Make It Easier For International Tourists To Visit America Murphy Co-Sponsored The Jobs Originated Through Launching Travel (JOLT) Act To Make It Easier For Trusted International Tourists To Vacation In America And Boost Tourism Jobs: In August 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Jobs Originated through Launching Travel (JOLT) Act, which is designed to attract more international tourists to the US. It would include a pilot program for fee-based expedited visa interviews, easing of time restrictions on Canadian visitors over age 50, making information on visa appointment availability during low peak periods publicly available, expanding the Visa Waiver Program by updating eligibility requirements. It would also include more close US allies, establishing a goal for 90% of visa interviews to be conducted within 10 business days of the request, authorizing a pilot program to test the feasibility of conducting visa interviews via secure videoconference, and expand the Global Entry Program that allows pre-approved, low-risk international travelers to bypass traditional customs and go through an expedited clearance process. Combined, these programs would make it easier to obtain visas, and would reduce waiting time for Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 trusted travelers at customs. According to US Travel estimates, a 2013 expansion of the Visa Waiver Program, which allows nationals from participating countries to travel to the US without a visa, would attract an additional 602,069 travelers. (CRS Summary, HR 1354, added August 2, 2013) Promote The Concrete Industry Murphy Co-Sponsored The Concrete Masonry Products Research, Education, and Promotion Act of 2013 To Create A Promotion Program For The Concrete Industry: In November 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Concrete Masonry Products Research, Education, and Promotion Act of 2013, which sets conditions for the establishment of a Concrete Masonry Products Board to carry out a program of promotion, research, and information regarding concrete products. It requires manufacturers and importers to maintain, and make available, specified records. It requires that assessments at specified rates shall be paid by concrete manufacturers with respect to concrete manufactured and marketed in the United States. It requires at least 50% of the assessments paid by a manufacturer to be used to support research, education, and promotion plans and projects in support of the geographic region of the manufacturer. It directs the Secretary of Commerce, during the 60-day period preceding the proposed effective date of an order, to conduct a referendum for order approval among the manufacturers required to pay assessments under the order. (CRS Summary, HR 1563, added November 14, 2013) Exempt Premium Cigars From FDA Regulation And Fees Murphy Co-Sponsored Bill To Exempt Large And Premium Cigars From FDA Regulation And Fees: In May 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Traditional Cigar Manufacturing And Small Business Jobs Preservation Act Of 2013, which amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to exempt traditional large and premium cigars (as opposed to machine-made cigars such as Black & Milds) from regulation by the Food and Drug Administration and from user fees assessed on tobacco products by the FDA. The cigar industry, which as a substantial presence and customer base in South Florida, supported the bill because they felt they would be overregulated under the FDA and feared the loss of small businesses and jobs, while public health and cancer groups opposed this bill. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 792, added May 17, 2013) Designate National Entrepreneurs Day Murphy Co-Sponsored A Resolution To Designate National Entrepreneur's Day: In October 2013, Murphy co-sponsored a resolution to designate the third Tuesday of November as National Entrepreneurs Day. (CRS Summary, HRES 401, added October 10, 2013) TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 349 Labor, Workers Urge Banks To Give Furloughed Employees A Break; Ensure They Got Paid Murphy Co-Sponsored A Resolution To Urge That Financial Institutions Work With Customers Affected By The Government Shutdown And That Furloughed Government Employees Be Retroactively Compensated For The Shutdown Period: In October 2013, Murphy co-sponsored a bill that expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) financial institutions should work with their customers affected by the shutdown of the federal government that began on October 1, 2013; and (2) employees furloughed due to the shutdown should be compensated at their standard rate of compensation for the period beginning on such date through the date on which the lapse in appropriations ends, consistent with the principle adopted by the House when it passed H.R. 3223. (CRS Summary, H Con Res 60, added October 10, 2013) Prevent Employers From Demanding Employees’ Personal Passwords Murphy Co-Sponsored The Password Protection Act Of 2013 To Prevent Employers From Demanding Employees’ Personal Passwords: In June 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Password Protection Act Of 2013, which would make it illegal for an employer to demand that employees disclose their confidential passwords to systems and websites not owned by the employer (such as Facebook) or to discipline or terminate an employee for failing to do so. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 2077, added June 12, 2013) Prevent States From Taxing Traveling Workers Only In State Briefly Murphy Co-Sponsored The Mobile Workforce State Income Tax Simplification Act To Prevent States From Taxing Workers Who Are Only In The State Briefly: In May 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Mobile Workforce State Income Tax Simplification Act, which prohibits the wages or other remuneration earned by an employee who performs employment duties in more than one state from being subject to income tax in any state other than: (1) the state of the employee's residence, and (2) the state within which the employee is present and performing employment duties for more than 30 days during the calendar year. It exempts employers from withholding of tax and information reporting requirements for employees not subject to income tax under this Act. Allows an employer, for purposes of determining penalties related to employer withholding or reporting requirements, to rely on an employee's annual determination of the time such employee will spend working in a state in the absence of fraud or collusion by such employee. Exempts from the definition of "employee" for purposes of this Act professional athletes, professional entertainers, and public figures who are persons of prominence who perform services for wages or other remuneration on a per-event basis. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 1129, added May 14, 2013) Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 Eliminate Overtime For Insurance Adjusters For Two Years After Major Disasters Murphy Co-Sponsored A Bill To Exempt Insurance Claims Adjusters From Overtime Pay Requirements After Major Disasters: In September 2013, Murphy cosponsored a bill to amend the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to exempt from maximum hours requirements any employee who: (1) adjusts or evaluates claims resulting from or relating to a major disaster for at least $591 per week (or any minimum weekly amount established by the Secretary of Labor, whichever is greater) during the 2-year period after the disaster; and (2) is employed as an adjuster or evaluator by an employer not itself engaged, directly or through an affiliate, in underwriting, selling, or marketing property, casualty, or liability insurance policies or contracts. (CRS Summary, HR 3179, added September 26, 2013) LGBT Prohibit Employment Discrimination On Basis Of Sexual Orientation Or Gender Identity; Prohibit Preferential Treatment And Retaliation Murphy Co-Sponsored The Employment Non-Discrimination Act To Protect: In April 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, which prohibits employment discrimination on the basis of actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity by covered entities (employers, employment agencies, labor organizations, or joint labor-management committees). It prohibits preferential treatment or quotas. It prohibits related retaliation. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 1755, added April 25, 2013) Repeal Rest Of DOMA; All States Honor Legal Same-Sex Marriages Murphy Co-Sponsored The Respect For Marriage Act To Repeal The Rest Of DOMA: In June 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Respect For Marriage Act, which would repeal the remainder (Section 2) of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) and require that all fifty states respect marriages performed legally in other states, by providing equal rights, benefits, and protections, under federal law. It would provide a uniform rule for recognizing couples under the federal law, no matter where they live. Senator Feinstein (CA) explained: “[It is] necessary because inequities in the administration of more than 1,100 federal laws affected by DOMA—including Social Security and veteran benefits—will still need to be fixed.” (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 2523, added June 27, 2013) Ensure Legally Married Same-Sex Federal Employees Get Same Employment Benefits As All Murphy Co-Sponsored The Domestic Partnership Benefits And Obligations Act To Ensure That Legally Married Same-Sex Federal Employees Get The Same Employment Benefits As Anyone: In September 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 351 Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligations Act, which would ensure that the Supreme Court’s ruling in United States v. Windsor striking down Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act of 1996 as unconstitutional applies equal benefits for LGBT Federal employees across the country. It would require the Office of Personnel Management to effectively eliminate discriminatory practices in Federal employment by providing employees with same-sex spouses or same-sex domestic partners access to the same basic rights, benefits, and protections under Federal law afforded to heterosexual Federal employees. It would enable Federal employees to live in, or move to, states that do not recognize same-sex marriages as necessitated by their job. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 3135, added September 19, 2013) Ensure Legally Married Same-Sex Military Couples Get Same VA Benefits As All Murphy Co-Sponsored The Military Spouses Equal Treatment Act To Ensure That Legally Married Same-Sex Military Couples Get The Same VA Benefits As Anyone: In July 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Military Spouses Equal Treatment Act, which would allow same-sex couples that legally marry in one state to go to live in another state that does not recognize gay marriage and receive benefits from the VA. Under current law, the VA will likely not recognize a marriage if a veteran and their spouse live in a state that does not recognize their marriage either at the time of the marriage or at the time the benefits kick in. The bill would include lawfully-married lesbian and gay military spouses in the definition of “spouse” in relevant sections of the United States Code, ensuring they receive the same family benefits already provided to service members and veterans with different-sex spouses. Thus, under this bill if a veteran has a spouse of the same-sex, then their spouse will be afforded the same benefits as their heterosexual counterparts. This is especially important because these service members and spouses may be required to relocate to other states as part of their service. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 683, added July 30, 2013) Ensure Legally Married Same-Sex Couples Get Same Social Security Benefits As All Murphy Co-Sponsored The Social Security Equality Act of 2013 To Ensure That Legally Married Same-Sex Couples Get The Same Benefits As Anyone: In August 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Social Security Equality Act of 2013, which would eliminate the discriminatory policy of the Social Security Administration that prevents same-sex couples from receiving the same benefits as their heterosexual counterparts. Currently, same-sex couples are not eligible to receive the same spousal, survivor, and death benefits that married heterosexual couples do from Social Security. Twelve states and the District of Columbia recognize same-sex marriages, and six recognize civil unions. The bill would provide couples in relationships that have been recognized by their state of residence—whether it is a domestic partnership, civil union, or marriage— the equal access to these benefits. The goal of the bill would be economic fairness. The legislation would provide economic relief and security to elderly individuals as well as alleviate the poverty of a group of individuals who have been targeted solely for their sexual orientation. Statistics show that gay couples receive 18% less in Social Security Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 benefits than heterosexual couples; lesbian couples receive 31% less than heterosexual couples; on average, couples are denied $8,000 per year in survivor benefits upon the death of their higher earning spouse. From the standpoint of Florida, it would mean that couples residing in the state, whose same-sex marriage was recognized by another state, would get equal access to benefits. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 3050, added August 2, 2013) Protect “Permanent Partners” From Discrimination In Immigration Decisions Murphy Co-Sponsored The Uniting American Families Act To Recognize “Permanent Partners” As A Class To Be Recognized For The Purposes Of Visa Sponsorship: In March 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Uniting American Families Act, which amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to include a "permanent partner" within the scope of such Act. Defines a "permanent partner" as an individual 18 or older who: (1) is in a committed, intimate relationship with another individual 18 or older in which both individuals intend a lifelong commitment; (2) is financially interdependent with the other individual; (3) is not married to, or in a permanent partnership with, anyone other than the individual; (4) is unable to contract with the other individual a marriage cognizable under this Act; and (5) is not a first, second, or third degree blood relation of the other individual. It defines: (1) "permanent partnership" as the relationship existing between two permanent partners, and (2) "alien permanent partner" as the individual in a permanent partnership who is being sponsored for a visa. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 519, added March 20, 2013) Restore Honorable Status To Service Members Dismissed For Sexual Orientation Murphy Co-Sponsored The Restore Honor To Service Members Act To Ensure That People Discharged From The Military For Their Sexual Orientation Would Have Their Record Corrected To Reflect Honorable Service: In July 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Restore Honor To Service Members Act, which would provide members of the armed forces who served honorably, but were discharged and were given a penal discharge solely based on their sexual orientation, to have their records corrected to reflect their honorable service. This would then allow them to access all the benefits normally given to veterans, including health and burial rights. (CRS Summary, CoSponsorship memo for HR 2839, added July 25, 2013) Protect Public School Students From Discrimination Based On Sexual Orientation Murphy Co-Sponsored The Student Non-Discrimination Act To Protect Public School Students From Discrimination Based On Sexual Orientation: In April 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Student Non-Discrimination Act, which prohibits public school students from being excluded from participating in, or subject to discrimination under, any federally-assisted educational program on the basis of their actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity or that of their associates. It considers harassment to be a form of discrimination. Prohibits retaliation against anyone for opposing conduct they reasonably believe to be unlawful under this Act. It authorizes federal departments TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 353 and agencies to enforce these prohibitions by cutting off the educational assistance of recipients found to be violating them. Allows an aggrieved individual to assert a violation of this Act in a judicial proceeding and recover reasonable attorney's fees should they prevail. It deems a state's receipt of federal educational assistance for a program to constitute a waiver of sovereign immunity for conduct prohibited under this Act regarding such program. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 1652, added April 23, 2013) Liability Require Foreign Manufacturers Selling In USA To Register Here And Be Liable For Defective Products Murphy Co-Sponsored The Foreign Manufacturers Legal Accountability Act Of 2013: In June 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Foreign Manufacturers Legal Accountability Act Of 2013, which would require foreign manufacturers of products sold in the United States, such as drugs, medical devices, cosmetics, biological products, drywall, chemical substances, pesticides, toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters, and household chemicals to set up a registered agent in each state where it does business. This would subject it to state and federal jurisdiction for civil and regulator claims by consumers. That would make it easier for consumers to sue foreign manufacturers in US court and put US manufacturers on a level playing field. Defective foreign drywall has made news in recent years, but due to the difficulty of suing the manufacturers, consumers have sued the US construction companies that used the drywall, including several in Florida. This law would make it possible for them to sue the responsible party instead. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 1910, added June 5, 2013) Local Interests Delay Flood Insurance Rate Hikes Murphy Co-Sponsored The Flood Insurance Fairness Act of 2013 To Delay Increases In National Flood Insurance Rates: In October 2013, Murphy cosponsored the Flood Insurance Fairness Act of 2013, which delays increases in flood insurance premium rates under the National Flood Insurance Program until completion of the pending study regarding the affordability of such rates and congressional consideration of reforms to make such rates affordable. (CRS Summary, HR 3218, added October 23, 2013) Murphy Co-Sponsored The Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act of 2013 To Delay Alarming Rate Hikes For Four Years And Addresses Other National Flood Insurance Program Problems: In October 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act of 2013, which helps alleviate some of the costly and unintended consequences caused by the Biggert-Waters Act of 2012, a reauthorization of the National Flood Insurance Program that led to drastic and Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 unexpected increases in flood insurance premiums and problems and inaccuracies with the remapping of the Flood Insurance Rate Maps. Specifically it: • delays certain flood insurance rate increases for four years • stops automatic rate increases upon the sale of homes • allows for remapping process to take into account local flood control structures • allows homeowner reimbursements for successful map appeals • protects the so-called “basement exception” in 53 communities • creates a consumer advocate within FEMA to help homeowners with flood insurance and mapping concerns (CRS Summary, HR 3370, added October 29, 2013; National Association of Home Builders Talking Points for HR 3370 and S 1610) Require Corps Of Engineers To Spend Harbor Trust Fund Surplus Murphy Co-Sponsored The RAMP Act To Require The Corps Of Engineers To Spend All Of The Money In The Harbor Trust Fund On Needed Harbor Maintenance Instead Of Sitting On A $6 Billion Surplus: In February 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the RAMP Act, which would require the Army Corps of Engineers to spend on harbor maintenance all revenue received by the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund. The fund has accumulated a surplus of over $6 billion since 1987, yet many ports remain in need of maintenance—including Fort Pierce in Port St. Lucie—limiting their economic value, according to a CRS report and the St. Lucie Director of Public Works. Most harbor maintenance takes the form of dredging, which keeps ports at their congressionally mandated depths. As of 2010, full channel dimensions were available less than an average of 35% of the time at the 59 highest use US harbors, according to a CRS report. This bill could fund the restoration of the commercial port at Fort Piece. Fort Pierce’s federally designated inlet and turning basin are rated at depth of 25 feet, but a number of areas are now only 18-feet deep, which creates safety hazards and limits traffic according to the Director of Public Works in St. Lucie County. The Army Corps last conducted maintenance in 2003, and Port St. Lucie has been trying unsuccessfully to get the Corps to dredge the port—which could cost $3-5 million—for some time. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 335, added February 12, 2013) Keep Contracted Air Traffic Control Towers Funded During Sequester Murphy Co-Sponsored The Air Traffic Control Tower Funding Restoration Act To Keep Witham Field And Other Contracted Towers Funded During The Sequester: In April 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Air Traffic Control Tower Funding Restoration Act, which would reallocate unobligated FY13 FAA funds to keep open all 149 control towers that are slated to close as a result of sequestration. Additionally he and other members of Congress wrote to the chair and ranking member of the Committee on Appropriations’ Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies to press for the same. The funds—$50 million—would be taken from the Facilities and Equipment (F&E) account as well as the Research, Engineering, and Development Account. Witham Field’s tower in Martin County was slated for closure as a result of sequestration. The tower is important to maintaining the safety of TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 355 the thousands of jet and prop plane flights that takeoff and land at Witham, as well as coordinating airspace with Palm Beach International airport. A significant number of the jobs and economic activity in Stuart are dependent on the functioning of Witham Field. