Florida Congressman Patrick Murphy (D) soundly defeated his Republican congressional opponent in the 2014 mid term elections by running as more of a bipartisan, middle of the road incumbent.
Murphy has been able to garner bipartisan support during his time in the House of Representatives, pushing back against his party when he felt he needed to, as well as siding with Republicans on several key issues.But Murphy’s milk toast approach to campaigning and voting while in the U.S. Congress has led many to believe that he only votes as a centrist because he is looking to jump to higher office.
Now Murphy is running for the U.S. Senate in 2016, and this centrist voting record will be scrutinized and questioned.
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Is Murphy a true centrist legislator? According to his congressional voting record, the case can be made that he legislates from the middle, but if you look at some of his past tweets, you would think that Murphy is towing the liberal Democrat and Obama agenda.
Here are a few tweets.
Great meeting w/ @LaborSec today to talk about raising the minimum wage. Glad he’s supportive of this effort. pic.twitter.com/QHtcn18iyw
— Rep. Patrick Murphy (@RepMurphyFL) April 29, 2015
It’s time to end this discrimination against same-sex couples. RT to support marriage equality. #SCOTUS pic.twitter.com/qq6t40WhBQ — Rep. Patrick Murphy (@RepMurphyFL) April 28, 2015
Today marks the 6th anniv. of the #LillyLedbetter Fair Pay Act, working to ensure #equalpayforequalwork pic.twitter.com/1ZBJubAJnO
— Rep. Patrick Murphy (@RepMurphyFL) January 29, 2015
Happy for all the #FL couples who can now have their relationships recognized equally under the law — Rep. Patrick Murphy (@RepMurphyFL) January 6, 2015
Note that Murphy is a big proponent of increasing the minimum wage across the country, a measure that many economist believe will press small business to drive up their costs of goods and services, which would then lead consumer backlash and the scaling back on purchases.
Here is Murphy praising these very same small businesses that could suffer under an increase to the minimum wage.
Small businesses create 2 out of every 3 net new jobs. Show your support by shopping & dining small today #SmallBizSat #DineSmall
— SBA (@SBAgov) November 29, 2014
#SmallBiz are the backbone of our economy – remember to #ShopSmall tomorrow! #EntrepreneurshipMonth #SmallBizSat pic.twitter.com/0MKSWt33YU — Rep. Patrick Murphy (@RepMurphyFL) November 28, 2014
Murphy’s 2016 Senate run will most likely be challenged by liberal Democrat Congressman Alan Grayson.
Rep. Ron DeSantis (R) and Lt. Governor Carlos Lopez-Cantera (R) are also both expected to announce their intentions run for the U.S. Senate seat in 2016Oh, I almost forgot Murphy’s support for Obamacare.
Rep. @PatrickMurphyFL on Obamacare: “It’s not going to be repealed. It’s there, so let’s focus on getting it right.” http://t.co/696qQiBLAC
— George Bennett (@gbennettpost) February 24, 2014