.gif)
Patrick Murphy (politician)
Encyclopedia
Patrick Joseph Murphy is the former U.S. Representative
for , serving from 2007 to 2011. He is a member of the Democratic Party
.
He was the first veteran
of the Iraq War to serve in Congress; he was the only Iraq War veteran to serve in the 110th Congress
, and was one of four members to have served in Iraq in the 111th Congress, including Democrat John Boccieri
of Ohio
and Republicans Mike Coffman
of Colorado
and Duncan D. Hunter
of California
.
Murphy is widely considered to be the frontrunner in the race for the Democratic nomination for Pennsylvania Attorney General
in the 2012 election.
, in the Northeast Philadelphia
area, the son of a Philadelphia police officer and a legal secretary. As a high school student, Murphy worked weekends as a security guard in the infamous "700 Level" of Veterans Stadium during Philadelphia Eagles
and Temple University
football games.
Murphy graduated from Archbishop Ryan High School
in Northeast Philadelphia. After attending Bucks County Community College
, he went to King's College in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania
, where he was a cadet
in the U.S. Army ROTC
and was captain of the hockey team and student body president. After graduating in 1996 with a double major, he was commissioned
as a second lieutenant in the Army Reserve, branched into the Judge Advocate General's Corps as a prospective direct entry law school student. In lieu of going directly into the active duty Army with a Reserve commission, he remained in the inactive Army Reserve while attending law school and later while working as a legislative aide to a member of the Pennsylvania state legislature.
Murphy attended law school
at the Widener University School of Law
in Harrisburg, where he became a member of the Trial Advocacy Honor Society and president of the St. Thomas More Society. He then began working in the office of the district attorney
of Philadelphia, and later as a leader in the Harrisburg Civil Law Clinic, a legal aid society
serving the poor while concurrently serving as a drilling JAG officer in the Army Reserve. He also served as the legislative aide to Thomas Tangretti
, a Democratic member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
from Westmoreland County
. Murphy has taught American politics and government
at Mount Saint Mary's University
.
In 2000, Murphy went on active duty in the Army, joining the military faculty at the U.S. Military Academy
at West Point, where he taught constitutional law
. He has also lectured at the U.S. Air Force Academy
, the International Institute for Humanitarian Rights in Sanremo
, Italy
, and at Widener. After the attacks of September 11, 2001, Murphy volunteered for overseas deployment, serving in Bosnia
(2002) and in Baghdad
during the Iraq War (2003–2004). While in Baghdad as a JAG Corps attorney with the U.S. 82nd Airborne Division
, Murphy worked to reconstruct the justice system and helped prosecute Sheik Moyad, a lieutenant of Muqtada al-Sadr
. A graduate of the U.S. Army Airborne School at Fort Benning, dual Qualified as a Basic Parachutist and in Air Assault, Murphy was awarded the Bronze Star
for his seven months of service in Iraq. Following his service in Iraq, he was released from active duty and returned to a drilling status in the Army Reserve.
Murphy serves on the House Armed Services Committee
and is on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence
. Murphy is a member of the Blue Dog Coalition, a group of moderate to conservative Democratic representatives. In 2008, he was not only one of the first members of Congress to support then Senator Obama; he was the first to actually campaign for him.
Murphy opposed the Iraq War troop surge of 2007
. He was a cosponsor, with Senator Barack Obama
and Congressman Mike Thompson
(D-CA), of the Iraq War De-Escalation Act of 2007
, which aimed to develop a plan to redeploy American troops out of Iraq starting May 1, 2007; a bipartisan majority of Republicans and Democrats as well as President George W. Bush
opposed the measure, and it did not pass.
On February 13, 2008 he was the only member of the House
to vote against a resolution congratulating the New York Giants
for the team's victory in Super Bowl XLII
. “As a former 700-level security guard and lifelong Eagles fan, I couldn’t, in good conscience, vote for the New York Giants”, Murphy later stated. “The only thing worse would have been a resolution honoring the Dallas Cowboys."