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 1432, added April 16, 2013; Murphy et. al. letter to Reps. Latham and Pastor of the Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies, April 18, 2013) Pay & Perks Stop Pay For Congress Until All Other US Debts Now Due Are Paid Murphy Co-Sponsored The Stop Pay for Members Act: In September 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Stop Pay for Members Act, which prohibits the satisfaction of the obligation to pay basic pay of Members of Congress, if the U.S. public debt reaches the public debt limit, until: (1) all other obligations of the U.S. government then due have been satisfied; or (2) if earlier, the ability of the U.S. Treasury to satisfy such obligations in a timely manner is restored, whether by an increase in the public debt limit or otherwise. It declares that each Member of Congress consents and agrees that payment of basic pay in accordance with this Act shall constitute a full and complete discharge and acquittance of all claims and demands for service as such a Member during the period covered by the payment. (CRS Summary, HR 1884, added September 18, 2013) Stop Pay For Congress During Government Shutdown Murphy Co-Sponsored The No Government No Pay Act of 2013: In October 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the No Government No Pay Act of 2013, which requires the withholding of pay of a Member of Congress during a government shutdown equal to the product of 1 day's worth of pay under such annual rate and the number of 24-hour periods during which the government shutdown is in effect. It makes such withholding applicable to days occurring during the 114th and succeeding Congresses. (CRS Summary, HR 3224, added October 2, 2013) Cut Congressional Pay 10% And Halt Automatic Annual Pay Increases Murphy Co-Sponsored The CHIP IN Act To Reduce Congressional Pay And Stop Automatic Raises: In February 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Congressional Halt in Pay Increases (CHIP IN) and Cut Congressional Pay Act, which would reduce member pay by 10%, or $17,400, starting after the next general election, and prevent member pay from automatically increasing annually. Regular member pay would be $156,600 under this bill. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 398, added February 25, 2013) Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 Eliminate Congress’ Automatic Cost Of Living Increase For 2013 And 2014 Murphy Co-Sponsored A Bill To Prohibit Members Of Congress From Receiving A Pay Raise Through The End Of 2014: In February 2013, Murphy co-sponsored a bill to prohibit members of Congress from receiving any automatic cost of living adjustments through the end of 113th Congress. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 636, added February 14, 2013) Shut Down House Gym During Government Shutdown Murphy Co-Sponsored A Bill To Shut Down The House Gym In The Event Of A Shutdown: In October 2013, Murphy co-sponsored a bill that would prohibit the operation of an exercise facility for Members of the House of Representatives during a Government shutdown. (CRS Summary, HR 3276, added October 8, 2013) Puerto Rico Authorize A Yes/No Ratification Vote On Puerto Rican Statehood Murphy Co-Sponsored The Puerto Rico Status Resolution Act: In June 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Puerto Rico Status Resolution Act, which would authorize a “Yes” or “No” ratification vote on whether Puerto Rico should be admitted as a state of the United States. Specifically it authorizes the State Elections Commission of Puerto Rico to provide for a ratification vote on the admission of Puerto Rico as a state of the United States on an equal footing with the several states in all respects. It requires (if a majority of votes cast in the ratification vote are for the admission of Puerto Rico as a state): (1) the President to submit to Congress legislation to admit Puerto Rico as a state, and (2) Congress to act, through legislation, to admit Puerto Rico as a state. The 18th District has between 13,000 and 17,000 Puerto Ricans. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 2000, added June 3, 2013) Award Congressional Gold Medal To Puerto Rican Army Regiment Murphy Co-Sponsored A Bill To Award A Congressional Gold Medal To The 65th Infantry Regiment, Known As The Borinqueneers: In July 2013, Murphy cosponsored a bill to award a Congressional gold medal to the 65th infantry regiment, a Puerto Rican regiment known as the Borinqueneers, who fought for and defended America in WWI, WWII, and the Korean War and accomplished heroic feats even while facing discrimination and segregation. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 1726, added July 30, 2013) TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 357 Social Welfare Programs Express That Committee On Agriculture Should Not Attempt To Cut Food Stamps Murphy Co-Sponsored A Resolution That Funding For Food Stamps Should Not Be Cut: In June 2013, Murphy co-sponsored a resolution that expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that in this Congress the Committee on Agriculture should not propose any reduction in the availability or amount of benefits under the supplemental nutrition assistance program (SNAP) and that the House should reject any proposed legislation that seeks to do so. (CRS Summary, H Res 90, added June 28, 2013) Sugar Encourage All Countries To Drop Sugar Subsidies Murphy Co-Sponsored A Bill Expressing The Sense Of Congress That All Direct And Indirect Subsidies That Benefit The Production Or Export Of Sugar By All Major Sugar Producing And Consuming Countries Should Be Eliminated: In July 2013, Murphy co-sponsored a bill that expresses the sense of Congress that the President should seek through negotiated agreements under the auspices of the World Trade Organization the elimination of all direct and indirect subsidies benefitting the production or export of sugar by any foreign country that: (1) exported more than 200,000 metric tons of sugar during 2013, or (2) has in effect a free trade agreement with the United States. (H Con Res 39, added July 30, 2013) USPS Support Continued 6-Day Mail Service Murphy Co-Sponsored A Resolution In Support Of 6-Day Delivery: In February 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the resolution in support of 6-day delivery, expressed the sense of the House that the United States Postal Service should take all appropriate measures to ensure the continuation of its 6-day mail delivery service. (H Res 30, added February 13, 2013) Keep 6-Day Mail Service And Relax Extreme Pension Funding Requirement Murphy Co-Sponsored The Postal Service Protection Act To Preserve Saturday Delivery And Stop Requiring Pension Overpayments: In April 2013, Murphy cosponsored the Postal Service Protection Act, which would: (1) Fix the immediate fiscal problem of the Postal Service by ending the pre-funding mandate and allowing the Postal Service to recover pension overpayments. (2) Protect 6-day delivery. (3) Ensure the timely delivery of mail and protect mail-processing facilities. Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 (4) Protecting Rural Post Offices. (5) Establish new ways the Postal Service can generate revenue (6) Provide USPS More Pricing Flexibility in Setting Postal Rates. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 630, added April 9, 2013) Relax Extreme Pension Funding Requirement Murphy Co-Sponsored The USPS Stabilization Act of 2013 To Remove The Extreme Pension Funding Requirements That Have Been Placed Only On The Post Office: In July 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the USPS Stabilization Act of 2013, which amends provisions concerning the Federal Employees' Retirement System (FERS), with respect to employees of the U.S. Postal Service (USPS), to: (1) provide a new formula for calculating employee pension contributions using the normal-cost percentage method multiplied by the aggregate amount of basic pay payable to employees of USPS and the Postal Regulatory Commission, and (2) provide for the use of excess FERS contributions to pay USPS debt obligations and make pension contributions. (CRS Summary, HR 961, added July 25, 2013) Rename Post Offices Murphy Co-Sponsored A Bill To Rename A Cocoa Beach Post Office: In May 2013, Murphy co-sponsored a bill to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 500 North Brevard Avenue in Cocoa Beach, Florida, as the "Richard K. Salick Post Office". (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 451, added May 20, 2013) Murphy Co-Sponsored A Bill To Rename A Miami Post Office: In July 2013, Murphy co-sponsored a bill To rename a Post Office at 10360 Southwest 186th Street in Miami the "Larcenia J. Bullard Post Office Building.” (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 2678, added July 11, 2013) Veterans Help Exiting Service Members Get Better Civilian Jobs Murphy Co-Sponsored The Troop Talent Act Of 2013 To Help Service Members Leaving The Military Get Better Civilian Jobs: In June 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Troop Talent Act Of 2013, which would improve translation of military skillsets to civilian credentials or licenses, and increase access to high-demand career fields for Service members. The bill would also allow Military Tuition Assistance (MTA) and Post 9-11 GI Bill to be used on courses and programs that guarantee a credential or industry certification after successful completion. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the unemployment rate for recent Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans was 9.4 percent in February 2013, compared with 7.6 percent in February 2012. Because of this, there is a significant need to assist military members as they transition to the civilian workforce. This bill would also help prepare veterans for careers in information technology. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a need for 110,000 computer support specialists over the next decade. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 1796, added June 12, 2013) TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 359 Murphy Co-Sponsored The Veteran Employment Transition Act To Expand And Make Permanent Tax Credits To Help Veterans Transition To Civilian Jobs: In May 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Veteran Employment Transition Act, which amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) revise the definition of "qualified veteran" for purposes of the work opportunity tax credit to include recently discharged veterans, and (2) make permanent the work opportunity tax credit for qualified veterans. (CRS Summary, CoSponsorship memo for HR 2056, added May 20, 2013) Require VA To Report On Its Performance Processing Disability Claims Murphy Co-Sponsored A Bill To Require The VA To Report On Its Performance In The Processing Of Disability Claims: In May 2013, Murphy co-sponsored a bill to require the Veterans Administration to submit quarterly reports on the processing of disability claims, which would direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide notice of average times for processing claims and percentage of claims approved. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 1809, added May 17, 2013) Murphy Co-Sponsored A Bill To Require The VA To Report On Response Times From Other Government Agencies In Processing Veterans Disability Claims: In June 2013, Murphy co-sponsored a bill to require the Veterans Administration to submit to Congress quarterly reports on the number of, and average response time to, requests made by the Secretary to the head of another federal department or agency for information required in adjudicating a claim for veterans' disability compensation. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 1759, added June 17, 2013) Standardize, Unify, Share, And Make VA And DoD Records Electronic To Prevent Claims Backlogs Murphy Co-Sponsored The 21st Century Health Care For Heroes Act To Upgrade Information Technology At The DoD And The VA To Make Claims Processing Faster And More Efficient And Prevent Future Backlogs: In July 2013, Murphy cosponsored the 21st Century Health Care For Heroes Act, which would amend the Wounded Warrior Act to establish a specific timeline for the implementation of integrated electronic health records between the Departments of Defense and Department of Veterans Affairs. The DoD and the VA are using an outdated approach to providing healthcare. The bill would provide technology upgrades as well as more timely access to information. This bill would implement the use of ‘cloud storage’ (a secure, remote, network-accessible computer storage system), as well as upgrades of graphic user interfaces (data display) to facilitate the acceleration of real-time data exchange between departments. It would also set up a timeline of one year for implementing seamless integration of personal health care information between the Departments. It would require the standardization of data, make personal health care information more readily available, and create the ability for both Departments to download the patient’s medical records. Implementing would also ensure that there will not be a future backlog for veterans’ benefits by requiring streamlined electronic health records. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 2590, added July 11, 2013) Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 Murphy Co-Sponsored The VA CORE Act To Streamline VA Health Care By Making Military Service Records Available To The VA In Electronic Format: In May 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the VA Claims, Operations, and Records Efficiency Act, which directs the Secretary of Defense to make the service treatment records, personal records, unit records, and medical records (service records) of each member of the Armed Forces available to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs in an electronic format. It provides post-discharge or release timelines for such availability. It requires each service record provided to include a DoD certification of the record's completeness. It deems such service record release a permitted disclosure under requirements of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 1729, added May 20, 2013) Prioritize Vets Who Need Mental Health Care, Put Older Vets On Equal Footing Murphy Co-Sponsored The Veterans Mental Health Accessibility Act To Prioritize Vets In Need Of Mental Health Care And Put Older Vets On Equal Footing With Younger Ones: In May 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Veterans Mental Health Accessibility Act, which would give all veterans the same priority status with the VA to receive mental health care. Currently, veterans who served within the last five years are prioritized to receive all health services more quickly than older vets. Of the 22 veterans who commit suicide each day, men aged 50-59 were the most prevalent, suggesting that recently discharged vets should not be prioritized over older vets for mental health care. In addition, the current average veteran wait time to receive health benefits is 273 days, suggesting that this waiting period is much longer for veterans who served over five years ago. This bill would shift veterans seeking mental health care into higher-priority VA service groups, taking advantage of the VA’s increasing mental health care capacity, thereby possibly having an overall positive impact on the VA’s backlog of veterans seeking care. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 1725, added May 23, 2013) Ensure Military Surviving Spouses Get All Benefits And Compensation Due Murphy Co-Sponsored The Military Surviving Spouses Equity Act To Ensure That Surviving Military Spouses Get All Of The Survivor Benefits And Compensation They Are Entitled To: In April 2013, Murphy co-sponsored a bill Military Surviving Spouses Equity Act, which would repeal the law that prevents surviving military spouses from receiving both survivor benefits and indemnity compensation for their deceased veteran spouse. Survivor benefits are retirement annuities for which servicemembers pay during their military career to have transferred to their surviving spouses if/when they die. Indemnity compensation is provided to a surviving spouse when a servicemember’s cause of death is related to their military service (e.g. killed in action, long-term effects of exposure to carcinogens, etc.). Currently, spouses are limited to receiving only the greater amount of the two, but not both, even though the two are not related (retirement benefit vs. compensation for service-related death). (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 32, added April 22, 2013) TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 361 Punish Those Who Attempt Fraud By Lying About Combat Medals Murphy Co-Sponsored The Stolen Valor Act To Punish Those Who Lie About Having Received Combat Medals And Fraudulently Try To Profit From It: In April 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Stolen Valor Act, which would make individuals who fraudulently claim to have received combat medals with the intent to obtain money or property subject to a fine, imprisonment, or both. A similar bill criminalizing false claims to combat medals was passed in 2005 and struck down by the Supreme Court in 2012 as violating the First Amendment. This version of the bill modifies the original to criminalize false claims of military service specifically designed to fraudulently garner some tangible benefit, thereby moving from restricting freedom of speech to preventing fraud. This bill became law. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 258, added April 11, 2013) Clarify Definition Of Veteran Not To Include Those Who Only Went To Preparatory Schools For Service Academies Murphy Co-Sponsored The Support Earned Recognition for Veterans (SERV) Act To Clarify That People Who Attended Preparatory Schools For Service Academies Are Not Veterans: In November 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Support Earned Recognition for Veterans (SERV) Act, which amends titles 5 and 38, United States Code, to clarify that people who attended preparatory schools for service academies may not be considered veterans for the purposes of claiming benefits, disabled veteran status, preference eligible, etc. (CRS Summary, HR 3469, added November 13, 2013) Include Those Who Served In Vietnam’s Territorial Seas As Eligible For Benefits Related To Diseases Causes By Exposure To Herbicide Agents During The War Murphy Co-Sponsored The Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2013: In September 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2013, which recognizes as part of the Republic of Vietnam its territorial seas for purposes of the presumption of service connection for diseases associated with exposure by veterans to certain herbicide agents while in Vietnam. (CRS Summary, HR 543, added September 18, 2013) Award Medal Of Honor To Vietnam Veterans Murphy Co-Sponsored A Bill To Award The Medal Of Honor To Vietnam Vets Bennie Adkins And Donald Sloat: In October 2013, Murphy co-sponsored a bill to award the Medal of Honor to Bennie G. Adkins and Donald P. Sloat of the U.S. Army for acts of valor in the Vietnam War. The bill passed the House. (CRS Summary, HR 3304, added October 22, 2013) Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 Award Congressional Gold Medals To WWII Veterans Murphy Co-Sponsored A Bill To Award Gold Medals To The WWII First Special Service Force, The Forerunners Of Today’s Special Forces: In March 2013, Murphy co-sponsored a bill to award gold medals to the First Special Service Force, a covert, joint American-Canadian World War II volunteer military unit. The FSSF conducted ultra-high risk military missions in the Aleutian Islands, Italy, and southern France. Once sent into action, the FSSF never failed a combat mission. The FSSF was the forerunner to today’s special forces. The medals would be presented collectively, in recognition of their World War II service. One medal would be given to the Smithsonian Institution and the other to the First Special Service Force Association in Helena, Montana. The bill became law. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 324, added March 25, 2013) Murphy Co-Sponsored A Bill To Award A Congressional Gold Medal To The WWII Doolittle Tokyo Raiders: In July 2013, Murphy co-sponsored a bill to award a Congressional gold medal to the WWII Doolittle Tokyo Raiders for outstanding heroism, valor, skill, and service to the United States in conducting the bombings of Tokyo. These volunteers embarked on an extremely dangerous mission when their carrier was discovered prematurely by the Japanese. Some did not return. The unit had trained extensively in Florida. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 1209, added July 31, 2013) Murphy Co-Sponsored The American Fighter Aces Congressional Gold Medal Act: In October 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the American Fighter Aces Congressional Gold Medal Act to award a single gold medal in honor of the American Fighter Aces, collectively, in recognition of their heroic military service and defense of our country's freedom, which has spanned the history of aviation warfare. (CRS Summary, HR 685, added October 2, 2013) Murphy Co-Sponsored A Bill To Award A Congressional Gold Medal To The World War II Members Of The Civil Air Patrol: In June 2013, Murphy co-sponsored a bill To award a congressional gold medal to the World War II members of the Civil Air Patrol in recognition of their military service and exemplary record during World War II. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 755, added June 20, 2013) Rename VA Medical Center After C.W. Bill Young Murphy Co-Sponsored A Bill To Name A VA Medical Center After The Late Florida Rep. C.W. Bill Young: In October 2013, Murphy co-sponsored a bill to name the Department of Veterans Affairs medical center in Bay Pines, Florida, the "C.W. Bill Young Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center" after Florida Rep. C.W. Bill Young, who died on October 18, 2013. The bill became law. (CRS Summary, HR 3302, added October 22, 2013) TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 363 Women & Children Extend ERA Ratification Window Indefinitely Murphy Co-Sponsored A Bill Removing The Deadline For The Ratification Of The ERA: In July 2013, Murphy co-sponsored a bill removing the deadline for the ratification of the ERA, which eliminates the time limit for ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment (prohibits discrimination on account of sex) proposed to the states in House Joint Resolution 208 of the 92nd Congress, as agreed to in the Senate on March 22, 1972. It declares that such amendment shall be part of the Constitution whenever ratified by the legislatures of three-fourths of the several states. (CRS Summary, HJ Res 43, added July 30, 2013) Reauthorize Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) Murphy Co-Sponsored The Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act Of 2013 To Better Combat Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, And Stalking: In January 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act Of 2013, which amends the Violence Against Women Act of 1994 (VAWA) to add or expand definitions of several terms used in the Act. It strengthens the ability of the federal government, the states, law enforcement, and service providers to combat domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. As with the previous reauthorizations of VAWA in 2000 and 2005 , this bill responds to the realities and needs reported by those who work with victims every day to make VAWA work better for all victims. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 11, added January 22, 2013; Rep. Rick Larsen memo on HR 11) Lower Burden Of Proof For Women Traumatized Into Mental Illness By Sexual Assault; Make It Easier For Them To Get Treatment For Those Issues Murphy Co-Sponsored The Ruth Moore Act To Lower The Burden Of Proof For Women Who Have Been Traumatized Into Mental Illness By Sexual Assault And Make It Easier For Them To Collect Benefits For Those Mental Issues: In April 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Ruth Moore Act, which would allow women who experience diagnosed mental ailments as a result of sexual assault to have a lesser burden of proof, and would allow the survivors to more easily collect benefits for these mental issues. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 671, added April 11, 2013) CBO: Bill Would Cost $4 Million To Implement And Save $15 Million By Rounding Down: According to the CBO, “H.R. 671 would extend provisions of current law that require increases in monthly rates of certain education assistance be rounded down to the next lower whole dollar. The bill would also require the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to submit annual reports about disability claims for military sexual trauma (MST) to the Congress and to veterans who file MST claims. CBO estimates that enacting H.R. 671 would reduce direct spending by $15 million over the 2014-2023 period. Also, CBO estimates that Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 implementing H.R. 671 would have a discretionary cost of $4 million over the 2014-2018 period, subject to the availability of appropriated amounts… Enacting the bill would have no effect on revenues. (CBO Cost Estimate, HR 671, May 16, 2013) Create Council To Oversee Military’s Responses To Sexual Assault Murphy Co-Sponsored The STOP Act To Create An Independent Council To Oversee The Military’s Responses To Sexual Assault: In May 2013, Murphy cosponsored the Sexual Assault Training Oversight and Prevention Act or STOP Act, which establishes a Sexual Assault Oversight and Response Council, composed mainly of civilians, as an independent entity from the chain of command of the Department of Defense. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 1593, added May 22, 2013) Inspector General Investigations Into Retaliation For Reporting Sexual Assault Murphy Co-Sponsored A Bill To Require An Inspector General Investigation Into Retaliatory Personnel Actions Against Those Reporting Sexual Assault: In June 2013, Murphy co-sponsored a bill to require an Inspector General investigation of allegations of retaliatory personnel actions taken in response to making protected communications regarding sexual assault. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 1864, added June 3, 2013) End Sex-Based Pay Discrimination Murphy Co-Sponsored The Paycheck Fairness Act To Eliminate Sex-Based Pay Discrimination: In February 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Paycheck Fairness Act, which would amend the Equal Pay Act to revise remedies for, enforcement of, and exceptions to prohibitions against sex discrimination in the payment of wages. It would strengthen prohibitions against employer retaliations for employee complaints and for inquiring or discussing wages. It would expand training on matters involving wage discrimination and require studies regarding the means available to eliminate pay disparities. It also would require the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to collect employee demographic data for use in the enforcement of federal laws prohibiting pay discrimination. In Florida women make 76 cents to every dollar that men make and 47 percent of women in Florida are the primary breadwinners for their families. Additionally, many of the labor and women’s groups that support this legislation have a strong presence in Florida and in the district. Various business and industry groups oppose it on the belief that it will lead to increased litigation over claims of wage discrimination that may be caused by other market factors. (CRS Summary, Co-Sponsorship memo for HR 377, added February 25, 2013) TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 365 Refocus Department Of State Activities On Orphans And Displaced Children Abroad To Ensure That Children Worldwide Can Grow Up In A Family Murphy Co-Sponsored The Children In Families First Act of 2013 To Help Children Around The World Grow Up In A Family: In October 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Children in Families First Act of 2013, which calls for programs to focus on reducing the number of children around the world living without families and increasing the capacity of other governments to better protect their own children. Specifically, it: • Establishes a bureau in the Department of State to serve as the foreign policy and diplomatic hub on international child welfare, tasked with building international capacity to implement effective child welfare systems, with focus on family preservation and reunification, and kinship, domestic, and intercountry adoption. • Streamlines, simplifies and consolidates processing of intercountry adoption cases and accrediting adoption service providers by moving these functions to United States Citizen and Immigration Services (USCIS). • Establishes a Center of Excellence within USAID to implement the 2012 National Action Plan on Children in Adversity, A Framework for International Assistance, and provides for a demonstration program in target countries. • By ensuring systems are in place to help children remain in their family of birth, be reunited with family or be adopted locally or internationally, it promotes a holistic and preventative approach to strengthening child protections, including decreasing children’s exposure and vulnerability to trafficking, exploitation, violence and neglect. (CRS Summary, HR 3323, added October 23, 2013; childreninfamiliesfirst.org) Pressure States To Make Stronger Child Abuse Laws Murphy Co-Sponsored The Kilah Davenport Child Protection Act To Pressure States To Make Stronger Laws Against Child Abuse: In April 2013, Murphy cosponsored the Kilah Davenport Child Protection Act, which prohibits the Secretary of Health and Human Services from making grants to a state for specified child abuse or neglect prevention and treatment programs until the state's laws provide for a criminal punishment, including a prison term of at least 3,800 days, for any individual who: (1) is a parent or any other individual providing care to or supervision of a child under age 16; and (2) intentionally inflicts on that child any serious bodily injury, or commits an assault upon that child which results in any serious bodily injury or permanent or protracted loss or impairment of any of the child's mental or emotional function. It amends the federal criminal code to subject to penalties for domestic assault by a habitual offender any person who commits three or more assaults, acts of sexual abuse, or serious violent felonies against a child of the person or in the person's care. (CRS Summary, CoSponsorship memo for HR 1311, added April 12, 2013) Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 Overturn Global Gag Rule So Foreign NGOs Aren’t Disqualified For US Funding For Providing Legal Abortions Or Information About It In Their Countries Murphy Co-Sponsored The Global Democracy Promotion Act To Ensure That Foreign NGOs Aren’t Disqualified For Assistance If They Provide Health Services That Are Legal In Their Country: In July 2013, Murphy co-sponsored the Global Democracy Promotion Act, which would prohibit restrictions on US assistance to foreign organizations that would be unconstitutional if applied to organizations in our own country. It is intended to combat the “Global Gag Rule,” which stipulates that nongovernmental organizations receiving U.S. assistance cannot use separately obtained non-U.S. funds to inform the public or educate their government on the need to make safe abortion available, provide legal abortion services, or provide advice on where to get an abortion. It prohibits the restriction of aid to organizations on the basis of health or medical services provided by those organizations which do not violate the laws of their own countries and which wouldn’t violate U.S. federal law if provided in the United States. (CRS Summary, HR 2738, added July 18, 2013; genderhealth.org; plannedparenthood.org, July 18, 2013) TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 367 8. INDEX: Key Votes By Category This section catalogs key votes by Rep. Murphy by alphabetized subject category for easy reference. All content here is also represented in either the accomplishments or vulnerabilities sections of this document, but here all votes in a given subject are grouped together whether they represent accomplishments or vulnerabilities, and there is no content from other sources such as news articles, sponsored legislation, standalone news clips, etc. Agriculture / Farm Bill Voted For The 2013 Farm Bill, Which Contained $9 Billion In Crop Insurance For Farmers And Cut $20 Billion From Food Stamps Murphy Voted For 2013 Farm Bill, Which Contained Specialty Crop Insurance Programs For Farmers: In June 2013, Murphy voted with Republicans and against the great majority of Democrats for the final version of the Farm Bill, which would have authorized $939 billion in funding for federal farm and food assistance programs through FY 2018. The bill, “would have cut projected spending in farm and nutrition programs by nearly $40 billion over the next 10 years. Just over half, $20.5 billion, would come from cuts to the food stamp program, known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.” The bill, “eliminated the $5 billion-a-year subsidies paid to farmers and landowners whether they plant crops or not. The billions of dollars saved would be directed into the $9 billion [subsidized] crop insurance program, and new subsidies would be created for peanut, cotton and rice farmers. The bill adds money to support fruit and vegetable growers, and it restores insurance programs for livestock producers, which expired in 2011, leaving thousands of operations without disaster coverage during last year’s drought.” The bill failed 195-234. (H.R. 1947, Vote #286, 6/20/13; CQ Floor Votes, 6/20/13; New York Times, 6/21/13) Farm Bill “Increases Subsidies For The Largest And Most Successful Farm Businesses” While Cutting $25 Billion For The Hungry And The Environment: Scott Faber, vice president of government affairs at the Environmental Working Group, said of the failed Farm Bill, “The full House was right to reject a bloated farm bill that increases subsidies for the largest and most successful farm businesses, while needlessly cutting programs designed to help feed the hungry and protect the environment — by $20 billion and $5 billion, respectively.” (New York Times, June 21, 2013) Context: FL-18 Currently Receives Only Disaster Subsidy Payments: In 2012, 35 recipients in Florida’s 18th Congressional District received a total of $1,549,443 in USDA farm subsidies. All of it was in the form of Disaster Subsidy payments (as opposed to conservation subsidies, commodity subsidies, or crop Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 insurance premium subsidies). From 1995 to 2012, a total of 718 recipients have received a total of $109,916,111 in Disaster Subsidy payments, with the bulk of the payments occurring from 2004 to 2006. This accounts for nearly all of the $115,937,364 in total USDA farm subsidies of all kinds that 788 recipients in the 18th District have received in that time period, with the remainder split between conservation studies and commodity subsidies, which have declined to zero since 2007. (Environmental Working Group 2013 Farm Subsidy Database) Voted To Keep Wasteful Crop Insurance Subsidies For Wealthy Farmers Murphy Voted To Keep Subsidized Crop Insurance For Wealthy Farmers: In 2013, Murphy voted against an amendment to end subsidized crop insurance to farmers. The amendment, introduced by Rep. Ron Kind (D-WI), would have limited federal crop insurance premium subsidies to producers with profits of less than $250,000, limit perperson subsidies to $50,000 per year, and cap crop insurance providers' reimbursement of administrative and operating costs at $900 million and reduce their rate of return to 12%. However, that would have exempted many specialty crop insurers, which are important to Florida’s farmers. (Associated Press, 6/20/13) The amendment would save $11 billion over 10 years, and had the backing of a mix of organizations, including the R Street Institute, the National Taxpayer Union, and the Environmental Working Group. (Congressional Quarterly News, 6/20/13; Property Casualty 360, 6/21/13; Congressional Record, H3908, 6/19/13; Environmental Working Group press release, 6/20/13) The amendment was ultimately rejected by a vote of 208-217. (HR 1947, Vote #276, 6/20/13) Voted To Keep Safety Net For Dairy Farmers Murphy Voted Against Ending The “Permanent Law” For Dairy Farmers: In June 2013, Murphy voted against an amendment that would repeal the permanent price support authority for dairy farmers, called the “permanent law.” The amendment would prevent the suspended 1949 law from becoming reactivated for dairy farmers should Congress not pass a Farm Bill. (CQ Floor Votes, 6/19/13; Congress.gov, accessed 7/11/13) The National Farmers Union opposed the amendment. “Repealing permanent law would remove the element in the bill which would force Congress to act on a piece of legislation that provides a safety net for farmers,” said the NFU. “Maintaining the existing permanent law provision provides an incentive for Congress to be engaged in agricultural policy.” (National Farmers Union, 6/20/13, 7/11/13, 7/09/12) Conservative group Heritage Action supported ending the permanent law completely in the farm bill, calling the provisions, “Depression-era, Soviet-style laws so often used as a means of coercing lawmakers into authorizing bad legislation.” (Heritage Action, 5/23/13) The amendment failed 112-309. (HR 1947, Vote #258, 6/19/13) TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 369 Voted For An Amendment That Would Strike Dairy Protection From The Farm Bill In Favor Of A New Insurance Program Murphy Voted To End Dairy Subsidies: In June 2013, Murphy voted with most Republicans and about half of Democrats for an amendment that would strike the dairy market stabilization program and the dairy producer margin protections program from the Farm Bill. With the amendment, farmers would have the option to enroll annually in a new insurance program at margin levels between $4 and $8 at increments of 50 cents. Support payments would be triggered when margins fall below the selected price, and coverage would be available for between 25 percent and 80 percent of a farmer's historic dairy production. (CQ Votes, 6/20/13) The dairy proposal, which was amended in Speaker John Boehner’s favor, was one of the most controversial of the bill. (Grand Forks Herald, 6/20/13) The amendment passed, 291-135. (HR 1947, Vote #278, 6/20/13) Voted For Rural Business Opportunity Grants, Fire Suppression, And Water Assistance Murphy Voted For Rural Business Grants, Funding To Help Fight Forest Fires, And Water Assistance: In 2013, Murphy voted for rural business opportunity grants, forest fire suppression, and water assistance programs. The motion would have added an amendment to the Farm Bill to authorize $20 million per year for rural business opportunity grants from FY 2014 to 2018. The amendment also provided funding for fire suppression equipment and personnel to prevent forest fires, increased funding for water, waste disposal and wastewater facility grants by $10 million per year, and extended funding for an emergency and imminent community water assistance program. The motion failed 188-232. (HR 1947, Vote #285, 6/20/13; CQ Votes) Budget Shutdown & Debt Limit Voted to Suspend And Then Automatically Raise The Debt Limit, And Withhold Congressional Pay Until Congress Passed A Budget Voted To Suspend, Then Automatically Raise The Debt Ceiling And To Support “No Budget, No Pay”: In January 2013, Murphy voted to suspend the debt limit through May 18, 2013, and then automatically increase the debt limit to accommodate the additional debt accumulated through that date. The bill also directed both chambers of Congress to adopt a budget resolution for FY 2014 by April 15, 2013. If either body failed to pass a budget, members of that body would have their paychecks put into an escrow account starting on April 16 until that body adopted a budget or until the last day of the 113th Congress. (CQ Votes, 1/23/13) The bill passed, 285-44. (HR 325, Vote # 30, 1/23/13) Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 Murphy Offered Amendment To Protect Veterans, Military And Seniors From Budget Cuts: In January 2013, Murphy joined 86 Democrats in voting to extend the debt limit until May 18 via the No Budget, No Pay Act. Prior to that, however, he had proposed an amendment that would have shielded veterans and military members from budget cuts as well as seniors, such as in the form of the privatization of Medicare and Social Security. The amendment failed 151277. The underlying bill then passed 285-144. (Press Journal, February 7, 2013; HR th 325, Vote #29 and Vote #30, January 23, 2013; Congressional Record, 113 Congress, page H248) Voted To Fund Government Operations Through 2013 Murphy Voted To Fund Government Through End Of Fiscal 2013: In March 2013, Murphy voted for the continuing resolution to provide funding for government operations through fiscal year 2013. The bill would provide $1.043 trillion in discretionary funds before sequestration. The bill would provide $517.7 billion in base discretionary funding for the Department of Defense, $39.6 billion for the Department of Homeland Security and $71.9 billion for veterans programs and military construction. The continuing resolution would provide $20.5 billion for agriculture programs and $50.2 billion for commerce, law enforcement and science programs. The bill passed with bipartisan support, 318-109. (HR 933, Vote #89, 3/21/13, and Vote #62, 3/6/2013) Republican Congressman: CR Sets “Responsible Spending Levels”: “This continuing resolution is a good step forward in ensuring continuity of government operations at responsible spending levels,” Republican Representative Richard Hanna said. (Richard Hanna press release, accessed 4/02/13) Voted With Republicans For Stopgap Spending Bills During The Shutdown Murphy Broke With Democrats To Vote To Fund Veterans Benefits Independently Of The Government Shutdown: On October 1, 2013, when all but 33 Democrats voted not to fund veterans benefits independently of the government shutdown, Murphy voted with every Republican to fund them. Requiring a 2/3 majority to pass under a suspension of the rules, the bill failed 264-164. (HJ Res 72, Vote #506, October 1, 2013) On October 3 when the bill came up again under normal rules, and all but 35 Democrats voted against it, Murphy again voted with every Republican to fund them. (HJ Res 72, Vote #518, October 3, 2013) Murphy Broke With Democrats To Fund The DC Government Independently Of The Federal Government Shutdown: On October 1, 2013, when all but 34 Democrats voted not to fund the District of Columbia government independently of the federal government shutdown, Murphy voted with every Republican to fund it. Requiring a 2/3 majority to pass under a suspension of the rules, the bill failed 265-163. (HJ Res 71, Vote #507, October 1, 2013) The bill passed the next day by surprise voice vote. (The Hill, October 2, 2013) TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 371 Murphy Broke With Democrats To Vote To Fund National Parks And Museums Independently Of The Government Shutdown: On October 1, 2013, when all but 22 Democrats voted not to fund the National Park Service, the Smithsonian Institution, the National Gallery of Art, and the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum independently of the government shutdown, Murphy voted with all but one Republican to fund them. Requiring a 2/3 majority to pass under a suspension of the rules, the bill failed 252-176. (HJ Res 70, Vote #508, October 1, 2013) On the following day, he again broke with all but 22 other Democrats and voted with all but one Republican to vote for it again. This time, under normal rules that did not require a 2/3 majority, the bill passed 252-173. (HJ Res 70, Vote #513, October 2, 2013) Murphy Broke With Democrats To Vote To Fund The NIH Independently Of The Government Shutdown: On October 2, 2013, when all but 25 Democrats voted not to fund the National Institutes of Health independently of the government shutdown, Murphy voted with all but one Republican to fund them. The bill passed 254-171. (HJ Res 73, Vote #514, October 2, 2013) Murphy Broke With Democrats To Vote To Fund The National Guard And Reserve Independently Of The Government Shutdown: On October 2, 2013, when all but 36 Democrats voted not to pay the National Guard and the Reserve independently of the government shutdown, Murphy voted with all Republicans to fund them. The bill passed 265-160. (HR 3230, Vote #516, October 2, 2013) Murphy Voted To Fund Benefits For Survivors Of Deceased Military Service Members Independently Of The Government Shutdown: On October 9, 2013, Murphy voted with a unanimous House to fund death gratuities and related survivor benefits for survivors of deceased military service members independently of the government shutdown. (H J Res 91, Vote #538, October 9, 2013) Murphy Broke With Democrats To Fund FEMA Independently Of The Government Shutdown: On October 4, 2013, when all but 22 Democrats voted not to fund the Federal Emergency Management Agency independently of the government shutdown, Murphy voted with all Republicans to fund it. The bill passed 247-164. (HJ Res 85, Vote #522, October 4, 2013) Murphy Broke With Democrats To Fund The FAA Independently Of The Government Shutdown: On October 9, 2013, when all but 23 Democrats voted not to fund the Federal Aviation Administration independently of the government shutdown, Murphy voted with all Republicans to fund it. The bill passed 252-172. (HJ Res 90, Vote #537, October 9, 2013) Murphy Broke With Democrats To Fund Homeland Security Independently Of The Government Shutdown: On October 10, 2013, when all but 21 Democrats voted not to fund the Department of Homeland Security independently of the government shutdown, Murphy voted with all Republicans to fund it. The bill passed 249-175. (HJ Res 79, Vote #540, October 10, 2013) Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 Murphy Broke With Democrats To Fund National Nuclear Security Administration Independently Of The Government Shutdown: On October 11, 2013, when all but 21 Democrats voted not to fund the National Nuclear Security Administration independently of the government shutdown, Murphy voted with all Republicans to fund it. The bill passed 248-176. (HJ Res 76, Vote #542, October 11, 2013) Murphy Broke With Democrats To Fund Indian Bureaus Independently Of The Government Shutdown: On October 14, 2013, when all but 21 Democrats voted not to fund the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Bureau of Indian Education, and the Indian Health Service independently of the government shutdown, Murphy voted with all but one Republican to fund it. The bill passed 233-160. (HJ Res 80, Vote #548, October 14, 2013) Murphy Broke With Democrats To Fund WIC Independently Of The Government Shutdown: On October 4, 2013, when all but 22 Democrats voted not to fund the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) independently of the government shutdown, Murphy voted with all Republicans to fund it. The bill passed 244-164. (HJ Res 75, Vote #524, October 4, 2013) Murphy Broke With Democrats To Fund The FDA Independently Of The Government Shutdown: On October 7, 2013, when all but 20 Democrats voted not to fund the Food and Drug Administration independently of the government shutdown, Murphy voted with all but one Republican to fund it. The bill passed 235-162. (HJ Res 77, Vote #528, October 7, 2013) Murphy Broke With Democrats To Fund Head Start Independently Of The Government Shutdown: On October 8, 2013, when all but 22 Democrats voted not to fund the Head Start Program for low-income children independently of the government shutdown, Murphy voted with all but two Republicans to fund it. The bill passed 248168. (HJ Res 84, Vote #530, October 8, 2013) Voted To Make Sure Federal Workers And Military Got Paid For Shutdown Period Murphy Voted To Retroactively Compensate Furloughed Federal Employees For The Government Shutdown Period: On October 5, 2013, Murphy voted with a unanimous house to provide back pay to furloughed federal workers once the shutdown ended. (HR 3223, Vote #525, October 