In the 2007 congressional vote rankings by the non-partisan National Journal
, Murphy scored a 56.5 liberal rating and a 43.5 conservative rating, which is considered "centrist" in the Journal's rankings.
In July 2009, Murphy became the lead advocate for a bill that would repeal the Defense Department's Don't Ask, Don't Tell
policy concerning open gays in the armed forces.
In May 2010, the Officer Daniel Faulkner Children of Fallen Heroes Scholarship Act of 2010 passed the house. Congressman Patrick Murphy sponsored the bill which would assist children whose parent or guardian died as a result of performing service as a law enforcement officer, firefighter, or member of a rescue squad or ambulance crew.
In July 2010, Rep. Patrick Murphy's Improper Payments Elimination and Recovery Act was signed into law. The bill enacted stricter standards among federal agencies to identify improper payments and recover taxpayer dollars that were misspent.The new law will help eliminate the $98 billion in wasteful government spending each year.
In August 2010, Congressman Patrick Murphy's Patent bill was signed into law. The bill will help bring new inventions to market and create jobs by ensuring the U.S. Patent and Trade Office has the resources they need to hire an adequate number of patent examiners, install up-to-date information technology and make other operational changes necessary to tackle this backlog.
100 percent in 2008."
" policy of removing service members from the American military for their sexual orientation. Murphy worked tirelessly to convince fellow moderate Democrats to support the issue despite the political risk involved. He introduced a bill in the House to repeal Don't Ask, Don't Tell on December 14, 2010. The bill was approved in a strong bipartisan vote of 250-175 in the House, with the support of 15 House Republicans including Murphy's home-state colleagues Todd Russell Platts
and Charlie Dent
. Ultimately eight Republicans joined with 57 Democrats to approve the bill in the Senate and send it to the President's desk for signature.
s. The following year, he signed onto H.R. 861, a bill to establish national concealed-carry reciprocity. Also in 2008, Murphy was an original co-sponsor of legislation that would repeal the District of Columbia's ban on semi-automatic weapons and mandatory handgun registration.
on November 7, 2009.
in the litigation department and an adjunct professor at the Widener University School of Law.
In June 2011, President Obama appointed Murphy to the United States Military Academy
's Board of Visitors.
On April 26th, Patrick Murphy was awarded the John F. Kennedy Jr. Award from the Brown University Democrats.
in Pennsylvania's 8th congressional district
as a Fighting Dem
, building his campaign around "Murphy Plans" for Iraq, ethics reform, online protection, and a GI Bill of Rights.
On May 16, 2006, he won the Democratic primary with about 65% of the vote, against Andrew Warren, a former county commissioner and ex-Republican who badly trailed Murphy in campaign funds.
Polls taken in October, 2006, generally showed a tight race between Murphy and Fitzpatrick
: A poll by Grove Insight (a Democratic polling firm) showed Murphy leading 44% to 40%, a mid-October poll by Global Strategies Group (another Democratic polling firm) showed Murphy leading 45% to 43%, a late October poll by Global Strategies Group showed Murphy leading 46% to 41%, a poll by Constituent Dynamics showed Murphy leading 50% to 47%, and a poll by Muhlenberg College
showed Murphy trailing 47% to 42%. A sixth poll, by Franklin & Marshall College Poll
, showed Murphy trailing 48% to 39%, but was flawed by the inadvertent inclusion of a third candidate who was not on the ballot.
On election day, Murphy's campaign, led by campaign manager Scott Fairchild and GOTV Director Brent Welder, engaged in a massive get-out-the-vote effort with over 2000 volunteers knocking on 160,000 doors. The resulting high turnout in Democratic lower Bucks County and Philadelphia, combined with surprisingly strong returns for Murphy in Republican upper Bucks County, was enough to push Murphy over Fitzpatrick 125,656 to 124,138. Murphy narrowly lost the Bucks County portion of the district (116,669 to 115,645), but decisively won the Philadelphia County portion (6,024 to 5,048) and the Montgomery County portion (3,987 to 2,421). Overall, he received 50.3% of the vote.
and executive at Johnson & Johnson
, as well as independent Tom Lingenfelter
. Significant national attention was drawn to the race because of both candidates' connections to the Iraq War. Murphy is an Iraq War veteran and a strong critic of Bush's war strategy. Manion, whose son (1st Lt Travis Manion, USMC) was killed in Iraq in April 2007, supports the Iraq War Surge.