5, 2013) Murphy Voted To Make Sure Federal Workers Still Working During The Shutdown Were Paid On Time: On October 8, 2013, Murphy voted with a unanimous house to ensure paychecks for government employees who were still working during the shutdown were issued on time. (HJ Res 89, Vote #535, October 5, 2013; The Hill, October 8, 2013) Murphy Voted To Continue Military Pay In the Event Of A Shutdown: On September 29, 2013, Murphy voted with a unanimous House to continue paying the military in the event of a government shutdown. (HR 3210, Vote #499, September 29, 2013) TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 373 Voted To Pay Veterans, Seniors, Ahead Of China And Iran If US Hit Debt Ceiling Voted Against A Plan To Pay Bondholders Such As China And Iran Ahead Of Veterans, Troops, Medicare Recipients, Etc. If US Hit Debt Ceiling: In 2013, Murphy voted against a bill that would prioritize paying bondholders – including in China, Iran and the Cayman Islands – if the nation were to default on its debt payments, instead of American troops, veterans, doctors and hospitals, and American small businesses. House Speaker John Boehner even admitted that a “debt prioritization bill makes it clear to our bondholders that we’re going to meet our obligations… Listen. Those who have loaned us money, like in any other proceeding, if you will, court proceeding, the bondholders usually get paid first. Same thing here,” he said. Republican supporters of the bill maintained that nation wouldn’t default on its credit as long the interest payments were made on time. The Obama administration countered that it was an unacceptably risky alternative to simply raising the debt ceiling. “This bill would threaten the full faith and credit of the United States, cost American jobs, hurt businesses of all sizes, and do damage to the economy,” the administration wrote in a statement of policy. (Huffington Post, 5/07/13) The bill passed 221-207. (HR 807, Vote #142, 5/09/13) Voted Not To Form A Working Group To Negotiate An End To The Shutdown Murphy Voted Not To Create A Fiscal Working Group To Broker A Deal To End The Shutdown: On October 8, 2013, Murphy voted against all but five Republicans and with all but two Democrats against a bill that would create a fiscal working group composed of members of the House and Senate to negotiate an end to the government shutdown. Republicans billed it as an attempt to break the impasse while Democrats criticized it as a delaying tactic. The bill passed 224-197. (HR 3273, Vote #534, October 8, 2013; The Hill, October 8, 2013) Voted To End The Shutdown Murphy Voted For The Deal To End The Shutdown: On October 16, 2013, Murphy voted with all Democrats and a minority of Republicans for the bill that funded the government and ended the shutdown. The bill passed 285-144. (HR 2775, Vote #550, October 16, 2013) The shutdown deal bill: • • • • Funded the government through January 15, 2014 Allowed the Treasury to borrow normally through February 7, 2014 and preserved the Treasury’s emergency flexibility to avoid default for a period of time after that date. Directed House and Senate negotiators to try to reach a budget agreement by mid-December. Paid federal employees what they did not get paid during the shutdown Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 • • • • • • • • Required Health and Human Services to report to Congress verifying that no one will get Obamacare subsidies if they don’t qualify for them based on income Appropriated $450 million in emergency transportation aid for Colorado in response to recent flooding Allocated funding to deploy two new weather satellite programs Blocked any cost of living adjustment for Congress in FY 2014 Paid the widow of the late Sen. Frank Lautenberg a death benefit payment of $174,000 Authorized an increase in funding for (not actually fund) a lock and dam project on the Ohio River in Illinois and Kentucky from $775,000,000 to $2,918,000,000 Did not cut government health insurance benefits for congressional and administration officials or their staffs Did not give federal agencies more flexibility to mitigate the effects of the sequester’s budget cuts (wsbradio.com, October 16, 2013; Wall Street Journal blog, October 16, 2013) Murphy Voted To Disapprove Of The President’s Suspension Of The Debt Limit Until February 2014: In October 2013, Murphy voted with all but three Democrats and against all but four Republicans for a resolution that disapproves of President Obama's decision to suspend the debt ceiling until early February 2014. The debt ceiling bill passed earlier in October gave the president the authority to suspend the debt limit himself, but left Congress the ability to block such a move via a disapproval resolution. This resolution was the House’s attempt to block that suspension, however the Senate had already rejected an identical resolution for its part the day before, meaning that no disapproving resolution would pass Congress. Republicans said it was merely an opportunity to allow for discussion and debate on debt concerns. The bill passed 222191. (HJ Res 99, Vote #570, October 30, 2013; The Hill, October 30, 2013) Balanced Budget Voted To Require A Balanced Budget Murphy Voted To Require The President To Submit A Balanced Budget: In February 2013, Murphy voted with Republicans for the Require A PLAN Act, which would require that if the President’s fiscal year 2014 budget did not achieve balance in the years for which it provided estimates, he would submit a supplemental unified budget by April 1, 2013, which would identify a fiscal year in which balance would be achieved. The bill passed 253-167. (HR 444, Vote #38, 02/06/13) TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 375 Budget Bills Voted Against Radical Ryan Budget With Wrong Priorities Murphy Voted Against The Ryan Budget: In March 2013, Murphy voted with every Democrat against the Republicans’ main budget, put forward by Republican Rep. Paul Ryan. Supporters of the budget claimed it would: • Cut $885 billion from Medicare and Medicaid spending over the ensuing 10 years • Maintain and extend the sequester for another $1.2 trillion in savings • Repeal Obamacare for $1.8 trillion in savings • Replace the current seven tax brackets with only two: 10% on the first $100,000 and 25% on all in excess of that • Repeal the alternative minimum tax as well as any and all taxes imposed by Obamacare, including the 3.8% tax on a taxpayer’s net investment income • Reduce the maximum corporate rate from 35% to 25%. • Be revenue neutral, raising the same amount of revenue over the following decade as President Obama’s current policy, by eliminating many deductions • Grow spending at a rate of 3.4% as opposed to the 5% rate currently scheduled and thereby decrease spending over the following decade by $4.6 trillion, taking the currently budgeted $46 trillion down to $41 trillion Opponents said it cut taxes for millionaires, raised taxes on the middle class, and eliminated the Medicare guarantee. Forbes called it a “Kamikaze” budget, but also noted that at least the Kamikazes of WWII had the right idea of sinking the US fleet even if their mission was hopeless. The Ryan budget, according to Forbes, did not even attack the right target, targeting spending instead of economic growth. Forbes also likened the process to surgery: “Budget cutting is surgery. Economic growth provides anesthesia. Ryan’s budget proposes surgery without anesthesia. This is never going to be popular with the patient, even if Dr. Ryan assures us that it is ‘for our own good.’” Forbes also noted that the plan only projected real GDP growth of 0.17% greater than the current projection, taking growth from 2.19% to 2.36%, when what was needed for the economy to work was RGDP of at least 3.5% over the long term. According to Forbes, “Ryan’s budget plan should have presented an ‘alternative growth scenario’, and it did not.” The budget passed the House 221-207. (H Con Res 25, Vote #88, 03/20/13; Forbes.com March 12, 2013 and March 20, 2013) CBPP: Families Making Less Than $200,000 Would Face Average Tax Hike of $3,000: According to an analysis of the Ryan Budget conducted by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, “Families with children that have incomes below $200,000 would have to face tax increases averaging more than $3,000 a year, if policymakers were to avoid increasing the deficit while reaching Chairman Ryan’s 25-percent top-tax-rate goal… If policymakers enacted the same Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 extremely ambitious reductions in tax expenditures for filers with incomes above $200,000…, filers with incomes of $1 million or more would lose tax breaks totaling about $90,000 on average — still leaving them with an average net tax cut of about $245,000 …” (Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, 3/17/13) CBPP: Millionaires Would Likely Experience A $245,000 Net Tax Cut: According to an analysis of the Ryan Budget conducted by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, “If policymakers enacted the same extremely ambitious reductions in tax expenditures for filers with incomes above $200,000 that TPC assumed when it analyzed Romney’s tax plan, filers with incomes of $1 million or more would lose tax breaks totaling about $90,000 on average — still leaving them with an average net tax cut of about $245,000. Households with incomes above $200,000 would get a net cut of about $16,000.” (Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, 3/17/13) National Journal: “For Those Younger Than Age 55, Medicare Could Look Unrecognizable” If Ryan Budget Were Implemented: According to the National Journal: “And, for those younger than age 55, Medicare could look unrecognizable: People receive a fixed sum of money from the federal government to buy health insurance in their old age, regardless of the way inflation has caused health care costs to increase.” (National Journal, 3/10/13) CBPP: Ryan Budget Would Cut Medicare Spending by a Total of $356 Billion: According to an analysis of the Ryan budget conducted by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities: “Over the next ten years, the Ryan budget would cut Medicare spending by a total of $356 billion. His budget would save $129 billion compared to current law from limiting medical malpractice awards, increasing income-tested premiums, and repealing the Medicare benefit improvements in health reform, including closure of the prescription drug ‘donut hole.’ Ryan’s baseline includes $138 billion in scheduled cuts from Medicare’s sustainable growth rate formula for physicians and $89 billion in Medicare cuts from sequestration, bringing his total Medicare reductions to the aforementioned $356 billion.” (Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, 3/13/12) EPI: “Ryan Budget Would Increase the Unemployment Rate by Between .6 [and] .8 Percentage Points”: According to an analysis of the Ryan budget conducted by the Economic Policy Institute, “We estimate that the Ryan budget would increase the unemployment rate by between 0.6 percentage points and 0.8 percentage points.” (Economic Policy Institute, 3/12/13) CBPP: Ryan Budget “Would Likely Add to Deficits, Undercutting… Claim to Balance the Budget Within a Decade”: The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities dismissed Ryan’s claim that his budget would balance within a decade, by writing: “Nor is his vow to raise $6 trillion by scaling back tax expenditures plausible, given that the most costly of them, such as the mortgage interest deduction and deduction for charitable giving, tend to be the most politically TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 377 popular. As a result, if policymakers were to cut taxes enough to meet Chairman Ryan’s goal, they would likely add to deficits, undercutting Chairman Ryan’s claim to budget the balance within a decade.” (Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, 3/17/13) Ryan Budget Slashes Pell Grant Eligibility and Freezes Pell Grant Funding to Not Keep Pace With Inflation: According to an analysis of the Ryan budget conducted by Inside Higher Ed: “The budget also calls for reversing changes to the grant’s needs analysis formula put into place in 2007, which expanded the number of students eligible for Pell Grants, in essence making fewer students eligible to receive them. It also revisits proposals put forward last year: using ‘fair value’ accounting for student loans, which makes the program seem much less profitable for the federal government than it does under current accounting rules.” In addition, Campus Progress found: “Under the House Republican Budget, Pell Grants would be capped at the current level of $5,645 for 10 years, and eliminate all mandatory funding. In other words, under Ryan’s plan, Pell Grants would not keep up with the pace of inflation and rising tuition costs, and would be worth less each successive year.” (Inside Higher Ed, 3/13/13; Campus Progress, 3/12/13) Ryan Budget Would Slash The Corporate Tax Rate From 35 Percent to 25 Percent: According to the New York Times, “Under the Ryan plan, the corporate tax rate would also fall, from 35 percent to 25 percent — although all those tax changes are supposed to be crafted to bring in the same amount of revenue as the current tax code, a tall order.” (New York Times, 3/12/13) Ryan’s “Budget Would Add About $1.2 Trillion to the National Debt”: According to the Washington Post: “With $41.5 trillion in spending over the next decade and $40.2 trillion in revenues, Ryan’s budget would add about $1.2 trillion to the national debt. But shrinking deficits would reduce borrowing and cause the debt to shrink as a percentage of the economy. By the time a $7 billion surplus emerges in 2023, Ryan predicts that the Treasury would owe $14.2 trillion to outside creditors (compared with $11.8 trillion today), or about 55 percent of the gross domestic product (compared with about 76 percent today).” (Washington Post, 3/12/13) Voted Against Extreme Republican Study Committee Budget Murphy Answered “Present” On Extreme Republican Study Committee Budget: In March 2013, Murphy answered “present” with a majority of Democrats when the Republican Study Committee substitute budget put forward by Republican Rep. Woodall came to a vote. Supporters said the budget would balance the budget in four years, remove the fiscal cliff tax increases, and cut discretionary spending to FY2008 levels. Opponents, including even the Heritage Foundation, said it was even worse than the Ryan budget, since it eliminated the spending provisions of Obamacare, which it effectively repealed, but left in the associated revenues. Therefore the claim of balancing the budget in four years was said to be fallacious. It also cut taxes for Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 millionaires, raised taxes on the middle class, and eliminated the Medicare guarantee. The amendment failed 104-132. (H Con Res 25, Vote #86, 03/20/13) RSC Budget Would Turn Medicare Into a Voucher Program for Those 59 and Younger: According to The Hill: “The key difference between the two proposals [the RSC and Ryan budgets] is the plan to overhaul Medicare. While Ryan calls for implementing his ‘premium support’ plan for future beneficiaries age 54 and younger, the RSC budget would start the change for people 59 and below.” (The Hill, 3/15/13) RSC Budget Would Raise The Social Security Eligibility Age From 65 To 70 For Those 51 And Older: According to the RSC’s FY 2014 budget blueprint, “This budget would slowly phase in an increase in the Social Security fullretirement age for individuals born in 1962 (currently 51) and after to an eventual full-retirement age of 70.” (RSC Budget, March 2013) RSC Budget Would Eliminate The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau And Reinstates Too Big to Fail: The RSC’s FY2014 calls for the elimination of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and removes the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporations authority to wind-down banks that are too big to fail. (RSC Budget, March 2013) RSC Budget Would Allow Pell Grants to Collect Interest During Enrollment and Deny Grants to Adjust to Inflation: Under current law, Pell Grants do not collect interest during the student’s enrollment; however, the RSC’s FY 2014 budget blueprint calls for the repeal of this provision. In addition, the RSC budget would prevent the Pell Grant from keeping pace with inflation. (RSC Budget, March 2013) RSC Budget Would Slash the Corporate Tax Rate from 35 Percent to 25 Percent and Adopt a Territorial Tax System: According to the RSC’s FY 2014 budget blueprint, “This budget calls for reducing America’s top corporate tax rate from 35 percent to 25 percent. In addition, the “budget directs the House Ways and Means Committee to identify tax deductions and credits that could be eliminated and to report legislation transitioning the U.S. to a territorial tax system.” (RSC Budget, March 2013) RSC Budget Would Cap the Capital Gains Tax at 15 Percent, Remove the Capital Gains Inflation Index: The RSC’s FY 2014 budget blueprint would cap the capital gains tax at 15 percent. In addition, “This budget would eliminate the capital gains tax on inflation.” (RSC Budget, March 2013) RSC Budget Would Establish A System With Two Income Tax Brackets: 25 Percent and 15 Percent and Eliminate Individual Deductions and Credits: The RSC’s FY 2014 budget blueprint would establish: “Just two rates -- 15 percent (first $50,000 taxable income for single filers, $100,000 for joint filers) and 25 percent (taxable income above those amounts); A standard deduction of TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 379 $12,500 for single filers, and $25,000 for joint filers; An additional deduction of $12,500 for each dependent; and No other individual deductions or credits or exclusions.” (RSC Budget, March 2013) • CBPP: Two-Tax Bracket Structure Included in RSC Budget Would Likely Result in Net Tax Increases for Low and Middle Income Families. In 2012, the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities analyzed the impacts of Rep. Dave Camp’s tax reform package, which contained many of the policy proposals that are also included in the FY 2014 RSC budget – such as the repeal of the Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) and two income tax brackets – and concluded that if passed, the proposal would result in a net tax increase for working families. The CBPP wrote: “The proposals thus provide no protection from policy changes that would shift tax burdens down the income scale by giving large net tax cuts to highincome individuals and net tax increases to low- and moderate-income families. That’s because the tax rate cuts that the bills call for would be very regressive and give their biggest tax cuts by far to people at the top, while curbs on tax expenditures could cause significant tax increases for low- and middle-income families. That’s especially true if, as many Republicans favor, policymakers protect the primary tax expenditure that benefits people at the top — the low top rate on capital gains and dividend income — while substantially cutting tax expenditures on which ordinary families rely.” (Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, 7/31/12) Voted Against The Democratic Alternative Budget Murphy Voted Against The Democratic Caucus Budget: In March 2013, Murphy was one of only 28 Democrats to join all Republicans in voting against the Democratic Caucus substitute budget put forward by Democratic Rep. Van Hollen. Backers of the budget said it focused on creating jobs, the absence of which accounted for half of the current year deficit and three quarters of the following year’s deficit. Unlike the Ryan budget, they said, it asked the wealthiest Americans to give up some of their tax breaks instead of placing more burden on the middle class. It replaced the sequester to reclaim another 750,000 jobs, and instituted an infrastructure-focused jobs program. It forecast 1.2 million more people employed by the end of the current year compared to the Republican budget, and 2 million more by the end of the following year. It kept the prescription drug doughnut hole closed, unlike the Republican budget, and did not turn Medicare into a voucher program. It kept the student loan interest rate from doubling. It fully funded the transportation program for ten years to aid in the recovery of construction jobs. It balanced the budget over time and stabilized the debt. The amendment failed 165-253. (H Con Res, Vote #87, 03/20/13) Murphy Voted to Protect Member Perks, Including First Class Airfare, House Gym, House Barber Shop, Salon, and Dining Room: In 2013, Murphy voted against the Democratic alternative budget for fiscal year 2014. The budget established: “It is the policy of this resolution that the House should lead by Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 example and identify any savings that can be achieved through greater productivity and efficiency gains in the operation and maintenance of House services and resources like printing, conferences, utilities, telecommunications, furniture, grounds maintenance, postage, and rent. This should include a review of policies and procedures for acquisition of goods and services to eliminate any unnecessary spending. The Committee on House Administration shall review the policies pertaining to the services provided to Members of Congress and House Committees, and shall identify ways to reduce any subsidies paid for the operation of the House gym, Barber shop, Salon, and the House dining room. Further, it is the policy of this resolution that no taxpayer funds may be used to purchase first class airfare or to lease corporate jets for Members of Congress.” (H Con Res 25, Vote #87, 3/20/13; H Con Res 25, 3/18/13) Murphy Voted Against Budget That Declared Opposition to Privatizing Social Security: In 2013, Murphy voted against the Democratic alternative budget for fiscal year 2014, which included a policy statement declaring that “diverting workers’ payroll contributions toward private accounts undermines retirement security and the social safety net by subjecting the workers’ retirement decisions and income to the whims of the stock market.” (H Con Res 25, Vote #87, 3/20/13; H Con Res 25, 3/18/13) Murphy Voted Against Budget That Replaced Sequester: In 2013, Murphy voted against the Democratic alternative budget for fiscal year 2014, which included a policy statement declaring that Congress should vote on HR 699, the Stop the Sequester Job Loss Now Act. “That measure would eliminate subsidies to the farm industry, scrap tax preferences used by oil-and-gas companies and implement a new minimum tax rate on people making seven figures annually — the proposal commonly known as the ‘Buffett Rule.’” (H Con Res 25, Vote #87; H Amdt 36, 3/18/13; The Hill, 2/11/13) Murphy Voted Against Budget That Would Create 560,000 New Jobs: In 2013, Murphy voted against the Democratic alternative budget for fiscal year 2014, which the Economic Policy Institute estimated would create 560,000 new jobs by 2015. “The Van Hollen budget would boost GDP growth by 0.4 percent and increase employment by roughly 450,000 jobs in 2013, relative to current policy. A smaller economic boost of 0.1 percent of GDP and roughly 110,000 jobs would be expected in 2014.” (H Con Res 25, Vote #87, 3/20/13; Economic Policy Institute, 3/18/13) Murphy Voted Against Budget That Established Buy It In America Requirements: In 2013, Murphy voted against the Democratic alternative budget for fiscal year 2014, which included a policy statement declaring “that Congress should pursue a ‘Make it in America’ agenda with a priority to consider and enact legislation to help create jobs, remove incentives to out-source jobs overseas and instead support incentives that bring jobs back to the U.S., and help middle class families by increasing the minimum wage.” (H Con Res 25, Vote #87; H Amdt 36, 3/18/13) TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 381 Murphy Voted Against Budget That Provided $1 Billion For Veterans Job Corps: In 2013, Murphy voted against the Democratic alternative budget for fiscal year 2014, which included $1 billion for the Veterans Job Corps. “The jobs bill would have hired veterans who served in the military since the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, to work on federal public lands projects and would have established a network of job training centers.” (H Con Res 25, Vote #87; H Amdt 36, 3/18/13; Los Angeles Times, 9/19/12) Murphy Voted Against Budget That Provided $80 Billion for Education, Including $30 Billion for Rebuilding 35,000 Public Schools: In 2013, Murphy voted against the Democratic alternative budget for fiscal year 2014, which assumes $80 billion in education jobs funding for the President’s initiatives to promote jobs now while also creating an infrastructure that will help students learn and create a better future workforce, including $30 billion for rebuilding at least 35,000 public schools, $25 billion to prevent hundreds of thousands of educator layoffs, and $8 billion to help community colleges train 2 million workers in high growth industries with skills that will lead directly to jobs. (H Con Res 25, Vote #87; H Amdt 36, 3/18/13) Voted Against The Senate Democratic Version Of The 2014 Budget Murphy Voted Against Senate Democratic Budget: In 2013, Murphy voted against a version of the 2014 budget, introduced by Republican Mick Mulvaney of South Carolina, which was a virtual copy of the Senate Democratic budget. The Senate budget would provide $2.963 trillion in new budget authority for fiscal year 2014. The budget would provide $100 billion in infrastructure investments, while assuming a $240 billion reduction in defense spending, a $142 billion reduction in non-defense spending, a $275 billion decrease in health care spending and a $76 billion reduction in spending for other mandatory programs. (Senate Budget Committee Democrats, March 2013) The amendment failed 154-261. (H Con Res 25, Vote #83, 3/20/13) Republicans Introduced the Budget as a “Stunt”: In 2013, the introduction of an alternative budget by Republican Congressman Mick Mulvaney that was identical to the budget supported by Senate Democrats received no votes from any Republicans, including the sponsor Mulvaney himself. “Mulvaney voted against the budget he introduced. It was a stunt.” (National Public Radio, 3/21/13) Budget Would’ve Cut the Federal Deficit by $1.85 Trillion, Amounting to $4.25 Trillion in Deficit Reduction Since the Bowles-Simpson Report: According to Reuters: “Democrats on Wednesday will unveil a budget blueprint that attempts to slice federal deficits by $1.85 trillion over 10 years through an equal mix of spending cuts and tax increases on the rich, according to a Democratic source.” The Center for American Progress found that “Since the start of fiscal year 2011, President Barack Obama has signed into law approximately $2.4 trillion of deficit reduction for the years 2013 through 2022.” (Reuters, 3/12/13; Center for American Progress, 1/08/13) Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 Budget Included Nearly $1 Trillion in Tax Hikes: According to Politico, “$975 billion would be raised through an overhaul of the Tax Code by eliminating certain tax deductions, including ones typically claimed by high earners and corporations” in the Senate budget. (Politico, 3/12/13) Voted Against Additional Progressive Budgets Murphy Voted Against Congressional Black Caucus Budget: In March 2013, Murphy voted with Republicans against the Congressional Black Caucus budget. The budget made significant investments in education, job training, transportation and infrastructure, and advanced research and development programs. It protected the social safety net without cutting Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, or SNAP. It raised new revenue by closing corporate tax loopholes and preferences. It would reduce the annual budget deficit to 1.8% of GDP by FY 2023. (H Con Res 25, Vote #84, 03/20/13) Murphy Voted Against The Progressive Caucus Budget: In March 2013, Murphy voted with Republicans and a majority of Democrats against the Progressive Caucus substitute budget put forward by Democratic Rep. Grijalva. Backers of the Back to Work budget said it would grow the economy, create 7 million jobs, and ask the wealthy and multinationals to pay their fair share “so we can make investments in our people and our future.” (H Con Res 25, Vote #85, 03/20/13) Sequester Voted Not To Go On Paid Recess Without Fixing The Sequester Murphy Voted To Fix Sequester: In February 2013, two weeks before the sequester would begin cutting indiscriminately from government, Murphy voted against adjourning for over a week before reaching a solution. The resolution passed with 222 Republicans and no Democrats voting for adjournment, 222-190. (H Con Res 15, Vote #43, 2/15/13) CBO: Sequester Will Slash 2013 Economic Growth In Half. According to the Wall Street Journal’s MarketWatch: “Fiscal tightening including the automatic budget cuts known as the sequester would cut U.S. growth in half in 2013 if allowed to go into effect, the Congressional Budget Office said Tuesday in a new budget and economic outlook. … CBO said Tuesday that growth would be about 1.5 percentage points faster in 2013 if not for fiscal tightening including the sequester.” (MarketWatch, 2/5/13) Voted To Apply Sequester Cuts To House Committees Murphy Voted To Apply Sequester Cuts To House Committees – Tightening Belt In Tight Times: In 2013, Murphy voted for a bill to provide $241 million in the 113th Congress for the 19 standing committees of the House and the Permanent Select TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 383 Committee on Intelligence. The appropriations bill specifically authorized the Committee on House Administration to make House Committee budgets compliant with the Budget Control Act (sequestration), which would impose an average 11 percent cut from amounts authorized for committees in the 112th Congress. • Budget; Ways and Means; and Intelligence Committees would be cut by roughly 9 percent. • Financial Services; Foreign Affairs; Science, Space and Technology; Small Business; Transportation and Infrastructure; and Veterans Affairs would be cut nearly 12 percent. The bill passed the House 272-136. (HR 115, Vote #82, 3/19/13) Various Members: Cuts Would Hinder House Ability to Conduct Oversight: Rep. Buck McKeon (R-CA) said the cuts “would cripple committee functions at an important time.” (Statement of Howard P. “Buck” McKeon before the Committee on House Administration, 3/05/13) Rep. Juan C. Vargas called the cuts the “next step in a slow march” in making the House incapable of conducting its oversight function (DCA). (CQ News, 3/19/13) “The passage of H. Res. 115 jeopardizes Congress’ ability to serve the American people and conduct meaningful oversight,” said Rep. Carol Shea-Porter (D-NH). (Rep. Carol Shea-Porter press release, 3/20/13) Voted To Ease Flight Delays Due To Sequester Cuts Murphy Voted To Ease Sequestration Cuts For FAA: In 2013, Murphy voted for legislation that would give the Secretary of Transportation the flexibility to end flight delays due to cuts to the Federal Aviation Administration. The bill would allow as much $253 million to be moved from other parts of the Transportation Department to the FAA to “stop further furloughs and keep the air traffic control system operating at a normal pace” through the fiscal year. (New York Times, 4/26/13) Over the course of a week, the furloughs delayed more than 3,000 flights according to FAA tallies. (CNN, 4/26/13) The bill passed 361-41. (HR 1765, Vote #125, 4/26/13) Voted To Consider Replacing The Sequester With A Balanced Approach Murphy Voted To Consider Replacing Sequester With Sensible Cuts: In 2013, Murphy voted to consider the Stop the Sequester Job Loss Now Act, which would replace the entire sequester for the remainder of fiscal year 2013. “That measure would eliminate subsidies to the farm industry, scrap tax preferences used by oil-and-gas companies and implement a new minimum tax rate on people making seven figures annually — the proposal commonly known as the ‘Buffett Rule.’” Murphy’s vote against the motion to order the previous question was a vote to allow for consideration of the sequester replacement bill. (The Hill, 2/11/13) The previous question was approved 232193, so the bill could not be considered. (H Res 99, Vote #472, 9/09/13) Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 Repeatedly Voted Not To Keep The Sequester Murphy Voted Against Keeping The Sequester Cuts: In 2013, Murphy repeatedly voted against keeping sequester cuts: • • • Murphy voted against Republican budget, which contained cuts from sequestration. (H Con Res 25, Vote #88, 3/21/13) Murphy voted against Republican Study Committee budget, which contained cuts from sequestration. (H Con Res 25, Vote #86, 3/21/13) Murphy voted to apply the sequester cuts to House committee appropriations so Congress would have to share in the sacrifice. (HR 115, Vote #82, 3/19/13) Repeatedly Voted Against Replacing The Sequester Murphy Repeatedly Voted Against Replacing The Sequester: In 2013, Murphy repeatedly voted against replacing the sequester cuts with a balanced approach: • • • • • Murphy Voted Against the House Democratic Budget That Replaced the Sequester with a Balanced Approach. (H Con Res 25, Vote #87, 3/21/13) Murphy Voted Against the Congressional Progressive Caucus That Ended Sequester Cuts: (H Con Res 25, Vote #85, 3/20/13; Economic Policy Institute, 3/13/13) Murphy Voted Against the Senate Budget That Replaced the Sequester with a Balanced Approach. (H Con Res 25, Vote #83, 3/20/13; Politico, 3/12/13) Murphy Voted Against Considering Replacing Sequester Cuts with Balanced Approach. (H Res 83, Vote #51, 2/27/13; The Hill, 2/11/13) Campaigns And Elections Voted To Require At Least Fifteen Days Of Early Voting Murphy Voted To Require States To Allow At Least Fifteen Days Of Early Voting: In 2013, Murphy voted for an amendment to the rules package for the 113th Congress that would have required every state to allow at least fifteen days of early voting ensuring that no voter is forced to wait more than an hour to vote. The vote failed 194229. (H. Res. 5, Vote #5, 1/03/13) TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 385 Consumers Voted For Consideration Of The Federal Price Gouging Prevention Act Murphy Voted For Consideration Of Price Gouging Prevention Act: In 2013, Murphy voted for considering the Federal Price Gouging Prevention Act, which would protect consumers from price-gouging of gasoline and other fuels. The previous question was approved 223-194. A vote against the motion would have allowed for consideration of price gouging bill. (H Res 228, Vote #167, 5/22/13; Congressional Record, H2860, 5/22/13) Corporate Welfare Voted To Consider The Big Oil Welfare Repeal Act Murphy Voted To Consider Repeal Of Corporate Welfare For Large Oil Companies: In 2013, Murphy voted to consider the Big Oil Welfare Repeal Act, which would prohibit major integrated oil companies from receiving a tax deduction for domestic oil and natural gas production activities. The previous question was approved 236-190, so the bill was not considered. Murphy’s “no” vote against the motion to order the previous question therefore was effectively a “yes” vote to consider HR 1426, the Big Oil Welfare Repeal Act. (H Res 140, Vote #93, 4/10/13) See also the Agriculture section for farm subsidies/insurance for wealth farmers Disaster Relief Hurricane Sandy Voted To Provide $51 Billion in Emergency Aid to Victims of Hurricane Sandy Murphy Voted For Rule To Consider Hurricane Sandy Funding Bill: In January 2013, Murphy voted for a bill that set the rule to consider another bill, HR 152, which made supplemental appropriations for the remainder of the fiscal year. The bill passed 367-52. (H Res 23, Vote #12, 01/15/13) Murphy Voted For $33.7 Billion In Hurricane Sandy Funding: In January 2013, Murphy voted for an amendment by Rep. Frelinghuysen to provide an additional $33.677 billion in funding for Hurricane Sandy recovery. The bill passed 228-192. (HR 152, Vote #22, 01/15/13) Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 Murphy Voted For $51 Billion In Hurricane Sandy Aid And Recovery: In January 2013, Murphy voted for providing $51 billion in emergency aid to victims of Hurricane Sandy. The governors of New York and New Jersey previously requested $82 billion in aid to cover damage in their states. The aid would be directed to those victims whose homes were damaged or destroyed, as well as to business owners who suffered heavy losses. The package would also pay for repairing transit systems, fixing bridges and tunnels, reimbursing local governments for emergency spending, and replenishing shorelines. (New York Times, 1/28/13) The bill passed 241-180 and became law by the end of the month. (HR 152, Vote #23, 1/15/13) Murphy Voted Not To Offset Sandy Relief Funds With Cuts To Military: In January 2013, Murphy voted against an amendment sponsored by Congressman Mick Mulvaney that would require a 1.63 percent cut to all discretionary spending to offset the original $17 billion Hurricane Sandy relief bill. Republican Congressman Bill Young, chairman of the Appropriations Defense subcommittee, said he opposed the amendment because it would cut military pay. Politico reported that amendment would include cuts to the Pentagon’s budget. (The Hill, 1/15/13; Politico, 2/05/13) The amendment failed, 162-258. (HR 152, Vote #14, 1/15/13) Voted For Funds To Cover Insurance Claims Of Victims Of Hurricane Sandy Murphy Voted For $9.7 Billion For Hurricane Sandy Flood Insurance Claims: In January 2013, Murphy voted for providing $9.7 billion in assistance to victims of Hurricane Sandy. The funds would be the first part of a larger aid package sought by affected states. The bill would give the National Flood Insurance Program the authority to borrow $9.7 million to cover insurance claims filed by those whose homes were damaged or destroyed by the storm. FEMA previously notified Congress that it would be unable to cover all of the claims. (New York Times, 1/04/13) All votes against the aid came from House Republicans. The bill passed, 354-67. (HR 41, Vote #7, 1/04/13) Other Disaster Voted For Pandemic And Disaster Preparedness Funding Murphy Voted To Strengthen Preparedness For Pandemics: In 2013, Murphy voted for the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Reauthorization Act. The bill would strengthen national preparedness and response for public health emergencies, eliminate bureaucratic inefficiencies and accelerate the stockpiling of vaccines. The bill passed, 370-28, and was signed into law. (HR 307, Vote #56, 3/04/13) Murphy Offered Amendment To Add $25 Million for Disaster Preparedness and Anti-Terrorism Efforts: In 2013, Murphy offered an amendment to increase by $25 million the funding provided to FEMA for disaster preparedness and anti-terrorism efforts in the Fiscal 2014 Homeland Security Appropriations bill. The amendment was fully paid for by shifting funding from administrative operations. The $25 million would TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 387 fund activities that included state, local, and tribal emergency response training and a pre-disaster mitigation grant program. “Natural disasters impact all Americans, as do acts of terrorism. These are two areas that should never get caught up in partisan bickering. We must stand united to prevent future tragedies caused by both natural disasters and acts of terrorism, which know no party affiliation,” said Murphy of the amendment. (Rep. Patrick Murphy Floor Statement, 6/06/13) The motion was rejected 196-226. (H Res 2217, Vote #210, 6/06/13) Education Voted For Consideration Of The Student Loan Relief Act Murphy Voted To Consider Preventing A Doubling Of Student Loan Interests Rates: In 2013, Murphy voted for considering the Student Loan Relief Act, to extend student loan interest rates at 3.4 percent. The bill would have prohibited the automatic doubling of student loan rates on July 1, 2013. The previous question was approved 223-194. A vote against the motion would have allowed for consideration of the student loan bill. (H Res 202, Vote #138, 5/08/13; Congressional Record, H2501, 5/08/13) Voted Against “Students Pay More Act” Murphy Voted Against A Bill That Would Blunt A Student Loan Rate Hike In The Short Term, But Lead To Higher Rates Down The Road: In 2013, Murphy voted with all but four Democrats against HR 1911, a bill that would ultimately lead to higher interest rates on certain government student loans, based on projections from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office. On July 1, interest rates for new subsidized Stafford loans were set to double from 3.4 percent to 6.8 percent. Under the Republican proposal, student loan rates would be reset every year based on 10-year Treasury notes, plus an added percentage. “Using Congressional Budget Office projections, that would translate to a 5 percent interest rate on Stafford loans in 2014, but the rate would climb to 7.7 percent for loans in 2023. Stafford loan rates would be capped at 8.5 percent, while loans for parents and graduate students would have a 10.5 percent ceiling under the GOP proposal,” reported the Associated Press. The bill was similar to a plan President Obama had offered the month before, which would tie interest rates to the yield on the 10-year Treasury bill rather than Congress setting them. Obama’s plan would allow the rate to fluctuate in that way from year to year but would freeze the rate for a given student once he or she took the loan out. The bill Murphy voted against would allow that rate to continue to fluctuate after the loan was taken out. (Washington Post, May 23, 2013; Associated Press, 5/16/13) The bill passed, 221-198. (HR 1911, Vote #183, 5/23/13) AP: House Republican Plan Would Raise Student Loan Interest Rates Up to 8.5 Percent. According to the Associated Press: “Under the GOP proposal, student loans would be reset every year and based on 10-year Treasury notes, plus an added percentage. For instance, students who receive subsidized or Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 unsubsidized Stafford student loans would pay the Treasury rate, plus 2.5 percentage points. Using Congressional Budget Office projections, that would translate to a 5 percent interest rate on Stafford loans in 2014, but the rate would climb to 7.7 percent for loans in 2023. Stafford loan rates would be capped at 8.5 percent, while loans for parents and graduate students would have a 10.5 percent ceiling under the GOP proposal.” (Associated Press, 5/16/13) • Headline: Republicans move forward with student loan plan that could mean higher rates later. (Associated Press, 5/16/13) Under the “Students Pay More” Act, Graduates Would Pay Almost $5,000 More in Student Loan Interest. The Associated Press reported: “In real dollars, the GOP plan would cost students and families heavily, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service. The office used the CBO projections for Treasury notes’ interest rates each year. Students who max out their subsidized Stafford loans over four years would pay $8,331 in interest payments under the Republican bill, and $3,450 if rates were kept at 3.4 percent. If rates were allowed to double in July, that amount would be $7,284 over the typical 10-year window to repay the maximum $19,000.” If the Republican plan were implemented, college graduates would pay $4,881 more in interest, compared to the current rate. (Associated Press, 5/16/13) The Average College Graduate Has $26,600 in Student Loan Debt; Total National Student Loan Debt Exceeds $1.1 Trillion. According to the Washington Post: “A recent report from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau estimates that there 38 million student loan borrowers in the United States and the total debt load has passed $1.1 trillion. The Project on Student Debt has estimated that 66 percent of graduating college seniors in 2011 had some student loan debt, with an average balance of $26,600.” (Washington Post, 5/20/13) CBO: Federal Government Turns $51 Billion Profit on Student Loans. According to the Huffington Post: “The Obama administration is forecast to turn a record $51 billion profit this year from student loan borrowers, a sum greater than the earnings of the nation's most profitable companies and roughly equal to the combined net income of the four largest U.S. banks by assets. Figures made public Tuesday by the Congressional Budget Office show that the nonpartisan agency increased its 2013 fiscal year profit forecast for the Department of Education by 43 percent to $50.6 billion from its February estimate of $35.5 billion.” (Huffington Post, 5/14/13) TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 389 Voted For Student Loan Rate Plan That Was Market Based, But Capped And Predictable For The Life Of The Loan Murphy Voted To Base Student Loan Interest Rates On Market Rates But With Caps: On July 31, 2013, Murphy voted for the Bipartisan Student Loan Certainty Act of 2013, a bill which tied student loan interest rates to 10-year Treasury note rates. It: • Sets the annual interest rate on Direct Stafford loans and Direct Unsubsidized Stafford loans issued to undergraduate students at the rate on high-yield 10-year Treasury notes plus 2.05%, but caps that rate at 8.25%. • Sets the annual interest rate on Direct Unsubsidized Stafford loans issued to graduate or professional students at the rate on high-yield 10-year Treasury notes plus 3.6%, but caps that rate at 9.5%. • Sets the annual interest rate on Direct PLUS loans at the rate on high-yield 10year Treasury notes plus 4.6%, but caps that rate at 10.5%. • Fixes the interest rate on Direct Stafford loans, Direct Unsubsidized Stafford loans, and Direct PLUS loans for the period of the loan. • Sets the annual interest rate on Direct Consolidation loans for which an application is received on or after July 1, 2013, at the weighted average of the interest rates on the loans consolidated, rounded to the nearest higher oneeighth of 1%. Murphy’s yes vote was to adopt market-based but capped rates for student loans. Unlike a prior version of the bill that he had voted against, this bill reflected President Obama’s proposal, which let the rates fluctuate with the market, but locked in the rate for the life of the loan once the loan was taken out. The bill passed 392-31 and was signed into law on August 9, 2013. (The Stuart News/Port St. Lucie News, August 4, 2013; HR 1911, Vote #426, July 31, 2013; thomas.gov, HR 1911 summary) Voted To Retain Federal Government’s Ability To Set Education Policy Murphy Voted Not To Dismantle The Federal Government’s Ability To Set Education Standards And To Protect Students, Including Disadvantaged Populations: In July 2013, Murphy voted with all Democrats against a bill “that would dramatically limit the federal government's power to set education standards across the country”. It reversed many provisions of the 2002 No Child Left Behind program. The bill was in part a response to the Obama administration’s granting of waivers to dozens of states from NCLB’s performance requirements, which Republicans charged gave the president leverage over states to pursue their own policies. The White House called the bill a step backwards: “Among other things, the bill would not support State efforts to hold students to standards that will prepare them for college and careers; would not support our international economic competitiveness; would virtually eliminate accountability for the growth and achievement of historically underserved populations," read a statement from the White House. Many Democrats