Congressman Murphy won election to a second term with 57 percent of the vote. Murphy won re-election to a second term by increasing his margin in Democratic Lower Bucks County while at the same time winning many rural townships in Upper Bucks and keeping his margin down in Central Bucks (his opponents' home territory).
, whom Murphy had previously defeated in 2006.
.
In 2010, Murphy was given the Fenn Award by the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library's New Frontier Award Committee. The award is presented to a distinguished young elected official in honor of Dan Fenn, the Kennedy Library's first director and a former member of President Kennedy's staff.
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
for , serving from 2007 to 2011. He is a member of the Democratic Party
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
.
He was the first veteran
Veteran
A veteran is a person who has had long service or experience in a particular occupation or field; " A veteran of ..."...
of the Iraq War to serve in Congress; he was the only Iraq War veteran to serve in the 110th Congress
110th United States Congress
The One Hundred Tenth United States Congress was the meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, between January 3, 2007, and January 3, 2009, during the last two years of the second term of President George W. Bush. It was composed of the Senate and the House of...
, and was one of four members to have served in Iraq in the 111th Congress, including Democrat John Boccieri
John Boccieri
John Boccieri is a one-term U.S. Representative for , serving from 2009 until 2011. He was defeated by Republican Jim Renacci on November 2, 2010. He is a member of the Democratic Party. He previously served in the Ohio Senate and the Ohio House of Representatives.-Early life and career:Boccieri...
of Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
and Republicans Mike Coffman
Mike Coffman
Michael "Mike" Coffman is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2009, and a former Secretary of State of Colorado. He is a member of the Republican Party.-Early life, education, and business career:...
of Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
and Duncan D. Hunter
Duncan D. Hunter
Duncan Duane Hunter is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2009. He is a member of the Republican Party. He is the son of his predecessor Duncan Hunter...
of California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
.
Murphy is widely considered to be the frontrunner in the race for the Democratic nomination for Pennsylvania Attorney General
Pennsylvania Attorney General
The Pennsylvania Attorney General is the chief law enforcement officer of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It became an elected office in 1980. Currently, the office is held by Linda Kelly.- Authority and Responsibilities :...
in the 2012 election.
Early life, education and career
Murphy was born in Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaPennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, in the Northeast Philadelphia
Northeast Philadelphia
Northeast Philadelphia, nicknamed Northeast Philly, the Northeast and the Great Northeast, is a section of the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. According to the 2000 Census, the Northeast has a sizable percentage of the city's 1.547 million people — a population of between 300,000 and 450,000,...
area, the son of a Philadelphia police officer and a legal secretary. As a high school student, Murphy worked weekends as a security guard in the infamous "700 Level" of Veterans Stadium during Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
and Temple University
Temple University
Temple University is a comprehensive public research university in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Originally founded in 1884 by Dr. Russell Conwell, Temple University is among the nation's largest providers of professional education and prepares the largest body of professional...
football games.
Murphy graduated from Archbishop Ryan High School
Archbishop Ryan High School
Archbishop Ryan High School is a Roman Catholic high school located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA...
in Northeast Philadelphia. After attending Bucks County Community College
Bucks County Community College
Bucks County Community College is a two-year community college located in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, near Philadelphia. Founded in 1964, Bucks has three campuses and online courses: a main campus in Newtown, an "Upper County" campus in the town of Perkasie, and a "Lower County" campus in the...
, he went to King's College in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania
Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania
Wilkes-Barre is a city in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, the county seat of Luzerne County. It is at the center of the Wyoming Valley area and is one of the principal cities in the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre metropolitan area, which had a population of 563,631 as of the 2010 Census...