agreed that the accountability standards needed to be altered, but felt the bill went too far by dismantling basic federal protections for students, including disadvantaged populations. The bill passed the House 221-207. (HR 5, Vote #374, 07/19/13; The Hill, July 19, 2013) Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 Environment Offshore Drilling Voted To Ensure Ban On Oil & Gas Drilling In Great Lakes Murphy Voted To Ensure Ban On Drilling In Great Lakes: In 2013, Murphy voted for an amendment that would ensure the prohibition of new offshore oil and gas drilling permits under any of the Great Lakes. While the underlying offshore drilling bill did not mention the Great Lakes, backers of the amendment felt the language was broad enough that it might later be interpreted as allowing drilling on the lakes. The motion failed 195-225. Murphy then voted against the underlying bill, which passed 235-186. (HR 2231, Vote #303 and #304, 6/28/13; Wisconsin State Journal, 6/29/13) University of Michigan: Great Lakes Provide 1.5 Million Jobs: “The Great Lakes provide 1.5 million jobs in the U.S., and $62 billion in wages every year, according to a study by Michigan Sea Grant at the University of Michigan. The study said Michigan has the most jobs related to the Great Lakes, with 525,886.” (Grand Rapids Press, 2/24/11) Voted Against Offshore Drilling Murphy Voted Against Opening 50% Of The Coast To Offshore Drilling: In 2013, Murphy voted against a bill that would direct the Interior secretary to develop a five-year offshore leasing plan that would make at least 50 percent of the unleased coastal areas with the most potential for energy production available for oil and gas exploration and development. Under the bill, drilling would be allowed off the coasts of California, South Carolina and Virginia. It also would require the Interior secretary to prepare a multi-sale environmental impact statement in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act for all lease sales authorized by the bill. As amended it would require that claims arising from projects covered by the bill be filed within 60 days and resolved within six months. (CQ Votes, 6/28/13) The bill passed, 235-186. (HR 2231, Vote #304, 6/26/13) Offshore Energy And Jobs Act Would Put Local Coastal Communities At Risk: The Offshore Energy and Jobs Act would expand drilling in US waters and would “put the local coastal communities at risk from ecological and economic harm. The US coasts provide billions of dollars in economic revenue through recreation, tourism, and healthy seafood,” according to Surfer Today. (Surfer Today, 6/26/13) Voted For States Rights To Restrict Off-Shore Development And Use: In 2013, Murphy voted for an amendment preventing the underlying oil leasing measure from affecting states’ authority to restrict leasing and natural-resource development beneath states’ navigable waters. The vote failed 209-210. (HR 2231, Vote #301, 6/28/13) TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 391 Voted For Safety And Accountability Standards For Oil Drilling Murphy Voted For Safety Standards To Prevent Another Deepwater Horizon Spill And Make The Polluter Pay For The Cleanup If Not: In June 2013 Murphy voted with Democrats for an amendment that would prevent another BP oil spill by imposing safety standards for drilling based on lessons learned from the 2010 BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. If such a disaster were to happen again, the amendment would also make sure that the polluter paid for the cleanup. The measure failed 194232. (HR 1613, Vote #292, 06/27/13) Keystone XL Pipeline Voted To Bypass The President To Approve Keystone XL Pipeline Murphy Voted To Bypass The President And Approve Keystone XL Pipeline Permit: In 2013, Murphy was one of only 19 Democrats who voted with all Republicans for a bill that would bypass the president and approve the permit for the Keystone pipeline. The bill passed 241-175. (HR 3, Vote #179, 5/22/13) Voted To Keep Keystone Oil In The USA Murphy Voted To Require Keystone Pipeline Oil To Be Used In The USA And Not Exported: In 2013, Murphy voted for an amendment that would prohibit approval and construction of the Keystone XL pipeline until the president determined that the oil and refined fuels transported through it is used in the United States and not exported. An exception would exist if the president found that an exception was in the national interest or required by law. The amendment failed 162-255. (HR 3, Vote #177, 5/22/13) Voted To Require Keystone Pipeline Developer to Pay for Spills Murphy Voted To Make Keystone Pipeline Developer Pay For Any Oil Spills: In 2013, Murphy voted for a measure to require TransCanada, the developer of the Keystone XL pipeline, to pay for oil spills. The motion would certify that the oil through the pipeline would be treated similarly to conventional crude for the purposes of determining contributions that fund the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund. The motion failed 194-223. (HR 3, Vote #178, 5/22/13) Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 Coal Ash, Mining, Timber Voted Not To Block EPA’s Ability To Regulate Coal Ash As A Pollutant Murphy Voted Not To Blunt The EPA’s Ability To Regulate Coal Ash As A Hazardous Waste, Not To Let Coal Ash Continue To Pollute Water Supplies And Threaten Human Health: In July 2013, Murphy voted with a great majority of Democrats and against Republicans against a bill that would give states the ability to regulate coal ash. Republicans pushed the bill in response to the Environmental Protection Agency's threat to regulate coal ash, a by-product of burning coal, as hazardous waste by 2014. Republicans said the EPA’s plans had caused uncertainty in industries that used coal ash, such as in the manufacture of shingles, wallboard, and concrete among other things. "This debate is about whether or not we're going to allow coal ash disposal sites to contaminate our water supplies and threaten human health," said Rep. Henry Waxman (D). "If this bill is enacted, coal ash disposal sites will continue to pollute our groundwater, and once contamination is confirmed, well this bill would allow them to continue for another 10 years." The bill passed the House 265-155. (HR 2218, Vote #418, 07/25/13; The Hill, July 25, 2013) Voted Not To Require Half Of Federal Forestlands To Start Timber Production Murphy Voted Against Requiring Timber Production On At Least Half Of Federal Forestlands: In September 2013, Murphy voted against all but one Republican and with all but 17 Democrats against the Restoring Healthy Forests for Healthy Communities Act, a bill that would establish at least one Forest Reserve Revenue Area within each unit of the National Forest System designated for sustainable forest management for the production of national forest materials (the sale of trees, portions of trees, or forest products from System lands) and forest reserve revenues (to be derived from the sale of such materials in such an Area). It would require timber production on at least half of federal forestlands. The bill said that the purpose of an Area was to provide economic activity for the surrounding county and payments to states for public schools and public roads of beneficiary counties. Supporters said the move would help reduced fuel on forest floors that can exacerbate wildfires and that increased timber harvests would create over 200,000 jobs. The bill passed 244-173. (HR 1526, Vote #483, 09/20/13; The Hill, September 20, 2013) Voted Not To Limit Government’s Ability To Block Mining Destruction Or Limit Legal Rights Of Mining Opponents To Sue Murphy Voted Against A Giveaway To Mining Companies That Would Limit The Ability Of The Government To Block Environmental Destruction And Limit The Legal Rights Of Parties To Sue To Block Mining: In September 2013, Murphy voted against all Republicans and with all but fifteen Democrats against the National Strategic and Critical Minerals Production Act of 2013, a bill that would accelerate the federal approval process for mineral mining and exploration. Republicans claimed it was needed to ensure the country had domestic sources of strategic minerals, because the TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 393 government had in the past delayed mining permits for several years, which forced the country to rely on imported strategic minerals for defense applications and other uses. The bill would limit the government to 30 months to deliberate on permits and would limit parties’ ability to use lawsuits to stop mining. Democrats opposed the bill because they said it would erode environmental protections and because its definition of strategic minerals was so broad that even sand and gravel could be included. "Under the guise of promoting the development of minerals critical to the United States' national security, this legislation would reshape mining decisions on public lands for almost all minerals," said Rep. Rush Holt (D-NJ). The bill passed 246-178. (HR 761, Vote #471, 09/18/13; The Hill, September 18, 2013) Financial Services Voted Not To Impede Finalization Of Key Dodd-Frank Reforms At SEC Murphy Amended A Bill In Committee That Would Prevent The SEC From Being Hindered As It Finalized Dodd-Frank Rules And Future Rules: At a June 19, 2013 hearing of the House Financial Services Committee, Murphy offered and won passage of an amendment to HR 2374, the Retail Investor Protection Act, a bill that would alter provisions of the Dodd-Frank financial reforms. His amendment removed language from the bill that would have required the SEC, before making any new rule, to conduct an assessment of the qualitative and quantitative costs and benefits of the rule; determine whether the benefits justified the costs; identify alternatives that were considered such as modifying an existing rule; ensure that the rule is written in plain English; and that it seeks to improve the results of regulatory requirements. Murphy argued that these were redundant regulations because the SEC already conducts cost-benefit analyses before issuing any rules. SEC Chairperson Mary Jo White had objected to the bill, ostensibly due to the language that Murphy’s amendment removed. She said the bill would hinder the SEC’s ability to finalize rules. Murphy voted to adopt and advance the bill from committee. The bill passed the committee 44-13. Murphy later voted with only 29 other Democrats for the full bill, which passed the House 254-166. (Lexology.com, June 24, 2013; HR 2374; House Financial Services Committee, Markup of HR 2374 and Murphy Amendment No. 3 to HR 2374, and Vote to Adopt HR 2374, June 19, 2013; Congressional Quarterly News, June 19, 2013; HR 2374, Vote #567, October 29, 2013) Murphy Voted Against Requiring The SEC To Analyze Its Own Regulations In Ways That Would Threaten Finalization Of Key Reforms Required By Dodd-Frank: Murphy voted with the majority of Democrats against the SEC Regulatory Accountability Act, a bill that would expand the amount of analysis performed by the Securities and Exchange Commission when developing or amending regulations. It would direct the SEC to assess the significance of the problem a given regulation is designed to address; determine whether the estimated costs of the proposed regulation justify its estimated benefits, and identify alternatives to the proposed regulation that are available. It would also have to review its regulations every five years to determine if any were outmoded, ineffective, or excessively burdensome, and then consider Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 changing or repealing such rules. The bill came just as the SEC was in the process of finalizing many new rules required by the Dodd-Frank financial reform law. The White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) argued that the bill “would impede the ability of the SEC to protect investors, maintain orderly and efficient markets, and facilitate capital formation.” (HR 1062, Vote #160, 05/17/13; CBO, May 13, 2013; The Hill, 05/15/13) Voted Repeatedly To Undermine And Weaken Dodd-Frank Financial Reforms Murphy Voted To Allow Foreign Branches Of US Banks To Be Exempt From Dodd-Frank Financial Reforms Designed To Prevent Another Financial Catastrophe: Murphy Voted In June 2013, Murphy voted for the Swap Jurisdiction Certainty Act, a bill that would amend rules on international swaps transactions on the derivatives market. It would “require the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and the Securities and Exchange Commission to go through the formal rulemaking process, including allowing comment from the public, for any new regulations that could apply to foreign activity. Both commissions' rules would also need to be identical before they can be issued, and foreign institutions in the nine largest derivatives markets by notional amount would not be subject to U.S. rules. Currently, foreign branches of U.S. institutions are not subject to the same rules as those in America.” Opponents said that by exempting overseas branches of American banks from the financial regulations required by Dodd-Frank, it would allow those banks to shift their risky activities to their less regulated overseas subsidiaries, yet losses to overseas branches would still harm the US parent companies and put the American economy at the same kind of risk that caused the global financial meltdown of 2007-2008. Supporters claimed it would ensure a level playing field for institutions that work in the international financial market. The White House said that financial regulators were already working on ensuring the kind of certainty the bill sought and therefore that passing the bill “would be premature and disruptive to the current and ongoing implementation of the reforms.” (HR 1256, Vote #218, 06/12/13; Mother Jones, June 13, 2013; The Hill, June 11, 2013) Murphy Voted To Consider Two Bills To Weaken Dodd-Frank Financial Reforms: In October 2013, Murphy was one of only 6 Democrats to vote with every Republican for a bill that would allow for the consideration of two bills that would tweak financial reforms put in place by the Dodd-Frank bill. HR 992, the Swaps Regulatory Improvement Act, would “expand the ability of banks to use certain financial swaps to hedge risk.” HR 2374, the Retail Investor Protection Act, which Murphy co-sponsored, would “delay pending regulations from the Department of Labor that would require certain financial institutions to meet fiduciary standards for retail investors.” The bill to consider the two other bills passed 230-188. (H Res 391, Vote #564, October 29, 2013; The Hill, October 29, 2013) TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 395 Murphy Voted To Modify Dodd-Frank To Allow Big Banks To Use More Financial Swaps To Hedge Risk And Leave Taxpayers On The Hook To Bail Them Out For Their Losses: In October 2013, Murphy voted with a large minority of Democrats and all but three Republicans for the Swaps Regulatory Improvement Act, a bill that would “expand the ability of banks to use certain financial swaps to hedge risk.” According to The Hill: In reaction to the 2008 financial meltdown, Congress included language in Section 716 of Dodd-Frank that required banks to move commodity, energy and other swaps into a non-bank entity. Banks can still hedge risk directly using interest rate and foreign exchange swaps, but the idea was to remove other risks from banks, many of which were ultimately bailed out by the government. Since then, however, members of both parties have said banks should have more options for hedging risk. They have also decided that the current requirement forces banks to move swaps to entities that are not regulated by the government. "Section 716 requires financial institutions to push out almost all of their derivatives business into separate entities," said House Financial Services Committee Chairman Jeb Hensarling (R-Texas). "This not only increases transaction costs, which are ultimately paid by the consumers, it also makes our financial system less secure by forcing swap trading out of regulated institutions." […]Agriculture Committee ranking member Collin Peterson (D-Minn.) also opposed the bill on the floor. "This bill would effectively gut important financial reforms and put taxpayers potentially on the hook for big banks' risky behavior," Peterson said. "The provision is a modest measure designed to prevent the federal government for bailing out or subsidizing bank activity that is not related to the business of banking." Peterson also noted that under current law, banks can still perform about 90 percent of the swaps hedges they were able to perform before Dodd-Frank. "So banks can keep 90 percent in the bank," he said. "But apparently this isn't good enough for some of these big banks, which is why we're here today with H.R. 992." The bill passed 292-122. (HR 992, Vote #569, October 30, 2013; The Hill, October 29, 2013 and October 30, 2013) Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 Murphy Broke With Democrats To Delay Dodd-Frank Financial Reforms That Would Place Tighter Fiduciary Standards On Investment Brokers Who Control Retirement Funds Worth $10.5 Trillion: In October 2013, Murphy was one of only 30 Democrats to vote with all but one Republican for the Retail Investor Protection Act, which would “delay pending regulations from the Department of Labor that would require certain financial institutions to meet fiduciary standards for retail investors.” He also co-sponsored the bill. “Currently, the Department of Labor is in the final stages of drafting a new definition of fiduciary standards for broker-dealers under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, known as ERISA,” said House Rules Committee Chairman Pete Sessions (R-Texas). “This new requirement would dramatically change a long-standing business model, and potentially diminish the ability of every day Americans to access quality investment advice.” According to David Dayen of The New Republic: The Labor Department proposal, known as the “fiduciary rule,” would change the ethical standards by which employer-based retirement products like 401(k)’s and IRAs are marketed and sold. The rule has not been updated since 1975, before 401(k)’s and IRAs even existed. The Labor Department wants to broaden the definition of a “fiduciary” to cover all financial advisers who offer individual investment advice for a fee. Under the rule, they would be legally required to work in the best interest of their clients. For example, a fiduciary would not be able to push investment products on customers in which they have a financial stake. The agency defines the goal of the proposal as “to ensure that potential conflicts of interest among advisers are not allowed to compromise the quality of investment advice that millions of American workers rely on, so they can retire with the dignity that they have worked hard to achieve.” The short version here is that when the country turned away from guaranteed pensions in the 1980s and started encouraging individual employees to gamble with their retirement nest eggs on the stock market, it also threw them into the arms of a predatory financial services industry. And it’s a big business; IRAs and 401(k) plans hold roughly $10.5 trillion in total assets. Dayen explains that it is common for financial advisers to “self deal” when offering advice. They receive large fees for the products they sell, totaling on average about two-thirds of the profits from the retirement investments, and they are not barred from advising clients to buy mutual funds from the adviser’s company, for which they receive a commission. This conflict of interest has been estimated to cost retirement investors $1 billion per month since the funds they are convinced to invest in by the advisers underperform better alternatives. Since the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) had not been updated since 1975, the Labor Department proposed a rule in 2010 in the wake of the financial crisis to stop these deceptive and harmful practices by broadening the definition of investment adviser to fit the modern retirement marketplace, characterized primarily by 401(k)s, in order to protect a major class of investors. HR 2374 was a tactic to delay the TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 397 Labor Department’s rule until after the Securities and Exchange Commission completed its own rule on the topic, an agency with which Wall Street feels hit has more influence. The bill would also force the Labor Department to prove that retail investors are “systematically disadvantaged” under the current rules. According to Dayen, the purpose of that is to make it impossible to write any rule and thereby to prevent the financial services industry from losing tens of billions of dollars. The bill passed 254-166. (HR 2374, Vote #567, October 29, 2013; The Hill, October 29, 2013; New Republic, October 1, 2013) Foreign Policy & Homeland Security Defense Appropriations Voted for 2014 Defense Authorization Bill Murphy Voted For The $638 Billion Defense Appropriations Bill, Including A Military Pay Raise, New Penalties For Sexual Assault, And An Afghanistan Exit Deadline: In 2013, Murphy voted to authorize $638.4 billion for 2014 defense appropriations, including $85.8 billion for war costs, which exceeded the spending cap set under sequestration. The bill also included $99.6 billion for procurement, $136.1 billion for military personnel, including a 1.8 percent pay increase, provided new penalties for sexual assaults in the armed services, prohibited the transfer of detainees from Guantanamo Bay to the U.S, and directed the president to transfer combat operations from U.S. forces to Afghanistan by the end of 2013. The Congressional Quarterly reported that, in passing the defense authorization measure, Congress “flout[ed] a spending cap set under sequestration.” (CQ Roll Call, 6/14/13) The bill passed 315-108. (HR 1960, Vote #244, 6/14/13) Voted Against $60 Billion Cut To Defense Authorization Bill Murphy Voted Not To Cut $60 Billion From Defense: In 2013, Murphy voted against an amendment to cut $60 billion from the Defense Authorization bill. The amendment would have reduced the total amount authorized by the FY 2014 Defense Authorization Bill by 9.4 percent, or roughly $60 billion. “It's time to put an end to the wars of choice, and the nation-building abroad, and to start rebuilding America,” Rep. Rick Nolan, sponsor of the amendment, said. (The Hill, 6/14/13) The amendment failed 71-353. (HR 1960, Vote #232, 6/14/13) Voted To Cut $5 Billion On Overseas Operations To Use For Deficit Reduction Murphy Voted To Cut An Unnecessary $5 Billion, Which The Military Said It Did Not Need, From Overseas Operations To Reduce The Deficit: In 2013, Murphy voted in favor of an amendment to the fiscal year 2014 defense authorization bill that cut $5.04 billion from the Overseas Contingency Operations account. The amendment Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 specified that the savings would be used for deficit reduction. The bill reduced funding for the OCO account to levels recommended by Defense Secretary Hagel and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dempsey. “I think it’s the view of the bipartisan group recommending this amendment that we not fund the OCO accounts at a level beyond what the military itself has said is necessary for fiscal year 2014,” said amendment author, Congressman Chris Van Hollen. (CQ Votes; Rep. Van Hollen press release, 6/12/13) The vote failed 191-232. (H.R. 1960, Vote #240, 6/14/13) Voted For Appropriations Bill With Pay Raise And Furlough Ban For Military Murphy Voted For A Major Defense Funding Bill That Included A Pay Raise For The Military And Barred Sex Offenders From The Military: In July 2013, Murphy voted with Republicans and against a slight majority of Democrats for a nearly $600 billion appropriations