, where he was a cadet
Officer Cadet
Officer cadet is a rank held by military and merchant navy cadets during their training to become commissioned officers and merchant navy officers, respectively. The term officer trainee is used interchangeably in some countries...
in the U.S. Army ROTC
Reserve Officers' Training Corps
The Reserve Officers' Training Corps is a college-based, officer commissioning program, predominantly in the United States. It is designed as a college elective that focuses on leadership development, problem solving, strategic planning, and professional ethics.The U.S...
and was captain of the hockey team and student body president. After graduating in 1996 with a double major, he was commissioned
Officer (armed forces)
An officer is a member of an armed force or uniformed service who holds a position of authority. Commissioned officers derive authority directly from a sovereign power and, as such, hold a commission charging them with the duties and responsibilities of a specific office or position...
as a second lieutenant in the Army Reserve, branched into the Judge Advocate General's Corps as a prospective direct entry law school student. In lieu of going directly into the active duty Army with a Reserve commission, he remained in the inactive Army Reserve while attending law school and later while working as a legislative aide to a member of the Pennsylvania state legislature.
Murphy attended law school
Law school
A law school is an institution specializing in legal education.- Law degrees :- Canada :...
at the Widener University School of Law
Widener University School of Law
Widener University School of Law is the ABA accredited law school of Widener University. The school, founded in 1971 as the Delaware Law School, operates on two of Widener's campuses, one in Wilmington, Delaware, and the other in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania....
in Harrisburg, where he became a member of the Trial Advocacy Honor Society and president of the St. Thomas More Society. He then began working in the office of the district attorney
District attorney
In many jurisdictions in the United States, a District Attorney is an elected or appointed government official who represents the government in the prosecution of criminal offenses. The district attorney is the highest officeholder in the jurisdiction's legal department and supervises a staff of...
of Philadelphia, and later as a leader in the Harrisburg Civil Law Clinic, a legal aid society
Legal aid
Legal aid is the provision of assistance to people otherwise unable to afford legal representation and access to the court system. Legal aid is regarded as central in providing access to justice by ensuring equality before the law, the right to counsel and the right to a fair trial.A number of...
serving the poor while concurrently serving as a drilling JAG officer in the Army Reserve. He also served as the legislative aide to Thomas Tangretti
Thomas Tangretti
Thomas A. "Tom" Tangretti is a Democratic member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives for the 57th District and was elected in 1988. He retired prior to the 2008 election and was succeeded by Republican Tim Krieger.-External links:**...
, a Democratic member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
The Pennsylvania House of Representatives is the lower house of the bicameral Pennsylvania General Assembly, the legislature of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. There are 203 members, elected for two year terms from single member districts....
from Westmoreland County
Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 369,993 people, 149,813 households, and 104,569 families residing in the county. The population density was 361 people per square mile . There were 161,058 housing units at an average density of 157 per square mile...
. Murphy has taught American politics and government
Politics of the United States
The United States is a federal constitutional republic, in which the President of the United States , Congress, and judiciary share powers reserved to the national government, and the federal government shares sovereignty with the state governments.The executive branch is headed by the President...
at Mount Saint Mary's University
Mount Saint Mary's University
Mount St. Mary's University, also known as The Mount, is a private, liberal arts, Catholic university in the Catoctin Mountains near Emmitsburg, Maryland. It was founded by French émigré Father John DuBois in 1808 and is the oldest independent Catholic college in the United States...
.
Military career
United States Military Academy
The United States Military Academy at West Point is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located at West Point, New York. The academy sits on scenic high ground overlooking the Hudson River, north of New York City...
at West Point, where he taught constitutional law
United States constitutional law
United States constitutional law is the body of law governing the interpretation and implementation of the United States Constitution.- Introduction :United States constitutional law defines the scope and application of the terms of the Constitution...
. He has also lectured at the U.S. Air Force Academy
United States Air Force Academy
The United States Air Force Academy is an accredited college for the undergraduate education of officer candidates for the United States Air Force. Its campus is located immediately north of Colorado Springs in El Paso County, Colorado, United States...