bill for the Department of Defense. Among many provisions, it provides for $512.5 billion in non-war funding and about $82.3 billion for war operations; prohibits furloughing of DoD employees, some of whom were furloughed in 2013 due to the sequester; funds a $580 million pay raise for members of the military; and prohibits people convicted of rape or other sex-related crimes from enlisting in the military. The bill passed 315-109. (HR 2397, Vote #414, 07/24/13; The Hill, July 24, 2013) Voted Not To Allow Military Branches To Sponsor Pro Wrestling And NASCAR Murphy Voted To Block Military Branches From Sponsoring Pro Wrestling And NASCAR: In June 2013, Murphy voted for an amendment to a defense authorization bill that would have saved the military $53 million by prohibiting military sponsorships of NASCAR and professional wrestling events. “The fact that $53 million in taxpayers’ funds is going to sponsor some of the most violent and sexist entertainment on television and NASCAR racing teams that results in zero recruits is a waste of money,” Rep. Betty McCollum, the amendment’s sponsor, said. (Minnesota Public Radio, 6/14/13) The amendment failed 134-290. (HR 1960, Vote #231, 6/14/13) Foreign Policy Voted To Keep All Options On The Table In Syria Murphy Voted Not To Remove Language Considering All Courses Of Action In Syria: In June 2013, Murphy voted against an amendment that would strip language expressing the sense of Congress on the conflict in Syria. The amendment would remove the language from the defense authorization bill that stated that Congress would consider all courses of action to remove Assad from power, begin operational planning to secure Syria’s chemical and biological weapons and prepare for supplying lethal aid to the rebels. (CQ Floor Votes, 6/19/13; Journal News, 6/27/13) The amendment failed 123-301. (HR 1960, Vote #234, 6/14/13) TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 399 Missed Vote To Prohibit Helium Exports To Sanctioned Countries Murphy Did Not Vote On Amendment To Prohibit Exporting Helium To Iran, North Korea, And Syria: In 2013, Murphy failed vote on an amendment to prohibit the export of helium from the Federal Helium Reserve to Iran, North Korea, or Syria, or any person in violation of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. The amendment, offered by Rep. Brad Schneider, failed 186-211. (HR 527, Vote #127, 4/26/13) Homeland Security Voted Against Boosting State And Local Security Funding By $22 Million Murphy Voted Not To Reallocate $22 Million From Homeland Security To Local Security Programs: In 2013, Murphy voted against an amendment that would cut $22 million from administrative accounts in the Department of Homeland Security spending bill and put that money into accounts for state and local security grants. The amendment sought to increase funding for the Urban Area Security Initiative for the purpose of funding cities that lost eligibility for federal security funding that was awarded based on risk formulas developed by the Department of Homeland Security. Las Vegas Review-Journal, 6/05/13) The amendment failed 156-268. (HR 2217, Vote #196, 6/05/13) Murphy Voted For Greater Sharing Of Cybersecurity Threat Information Between Targeted Entities And The Government: In April 2013, Murphy voted for the Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act, a bill that would authorize private-sector entities, utilities, and the federal government to share cyber threat information with each other, such as vulnerabilities in a system or network, threats to the integrity, confidentiality, or availability of information on the network, efforts to deny access to or degrade, disrupt, or destroy the network, or efforts to gain unauthorized access to the system or network. (HR 624, Vote #117, 04/18/13; votesmart.org) Government Abuse Voted To Let The Government Continue And Increase Spying On Americans Murphy Voted To Preserve The Government’s Authority To Collect The Phone Records Of Every American Even Though They Were Not Under Suspicion Or Investigation: In July 2013, Murphy voted against the Amash amendment to the Department of Defense appropriations bill that would have ended the government’s ability to collect telephone metadata on any person that was not the subject of an investigation authorized by the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court. The amendment was offered in response to the Director of National Intelligence’s admission that the government collects, without suspicion, the phone records of every single American in the United States. The amendment would have limited the government’s authority so that it could only collect the records of people who were under investigation pursuant to Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. Rep. Amash (R-MI) asked the members of Congress, “We are here to answer one question for the people we represent: Do we oppose the suspicionless collection of every American's phone records?” The amendment failed 205-217. (HR 2397, Vote #412, 07/24/13) Health - Medicare Voted Against Two Republican Budgets That Would Turn Medicare Into A Voucher Program Murphy Voted Against The Ryan Budget, Which Would Have Turned Medicare Into A Voucher Program, Cut Funding, And Eliminate The Guarantee: In March 2013, Murphy voted against the Republicans’ main budget, put forward by Republican Rep. Paul Ryan. It would cut $885 billion from Medicare and Medicaid spending over the following 10 years, eliminating the Medicare guarantee, and turning it into a voucher program. The bill passed the House 221-207. (H Con Res 25, Vote #88, 03/20/13; Forbes.com March 12, 2013 and March 20, 2013; The Stuart News, Port St. Lucie News, March 24, 2013) Murphy Answered “Present” On Republican Study Committee Budget: In March 2013, Murphy answered “present” with a majority of Democrats when the Republican Study Committee substitute budget put forward by Republican Rep. Woodall came to a vote. Supporters said the budget would balance the budget in four years, remove the fiscal cliff tax increases, and cut discretionary spending to FY2008 levels. Opponents, including even the Heritage Foundation, said it was even worse than the Ryan budget, since it eliminated the spending provisions of Obamacare, which it effectively repealed, but left in the associated revenues. Therefore the claim of balancing the budget in four years was said to be fallacious. It also cut taxes for millionaires, raised taxes on the middle class, and eliminated the Medicare guarantee. The amendment failed 104-132. (H Con Res 25, Vote #86, 03/20/13) Health - Obamacare Voted To Let People Keep Their Individual Insurance Plans For Another Year Murphy Co-Sponsored And Voted With Republicans To Force Obama To Honor His Promise That People Could Keep Their Existing Health Insurance Plans Under Obamacare: In November 2013, Murphy co-sponsored a Republican bill to let people keep their current individual coverage insurance plans under Obamacare for another year. Prior to the law’s passage, President Obama had told the American people that “If you like your health insurance, you can keep it.” However, once the enrollment period opened on the health care insurance exchanges, insurance companies began dropping coverage for millions of their customers, including about 300,000 individuals on Florida Blue plans, because the plans did not meet the minimum requirements for plans under the Affordable Care Act. In regard to President TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 401 Obama’s administrative fix that would allow insurers to keep offering plans that don’t meet the bill’s requirements through the end of 2014, Murphy said it was “the right thing to do,” but said he would continue to support the bill he co-sponsored. “Whether it’s a Republican or Democrat that’s got a solution, I’m on board for it. Whether it’s legislatively or through the administration….the bottom line is, we’ve got to get it right,” he said. On November 15, 2013, Murphy was one of only 39 Democrats to vote with all but four Republicans to pass the bill, which passed 261-157. (TCPalm.com, November 13, 2013; HR 3350, Vote #587, November 15, 2013; NBCnews.com, November 15, 2013; Post on Politics, November 14, 2013) Voted For A Year Delay Of The Employer Mandate And The Individual Mandate Murphy Voted With Republicans For Legislation To Delay Implementation Of Obamacare’s Individual Mandate: In July 2013, Murphy voted with Republicans and against the great majority of Democrats for the Fairness for American Families Act, a companion bill to the Authority for Mandate Delay Act. The Fairness for American Families Act would delay until 2015 implementation of Obamacare’s mandate that individuals maintain minimal essential health care coverage, just as the Authority for Mandate Delay Act sought to delay it (or rather sought to legalize Obama’s delay of it) for large employers. (HR 2668, Vote #363, 07/17/13; The Hill, June 12, 2013; New York Times, July 9, 2013) Murphy Voted With Republicans To Authorize The Delay In Implementation Of Obamacare’s Employer Mandate: In July 2013, Murphy voted with Republicans and against the great majority of Democrats for the Authority for Mandate Delay Act, a bill that would amend the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to delay until 2015 enforcement of requirements that large employers offer their full-time employees the opportunity to enroll in minimum essential coverage. It would delay the effective date of related reporting requirements for such employers and for providers of minimum essential coverage. On July 2, the Obama administration had already announced this delay, but Republicans argued that the move was illegal and that this legislation was necessary to make it formal and legal. They argued that Obama was undermining Congress’ authority by selectively implementing the laws it passed. The bill passed the House 264-161. (HR 2667, Vote #361, 07/17/13; The Hill, June 12, 2013) Voted Not To Delay Individual Mandate Or Give Up Subsidy To End Shutdown Murphy Voted Not To Delay The Individual Mandate Or Give Up Employer Contribution To Congressional Health Care As A Condition Of Ending The Shutdown: On September 30, 2013, Murphy voted with all but nine Democrats and against all but 12 Republicans against a bill that would end the government shutdown but would delay Obamacare’s individual mandate and would revoke the employer contribution for health care coverage for members of Congress and their staff. The bill passed 228-201. (HJ Res 59, Vote #504, September 30, 2013) The following day, he voted against the same provisions in a 228-199 vote. (H Res 368, Vote #505, October 1, 2013; Associated Press via Politico.com, October 1, 2013) Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 Voted Not To Delay Obamacare Murphy Voted Not To Delay Implementation Of Obamacare By A Year: On September 29, 2013, Murphy voted with all but two Democrats and against all but two Republicans to delay implementation of Obamacare by a year. The amendment passed 231-192. (HJ Res 59, Vote #498, September 29, 2013; Associated Press via Politico.com, October 1, 2013) Voted Not To Repeal Obamacare Murphy Voted Not To Repeal Obamacare: In 2013, Murphy voted against repealing the Affordable Care Act. It was the 37th time House Republicans voted to repeal all or parts of the law. According to the New York Times, the vote would be “at least the 43rd day since Republicans took over the House that they have devoted time to voting on the issue…That means that since 2011, Republicans have spent no less than 15 percent of their time on the House floor on repeal in some way.” (New York Times, 5/14/13) In 2012, CBS News reported that the 30 attempts by House Republicans to repeal all or part of the law had cost taxpayers over $50 million. (CBS News, 7/11/12) The measure passed, 229-195. (HR 45, Vote #154, 5/16/13) Murphy Voted Against Republicans’ Short-Term Government Funding Bill That Also Would Have Defunded Obamacare: On September 20, 2013, Murphy voted against all but one Republican and with all but two Democrats against HJ Res 59, a Republican bill that would fund the government through mid-December but would defund Obamacare. The bill passed 230-189. (HJ Res 59, Vote #478, 09/20/13; The Hill, September 24, 2012) Voted Not To Block Enforcement Of Obamacare Murphy Voted Not To Overturn Obamacare By Blocking The IRS From Enforcing The Law; Voted To Preserve Tax Credits To Help Middle Class Families Buy Health Care Insurance And Small Businesses To Provide Coverage For Workers: In August 2013, Murphy voted against all Republicans and with all but four Democrats against HR 2009, another in the string of more than 40 attempts by House Republicans to curb or repeal Obamacare. The Keep the IRS Off Your Health Care Act of 2013 would have prohibited the IRS from enforcing the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act or the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010. Bloomberg Government analysis stated that “The IRS plays a lead role in the law because many of its provisions were additions to the Internal Revenue Code, including the individual and employer mandates and the tax credits intended to help individuals afford coverage through the health exchanges being established under the law.” The White House opposed the bill, stating that the bill “would cost millions of hard working middle class families the security of affordable health coverage and care they TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 403 deserve and will drive up premiums for an estimated 20 million people by more than $4,000 a year on average,” according to a statement. “Rather than attempting once again to repeal the Affordable Care Act, which the House has tried nearly 40 times, it is time for the Congress to stop fighting old political battles and join the President in an agenda focused on providing greater economic opportunity and security for middle class families and all those working to get into the middle class.” The bill passed the House 232-185. (HR 2009, Vote #447, August 2, 2013; bgov.com; The Stuart News/Port St. Lucie News, August 4, 2013) Murphy Voted To Protect Middle Class Families’ And Small Businesses’ Ability To Pay For Health Care: In July 2013, Murphy voted for an amendment to HR 2009 that would have immediately amended the bill to prohibit the bill from altering, impacting, delaying or weakening section 1401 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act which provides tax credits to middle class families to purchase health insurance or section 1421 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act which provides tax credits to small businesses for the purchase of health insurance coverage for employees. His yes vote was to preserve the tax credits. The motion to recommit failed 186-230. (HR 2009, Vote #446, August 2, 2013; bgov.com; The Stuart News/Port St. Lucie News, August 4, 2013) Voted Not To Block Obamacare Subsidies For Lower Income People Murphy Voted Not To Block Obamacare Subsidies For Lower Income People: In September 2013, Murphy voted against all Republicans and with all but five Democrats against the No Subsidies Without Verification Act, a bill that would block all health insurance subsidies under Obamacare until a better system could be implemented to verify who was eligible for those subsidies. The bill was a response to a July regulation issued by the Department of Health and Human Services that gave state-run health insurance exchanges a degree of flexibility in determining qualifications for insurance subsidies. When a person claimed that their income was significantly lower than what it appeared to be based one government data, states were given the flexibility to attempt to verify the claim on some, but not all, of those people by randomly sampling whom to check. The administration argued that the flexibility in the rule only applied to a small subset of people and would not affect eligibility checks, and that any subsidies received by ineligible people would retroactively be taken back the next year when the person’s income was known. The bill passed 235-191. (HR 2775, Vote #458, 09/12/13; The Hill, September 12, 2013) Voted To Repeal Obamacare Tax On Medical Devices Murphy Voted With Republicans To Repeal A Medical Device Tax That Helped Pay For Obamacare: On September 29, 2013, Murphy was one of only 17 Democrats to vote with all Republicans to repeal a tax on many medical devices put in place to help pay for Obamacare. The amendment passed 248-174. (HJ Res 59, Vote #497, September 29, 2013; Associated Press via Politico.com, October 1, 2013) Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 Immigration Voted For Homeland Security Bill That Restarted Deportation Of Young Immigrants And Blocked Abortions Murphy Voted For Homeland Security Funding Bill That Also Restarted Deportation Of Young Illegal Immigrants And Forbade Abortions For Detained Illegal Immigrants: On June 6, 2013, Murphy voted for HR 2217, a bill that would provide $46.1 billion in fiscal 2014 for the Homeland Security Department and related activities. The bill would include $10.6 billion for Customs and Border Protection; $5.4 billion for Immigration and Customs Enforcement; $7.2 billion for the Transportation Security Administration, including fees; $9.9 billion for the Coast Guard; $1.6 billion for the Secret Service and $9.9 billion for the Federal Emergency Management Agency, including $5.6 billion for emergency disaster relief. Due to language adopted in the bill, it would also restart the deportation of young, undocumented immigrants previously halted by President Obama and prohibit federal funding for ICE to provide abortion for detainees, except in cases of rape, incest, or where the life of the mother would be endangered. The bill passed 245-182. (HR 2217, Vote #211, 6/6/13; Associated Press, 6/6/13) Voted Not To Restart Deportations Of Eligible DREAMers Murphy Voted Against Amendment To Restart Deportations Of Young Illegal Immigrants: In June 2013, Murphy voted against an amendment to HR 2217, a Homeland Security funding bill, which would restart deportations of young, undocumented immigrants brought to the United States as children. The King amendment (H.Amdt.136) to the homeland security appropriations bill would prohibit the use of funds to implement President Obama’s order that would protect approximately 800,000 eligible individuals. The amendment was sponsored by the extreme antiimmigration Rep. Steve King of Iowa. It passed 224-201. (HR 2217, H.Amdt.136, Vote #208, 6/6/13) • Headline: House votes to resume deporting young DREAM Act immigrants • Headline: House Republicans vote to defund immigration program (ABC • Headline: GOP backs amendment to deport ‘DREAMers’ (Roll Call, 6/6/13) (Associated Press, 6/6/13) News/Univision, 6/6/13) TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 405 Voted To Increase Funds For Customs And Border Protection Murphy Voted To Reallocate Funds From A Costly, Ineffective, Controversial ICE Program To Customs And Border Protection: In June 2013, Murphy voted for an amendment that would increase by $10 million funds for salaries and expenses at the U.S. Customs and Border Protection. The $10 million would be reallocated from expenses and salaries for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, with $3 million specifically coming from I.C.E.’s 287(g) program. Democrats argued that the 287(g) program, which gives some immigration enforcement authority to state and local officials, was increasingly costly but not effective. Democrats also charged that the program added to racial tensions between local police and residents, with Congressman Jared Polis stating that the program had “trained local law enforcement officials to use racial profiling.” (The Hill, 6/05/13; CQ Floor Votes, 6/05/13) The amendment failed, 186-236. (HR 2217, Vote #197, 6/05/13) Jobs & Economic Development Voted To Consider Build America Bonds Program To Create Jobs & Infrastructure Murphy Voted To Consider Bill To Use Private Capital To Create Jobs And Build Infrastructure: In 2013, Murphy voted to consider a bill to permanently extend the Build America Bonds program. The program, part of the Put America Back to Work Act, would help states and local governments leverage private capital to create jobs today and build the infrastructure that is the backbone of economic growth. The previous question was ordered, 228-192, meaning the bill was not brought up for consideration. Murphy’s “no” vote to order the previous question was therefore effectively a “yes” vote to consider the bill. (H Res 175, Vote #121, 4/23/13) Voted For Buy America Provisions for Hydropower To Create Jobs Murphy Voted For Hydropower Equipment To Be Made In The USA: In 2013, Murphy voted for an amendment to the Bureau of Reclamation Small Conduit Hydropower Development and Rural Jobs Act that would require, when practicable, all materials used for conduit hydropower generation be manufactured in the United States. The motion was rejected 194-226. (HR 678, Vote #95, 4/10/13) Voted Not To Let Department Of Energy Block EPA Rules Murphy Voted Not To Give The Department Of Energy The Power To Block EPA Rules: On August 1, 2013, Murphy voted against HR 1582, a bill that would give the Department of Energy the power to block or delay proposed Environmental Protection Administration rules that have a major impact on factors such as jobs, energy prices and the national power grid. The bill passed 232-181. (HR 1582, Vote #432, August 1, 2013; The Stuart News/Port St. Lucie News, August 4, 2013) Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 Labor, Workers Voted To Raise The Minimum Wage Murphy Voted To Increase Minimum Wage To $10.10: In March 2013, Murphy voted for a measure to increase the minimum wage from $7.25 to $10.10 per hour over three years. Upon enactment, the measure would have increased the federal minimum wage from $7.25 to $8.20 within three months. A year from this date, the federal minimum wage would increase from $8.20 to $9.15. A year from this date, the federal minimum wage would increase to $10.10. The measure failed, 184-233. (HR 803, Vote #74, 3/15/13) Voted Not To Freeze The National Labor Relations Board Or Overturn Decisions Murphy Voted Not To Freeze The NLRB Or Overturn Its Decisions: In 2013, Murphy voted against HR 1120, a bill that would prevent the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) from taking most official actions until the Senate confirmed new members, the Supreme Court upheld President Obama’s recess appointments, or the first session of the 113th Congress ended. It would also invalidate every action taken since January 2012 that required a quorum. The bill was approved 219-209 and received bipartisan opposition. (HR 1120, Vote #101, 4/12/13) Voted Not To Freeze Funding For Workforce Program Or Cut Labor Out Of It Murphy Voted Not To Freeze Funding For Workforce Investment Program: In 2013, Murphy voted not to freeze Workforce Investment Act funding for FY2014-2020 while consolidating or eliminating 35 programs into state block grants. The bill would also limit the role of organized labor in Workforce Investment Boards. The bill passed 215-202. (HR 803, Vote #75, 3/15/13) Voted Against Bill To Offer Paid Time Off In Lieu Of Overtime Pay Murphy Voted Against “Pay Working Families Less Act” That Threatened Overtime Pay And The 40-Hour Work Week: In 2013, Murphy voted against the Working Families Flexibility Act, derided variously as the Pay Working Families Less Act and the Family Unfriendly Act, a bill that would undermine the 40-hour work week, cut workers’ pay, and provide no guarantee of paid vacation days for employees when they need them. The bill would give private sector workers the option of paid time off in lieu of cash wages for overtime hours worked. However, opponents noted that low-paid workers who accrued overtime