, the International Institute for Humanitarian Rights in Sanremo
Sanremo
Sanremo or San Remo is a city with about 57,000 inhabitants on the Mediterranean coast of western Liguria in north-western Italy. Founded in Roman times, the city is best known as a tourist destination on the Italian Riviera. It hosts numerous cultural events, such as the Sanremo Music Festival...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, and at Widener. After the attacks of September 11, 2001, Murphy volunteered for overseas deployment, serving in Bosnia
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina , sometimes called Bosnia-Herzegovina or simply Bosnia, is a country in Southern Europe, on the Balkan Peninsula. Bordered by Croatia to the north, west and south, Serbia to the east, and Montenegro to the southeast, Bosnia and Herzegovina is almost landlocked, except for the...
(2002) and in Baghdad
Baghdad
Baghdad is the capital of Iraq, as well as the coterminous Baghdad Governorate. The population of Baghdad in 2011 is approximately 7,216,040...
during the Iraq War (2003–2004). While in Baghdad as a JAG Corps attorney with the U.S. 82nd Airborne Division
U.S. 82nd Airborne Division
The 82nd Airborne Division is an active airborne infantry division of the United States Army specializing in parachute landing operations. Based at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, the 82nd Airborne Division is the primary fighting arm of the XVIII Airborne Corps....
, Murphy worked to reconstruct the justice system and helped prosecute Sheik Moyad, a lieutenant of Muqtada al-Sadr
Muqtada al-Sadr
Sayyid Muqtadā al-Ṣadr is an Iraqi Islamic political leader.Along with Ali al-Sistani and Ammar al-Hakim of the Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq, Sadr is one of the most influential religious and political figures in the country not holding any official title in the Iraqi government.-Titles:He is...
. A graduate of the U.S. Army Airborne School at Fort Benning, dual Qualified as a Basic Parachutist and in Air Assault, Murphy was awarded the Bronze Star
Bronze Star Medal
The Bronze Star Medal is a United States Armed Forces individual military decoration that may be awarded for bravery, acts of merit, or meritorious service. As a medal it is awarded for merit, and with the "V" for valor device it is awarded for heroism. It is the fourth-highest combat award of the...
for his seven months of service in Iraq. Following his service in Iraq, he was released from active duty and returned to a drilling status in the Army Reserve.
U.S. House of Representatives
United States House Committee on Armed Services
thumb|United States House Committee on Armed Services emblemThe U.S. House Committee on Armed Services, commonly known as the House Armed Services Committee, is a standing committee of the United States House of Representatives...
and is on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence
United States House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence
The United States House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence is a committee of the United States House of Representatives, currently chaired by Mike Rogers. It is the primary committee in the U.S...
. Murphy is a member of the Blue Dog Coalition, a group of moderate to conservative Democratic representatives. In 2008, he was not only one of the first members of Congress to support then Senator Obama; he was the first to actually campaign for him.
Murphy opposed the Iraq War troop surge of 2007
Iraq War troop surge of 2007
In the context of the Iraq War, the surge refers to United States President George W. Bush's 2007 increase in the number of American troops in order to provide security to Baghdad and Al Anbar Province....
. He was a cosponsor, with Senator Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
and Congressman Mike Thompson
Mike Thompson
Michael C. Thompson , is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1999. He is a member of the Democratic Party. The district includes Napa, Lake, Mendocino, Humboldt and Del Norte Counties as well as parts of Yolo and Sonoma Counties....
(D-CA), of the Iraq War De-Escalation Act of 2007
Iraq War De-Escalation Act of 2007
On January 30, 2007, then-U.S. Senator Barack Obama introduced the Iraq War De-Escalation Act of 2007 . The plan would have stopped the 2007 U.S. Troop Surge of 21,500 in Iraq, and would also have begun a phased redeployment of troops from Iraq with the goal of removing all combat forces by March...
, which aimed to develop a plan to redeploy American troops out of Iraq starting May 1, 2007; a bipartisan majority of Republicans and Democrats as well as President George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
opposed the measure, and it did not pass.