would “effectively give his or her employer an interestfree loan” and would only be able to take time off with the consent of the employer. (Huffington Post, Appelbaum post, 4/16/13) The White House released a statement of policy saying the president’s advisers would recommend a veto of the bill. The White House noted that the bill “would not prevent employers from cutting the overtime hours and reducing the take-home pay of employees who currently have the right to overtime TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 407 compensation. The legislation does not provide sufficient protections for employees who may not want to receive compensatory time off in lieu of overtime pay.” (Statement of Administration Policy, HR 1406, 5/06/13) The bill passed 223-204. (HR 1406, Vote #137, 5/08/13) Voted To Protect Time Off For Medical Appointments Or Sick Family Members: Before final passage of the bill, Murphy voted for a measure to ensure that employees could not be denied the use of compensatory time for certain events. The measure would ensure compensatory time to attend medical appointments; to care for a sick family member or if the employee is sick; or to attend counseling or rehabilitation appointments for injuries sustained by the employee as a member of the Armed Forces. The measure failed 200-227. (HR 1406, Vote #136, 5/08/13) Voted To Freeze Federal Worker Pay, Change Employment Terms, Allow Recorded Phone Calls Murphy Voted To Limit Federal Worker Bonuses During The Sequester, Authorize Immediate Dismissal For Misconduct, And Allow Citizens To Record Phone Calls With Government Workers: In August 2013, Murphy voted with Republicans and only 14 other Democrats for the Stop Government Abuse Act, a combination of three bills that would limit bonuses for Federal employees during sequestration, allow citizens to record phone calls and meetings with federal workers, and give agencies the discretion to immediately fire workers for misconduct. Democrats countered that this was just more of Republicans’ attack on federal workers. They argued that bonuses were needed to retain talent, that recording phone calls could put confidential information at risk, and that immediate termination for federal workers would violate their right to due process. The bill passed 239-176. (HR 2879, Vote #436, 08/01/13; The Hill, August 1, 2013) Murphy Voted To Freeze Pay For Federal Employees For 2013: In February 2013, Murphy voted to eliminate the 2013 statutory pay adjustment for federal employees. The bill passed 261-154. (HR 273, Vote #44, 02/15/13) Murphy Voted To Bar Anyone From Federal Employment Who Had Liens For Delinquent Taxes: In 2013, Murphy voted for a bill that targeted federal workers for their financial problems. The bill would bar the hiring or continued federal employment of anyone with seriously delinquent tax debt for which a lien had been filed in public records. (CQ Votes) The bill did not pass, failing to receive a two-thirds vote, 250-159. (HR 249, Vote #105, 4/15/13) Regulation Murphy Voted Against The Regulations From The Executive In Need Of Scrutiny (REINS) Act, Which Would Require Congressional Approval For Any Major Federal Regulation: In August 2013, Murphy voted against The Regulations from the Executive In Need of Scrutiny (REINS) Act, which would require congressional approval for any major federal regulation, where “major” was defined as having a total impact of Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 at least $100 million. The bill passed 232 to 183, but had not emerged from Senate committee as of late November 2013. (HR 367, H.Amdt.448, August 1, 2013; HR 367, Vote #437 th and Vote #445, August 2, 2013; Congressional Record, 113 Congress, page H5317) Perks And Pay Voted To Consider A Bill To Deny COLA Adjustments For Members Of Congress Murphy Voted To Consider A Bill To Deny Congress A Cost Of Living Pay Raise: In 2013, Murphy voted to consider a bill that would prohibit members of Congress from receiving an automatic Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) for the 113th Congress. The previous question was approved 227-188, so the bill was not considered. Murphy’s vote against the motion to consider the previous question was therefore effectively a “yes” vote to allow for consideration of the bill to deny the COLA adjustment. (H Res 99, Vote #59, 3/06/13) Voted Against Congressional Pay if Nation Defaulted Murphy Voted Against Borrowing Above The Debt Limit To Pay Congress’ Compensation: In 2013, Murphy voted for an amendment to the Full Faith and Credit Act that would bar the Treasury secretary from borrowing above the debt limit to pay for compensation for members of Congress. The amendment was adopted 340-84. (HR 807, Vote #140, 5/09/13) Voted To Freeze Civilian Federal Employee Pay Murphy Voted To Keep Federal Civilian Pay Frozen, Including His Own: In 2013, Murphy voted for a bill that would extend the statutory pay freeze for federal civilian employees, including Members of Congress, through the end of 2013. The bill would not affect an authorized increase in military pay. The bill passed 261-154. (HR 273, Vote #44, 2/15/13) Voted Not To Revoke Employer Contribution For Health Care For Members Of Congress And Their Staff Murphy Voted Not To Revoke The Employer Contribution To Congressional Health Care Coverage: On September 30, 2013, Murphy voted with all but nine Democrats and against all but 12 Republicans against a bill that would end the government shutdown but would delay Obamacare’s individual mandate and would revoke the employer contribution for health care coverage for members of Congress and their staff. The bill passed 228-201. (HJ Res 59, Vote #504, September 30, 2013) The following day, he voted against the same provisions in a 228-199 vote. (H Res 368, Vote #505, October 1, 2013; Associated Press via Politico.com, October 1, 2013) TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 409 Seniors Voted To Protect Jobs Programs For Seniors And Other Vulnerable Populations DUPE VETS, SIMILAR LABOR Voted To Protect Jobs Programs For Seniors, Veterans, And Disadvantaged Groups And To Raise The Minimum Wage: In 2013, Murphy voted for the full reauthorization of the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) and explicitly prohibiting any cuts to the program. WIA provides employment protections, employment or training opportunities for seniors, disabled veterans, women in nontraditional occupations, youth, or people with disabilities. The motion would also raise the minimum wage, in increments over the course of two years, to $10.10 and increase the minimum wage for tipped employees to 70 percent of the minimum wage. (Congressional Research Service, 3/02/06; Huffington Post, 3/15/13) The measure failed, 184-233. (HR 803, Vote #74, 3/15/13) Social Welfare Programs Food Assistance Voted For Farm Bill That Would Cut $20 Billion From Food Stamps Murphy Voted For 2013 Farm Bill, Which Would Have Cut $20.5 Billion For Food Stamps And Implement Drug Testing And Work Requirements For Food Stamps: In June 2013, Murphy voted with Republicans and against the great majority of Democrats for the final version of the Farm Bill, which would have authorized $939 billion in funding for federal farm and food assistance programs through FY 2018. According to the New York Times, “The House bill would have cut projected spending in farm and nutrition programs by nearly $40 billion over the next 10 years. Just over half, $20.5 billion, would come from cuts to the food stamp program, known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.” The bill, as amended, would allow states to drug test applicants for food stamps and would require recipients to meet work requirements, mandating employment or job training. The bill failed 195-234. (H.R. 1947, Vote #286, 6/20/13; CQ Floor Votes, 6/20/13; New York Times, 6/21/13) Voted Not To Make It Harder To Obtain Food Stamps And Not To Cut $31 Billion From The Program Murphy Voted Against Even Deeper SNAP Cuts: In June 2013 Murphy voted against an amendment to cut $31 billion from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and block grant spending to the states. The bill would have rolled back the state exemption option and made it mandatory for each state to adopt stiffer work requirements to receive food aid. (Kansas Health Institute, 7/08/13) The amendment failed 175-250. (HR 1947, Vote #283, 6/20/13) Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 Voted Not To Kill Farm Bill With “Poison Pill” Of Food Stamp Work Requirement Murphy Voted Against Poison Pill Food Stamp Work Requirement Amendment That Ultimately Killed The Farm Bill: In June 2013, Murphy voted against an amendment to the Farm Bill that would let states launch pilot programs requiring that food stamp recipients work or show they are looking for work. The amendment was largely blamed for the failure of the underlying bill. Time wrote, “The Southerland amendment was approved in a near-party-line vote, 227 to 198. Only one Democrat went for the amendment, and only six Republicans went against. It was a partisan poison pill, the last amendment of the day. And it was enough to kill the measure.” (Time Magazine, 6/21/13) The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities called the provision “harsh” and unprecedented.” CBPP reported that the amendment “could deny benefits to large numbers of low-income people who want to work but cannot find a job, and it would incentivize states to cut such people off by giving them large amounts of new federal funding- to spend on whatever they choose- if they use the Southerland provision to cut their SNAP caseloads.” (Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, 7/09/13) The amendment passed, 227-198. (HR 1947, Vote #248, 6/20/13) Voted Not To Eliminate Food Stamps Murphy Voted Against Version Of The Farm Bill That Eliminated Funding For Food Stamps: In July 2013, Murphy voted with all Democrats against, HR 2642, which was identical to HR 1947, the Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act, or “farm bill” with two exceptions. HR 2642 removed all funding for nutrition programs such as the food stamp program and repealed a section of “permanent law” that has required the farm bill to be passed or extended since 1949. The bill passed the House 216-208. (The Senate then amended the bill by replacing its text with the text of S 954, the Senate farm bill. The House further amended this bill by replacing the text of S 954 with the text of HR 2642 and added to the bill the text of HR 3102, the House nutrition bill that cut $39 billion from the food stamp program.). Murphy had previously voted for HR 1947, which did not eliminate food stamp funding, but would cut it by nearly $40 million over the following decade. (HR 2642, Vote #353, 07/11/13; thisweekincongress.com) Voted To Restore $20.5 Billion In Food Stamp Cuts Murphy Voted To Restore Food Stamp Cuts That, Unless Restored, Would Kick 2 Million People Off Of Food Stamps And 210,000 Children Off Of Free School Meals: In 2013, Murphy voted in favor of an amendment to restore $20.5 billion in Supplemental Nutrition and Assistance Program (SNAP) funding to the House Farm Bill by offsetting the Farm Risk Management Election Program and the Supplemental Coverage Option. According to MSNBC, “The $20.5 billion in cuts within the House bill amount to roughly $2 billion per year. If those cuts went through, nearly two million people could lose food stamp eligibility, and some 210,000 children could lose eligibility for free school meals.” (MSNBC, 6/20/13) The amendment, proposed by Rep. Jim McGovern, failed 188-234. (HR 1947, Vote #256, 6/19/13) TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 411 Voted Not To Cut Food Stamps By $39 Billion Murphy Voted Not To Cut Food Stamps By $39 Billion Over 10 Years: In September 2013, Murphy voted against Republicans and with all Democrats against the Nutrition Reform and Work Opportunity Act, a bill that would cut $39 billion in funding from the food stamp program (SNAP) over 10 years. The Congressional Budget Office estimated that if the bill became law, up to 3.8 million people would lose food stamp benefits in 2014. “Cutting the investment is a full assault on the health and economic security of millions of families,” said Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA). The bill passed 217-210. (HR 3102, Vote #476, 09/19/13; The Hill, September 19, 2013) Voted To Save Healthy Food Access For Low-Income Communities Murphy Voted Not To Kill A Program For Access To Healthy Food For LowIncome Communities: In June 2013, Murphy voted against an amendment to the Farm Bill that would eliminate the Health Food Financing Initiative that provided access to healthy food in low-income communities. The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition said the amendment “attacked” healthy food access. (CQ Quarterly, 6/20/13, National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition, 6/20/13) The amendment failed 194-232. (HR 1947, Vote # 267, 6/20/13) Welfare Murphy Voted To Block Obama’s Attempt To Ease Work Requirements For Welfare: In March 2013, Murphy was one of only 18 Democrats to vote with all but three Republicans to block the Obama administration's attempt to waive the requirement that people must work or prepare for a job in order to receive Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (welfare) benefits. The bill passed 246-181. In 2012, the Department of Health and Human Services had told states that the welfare-work requirement could be waived. Republicans objected that this gutted the 1996 welfare reform law that put in place percentage minimum thresholds of working welfare recipients in each state. They said that the Obama administration had bypassed this unilaterally without consulting Congress as required by law. (HR 890, Vote #68, 03/13/13; The Hill, March 13, 2013) Sugar Murphy Voted Against An Amendment That Would Reform Sugar Industry’s Price Protection Program: In June 2013, Murphy voted against Republican Rep. Joe Pitts’ amendment to the Farm Bill that would reform the government’s sugar price protection program to get the price of sugar down closer to the world price like it was under 2002 farm bill policy. According to Pitts’ data, consumers pay an extra $3.5 billion a year to subsidize the benefits for the sugar industry, and sugar-using industries had lost nearly 127,000 jobs between 1997 and 2011, with another 600,000 manufacturing jobs at risk. Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 Under the 2008 farm bill, sugar prices averaged 68% more than under the 2002 farm bill, and were 64% higher than the world price in 2012. In response, Canada has been advertising to the US manufacturing base that they have cheaper sugar, and Mexico has dumped its sugar into the US market. With a more competitive price, consumers, manufacturers, and even growers would benefit, according to Pitts. Meanwhile Eric Johnson, Murphy’s Chief of Staff, said that while Murphy was aware of the environmental sensitivities of sugar growing in the district, the amendment could hurt American jobs. The amendment failed 206-211. (HR 1947, Pitts Amendment No. 98, Vote #281, th June 20, 2013; Congressional Record, 113 Congress, page H3933; The Stuart News, June 20, 2013) Veterans Voted To Protect Jobs Programs For Veterans And Others Voted To Protect Jobs Programs For Seniors, Veterans, And Disadvantaged Groups And To Raise The Minimum Wage: In 2013, Murphy voted for the full reauthorization of the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) and explicitly prohibiting any cuts to the program. WIA provides employment protections, employment or training opportunities for seniors, disabled veterans, women in nontraditional occupations, youth, or people with disabilities. The motion would also raise the minimum wage, in increments over the course of two years, to $10.10 and increase the minimum wage for tipped employees to 70 percent of the minimum wage. (Congressional Research Service, 3/02/06; Huffington Post, 3/15/13) The measure failed, 184-233. (HR 803, Vote #74, 3/15/13) Voted Repeatedly To Tackle The VA’s Backlog Of Disability Claims Murphy Voted To Consider Bill To Pay Backlogged Veterans’ Claims Provisionally: In 2013, Murphy voted to consider the Veterans Backlog Reduction Act, which would direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to pay provisional benefits for certain non-adjudicated claims. The previous question was approved 224-195, so the bill was not considered. Murphy’s “no” vote against the motion to order the previous question therefore was effectively a “yes” vote to consider the veterans bill. (H Res 232, Vote #180, 5/23/13; Congressional Record, H2925, 5/23/13) Murphy Voted For Amendment To Pay For Claims Processors To Reduce Veterans Disability Claims Backlog: In 2013, Murphy voted for an amendment that would help reduce the backlog of disability claims for veterans. The amendment would add $9.2 million in funding (double the funds in the underlying appropriations bill) to hire an additional 94 claims processors to help reduce the veterans disability claims backlog. The amendment failed 198-227. (HR 2216, Vote #192, 6/04/13) Murphy Voted To Establish A Commission To Evaluate Veterans Disability Claims Backlog: In 2013, Murphy voted for a bill that would establish a commission or task force to evaluate the backlog of disability claims of the Department of Veterans Affairs. The bill passed 404 to 1. (HR 2189, Vote #561, October 28, 2013) TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 413 Voted For Veterans Affairs Funding Murphy Voted To Fund Military Construction And Veterans Affairs: In 2013, Murphy voted for an appropriations bill to fund military construction and veterans benefits. The bill passed 421-4. (HR 2216, Vote #193, 6/04/13) Waterway Issues Voted For Package Of Projects To Restore And Clean Up Everglades And Surrounding Waterways Murphy Voted For The Water Resources Reform and Development Act To Restore The Everglades: In October 2013, Murphy voted for the bipartisan Water Resources Reform and Development Act, which authorizes a suite of four restoration projects in the central Everglades as part of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan. The projects will improve the health of polluted waterways along the Treasure Coast, improve the quality of drinking water for millions of people, and allow more water to be directed south from Lake Okeechobee into the Central Everglades, Everglades National Park, and Florida Bay. (HR 3080, Vote #560, October 23, 2013; evergladesplan.org; WPTV NewsChannel 5, November 1, 2013 via tveyes.com) Voted For Funding For Dredging Of Local Inlets And Miami Harbor Murphy Voted In Favor of the Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act To Fund Energy And Water Development Including Additional Funding For Navigation Project For Miami Harbor: In July 2013 Murphy voted for appropriations for energy and water development and related agencies. It would fund Army Corps of Engineers projects such as dredging local inlets to relieve harmful lake discharges. Among many other things, the bill amends the Water Resources Development Act of 2007 to increase funding for the navigation project for Miami Harbor. "It (the budget) is tight in D.C.," said Murphy of the need for this funding. "People don't want to spend dollars." But he also said, “We have to do everything we can. It's been a problem for many years.” (The Stuart News, July 21, 2013; patrickmurphy.house.gov; HR 2609, Vote #345, July 10, 2013) Women & Children Voted To Reauthorize The Violence Against Women Act Murphy Voted To Reauthorize The Violence Against Women Act: In February 2013, Murphy voted to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act. The bill would reauthorize the Act for five years, having previously expired in 2011. The bill would authorize funds for law enforcement training programs, prosecution and victim services. Patrick Murphy Research Book · November 2013 It would also give American Indian tribal courts additional authority over non-tribal domestic violence offenders, and make it illegal for victim services organizations that receive grant funding through the law to discriminate on the basis of gender identity or sexual orientation. (CQ, 2/28/13) The bill passed with bipartisan support, 286-138. (S. 47, Vote #55, 2/28/13) Voted Not To Deny Protections For LGBT Victims Or Native American Women On Reservations: Before final passage of the Senate version of the Violence Against Women Act, Murphy voted against the House version of the bill, which, according to the New York Times, “excluded specific protections for gay, bisexual, or transgender victims of domestic abuse – eliminating ‘sexual orientation’ and ‘gender identity’ from a list of ‘underserved populations’ that face barriers to receiving victim services – and stripped certain provisions regarding Native American women on reservations.” (New York Times, 2/28/13) The substitute amendment failed, 166-257. (S. 47, Vote #54, 2/28/13) Voted To Consider The Paycheck Fairness Act Against Sex-Based Discrimination Murphy Voted To Consider Bill To Provide More Protection And Remedies For Those Who Experience Sex-Based Pay Discrimination: In 2013, Murphy cosponsored and voted to consider the Paycheck Fairness Act, which would amend the Equal Pay Act to enhance remedies for people who experience pay discrimination on the basis of sex and ensure employers who try to justify paying a man more for the same job must show the disparity is not sex-based. The Paycheck Fairness Act would prohibit employers from retaliating against employees who discuss or disclose salary information with their co-workers, and would make it easier for women to file class-action lawsuits against employers they accuse of sex-based pay discrimination. The bill would also strengthen the available remedies to include punitive and compensatory damages, bringing equal pay law into line with all other civil rights laws. Lastly, it would direct the Secretary of Labor to conduct studies and provide information to employers, labor organizations, and the general public regarding the means available to eliminate pay disparities between men and women. Recent Census Bureau data shows that full-time working women make 77 cents for every dollar men make per year. The Paycheck Fairness Act, which DeLauro has introduced in eight consecutive Congresses, would expand the Equal Pay Act to close certain loopholes and allow employees to share salary information with their coworkers. It would also require employers to show that pay disparities between their male and female employees are related to job performance, not gender. (Huffington Post, 4/11/13) The previous question was approved 226-192 and the bill was not considered. Murphy’s vote against the motion to order the previous question was therefore effectively a “yes” vote to consider the Paycheck Fairness Act. (H Res 146, Vote #97, 4/11/13; patrickmurphyforcongress.com) TRUE STORIES RESEARCH 1997 SADLER RD #16912 FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 904.572.4840 415 Voted Against A 20-Week Abortion Ban Murphy Voted Against 20-Week Abortion Ban That Challenged Roe V. Wade: In 2013, Murphy voted against a national abortion ban after 20 weeks of pregnancy, which would challenge the 1973 Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision on a woman’s right to abortion. While being considered in the House Judiciary Committee, sponsor Trent Franks caused a firestorm by saying that cases of “rape resulting in pregnancy are very low.” The remark referred to a Democratic amendment, defeated by Republicans, that would have made exceptions to the ban in cases involving rape and incest. House Republicans later modified the bill to include exceptions for rape and incest. (Associated Press, 6/14/13) The bill passed, 228-196. (HR 1797, Vote #251, 6/18/13)