On February 13, 2008 he was the only member of the House
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
to vote against a resolution congratulating the New York Giants
New York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
for the team's victory in Super Bowl XLII
Super Bowl XLII
Super Bowl XLII was an American football game on February 3, 2008 that featured the National Football Conference champion New York Giants and the American Football Conference champion New England Patriots to decide the National Football League champion for the 2007 season...
. “As a former 700-level security guard and lifelong Eagles fan, I couldn’t, in good conscience, vote for the New York Giants”, Murphy later stated. “The only thing worse would have been a resolution honoring the Dallas Cowboys."
In the 2007 congressional vote rankings by the non-partisan National Journal
National Journal
National Journal is a nonpartisan American weekly magazine that reports on the current political environment and emerging political and policy trends. National Journal was first published in 1969. Times Mirror owned the magazine from 1986 to 1997, when it was purchased by David G. Bradley...
, Murphy scored a 56.5 liberal rating and a 43.5 conservative rating, which is considered "centrist" in the Journal's rankings.
In July 2009, Murphy became the lead advocate for a bill that would repeal the Defense Department's Don't Ask, Don't Tell
Don't ask, don't tell
"Don't ask, don't tell" was the official United States policy on homosexuals serving in the military from December 21, 1993 to September 20, 2011. The policy prohibited military personnel from discriminating against or harassing closeted homosexual or bisexual service members or applicants, while...
policy concerning open gays in the armed forces.
In May 2010, the Officer Daniel Faulkner Children of Fallen Heroes Scholarship Act of 2010 passed the house. Congressman Patrick Murphy sponsored the bill which would assist children whose parent or guardian died as a result of performing service as a law enforcement officer, firefighter, or member of a rescue squad or ambulance crew.
In July 2010, Rep. Patrick Murphy's Improper Payments Elimination and Recovery Act was signed into law. The bill enacted stricter standards among federal agencies to identify improper payments and recover taxpayer dollars that were misspent.The new law will help eliminate the $98 billion in wasteful government spending each year.
In August 2010, Congressman Patrick Murphy's Patent bill was signed into law. The bill will help bring new inventions to market and create jobs by ensuring the U.S. Patent and Trade Office has the resources they need to hire an adequate number of patent examiners, install up-to-date information technology and make other operational changes necessary to tackle this backlog.
Abortion
Murphy has a 100 percent rating from NARAL and "supported the interests of Planned ParenthoodPlanned Parenthood
Planned Parenthood Federation of America , commonly shortened to Planned Parenthood, is the U.S. affiliate of the International Planned Parenthood Federation and one of its larger members. PPFA is a non-profit organization providing reproductive health and maternal and child health services. The...
100 percent in 2008."
Don't Ask Don't Tell
Patrick Murphy was a leader of the opposition to the military's "Don't ask, don't tellDon't ask, don't tell
"Don't ask, don't tell" was the official United States policy on homosexuals serving in the military from December 21, 1993 to September 20, 2011. The policy prohibited military personnel from discriminating against or harassing closeted homosexual or bisexual service members or applicants, while...
" policy of removing service members from the American military for their sexual orientation. Murphy worked tirelessly to convince fellow moderate Democrats to support the issue despite the political risk involved. He introduced a bill in the House to repeal Don't Ask, Don't Tell on December 14, 2010. The bill was approved in a strong bipartisan vote of 250-175 in the House, with the support of 15 House Republicans including Murphy's home-state colleagues Todd Russell Platts
Todd Russell Platts
Todd Russell Platts is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2001. He is a member of the Republican Party.The district is located in south-central Pennsylvania, encompassing all of York and Adams Counties, and a large portion of Cumberland County...
and Charlie Dent
Charlie Dent
Charles "Charlie" Dent is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2005. He is a member of the Republican Party.The district includes all of Northampton County, most of Lehigh County, and small parts of Berks and Montgomery Counties....
. Ultimately eight Republicans joined with 57 Democrats to approve the bill in the Senate and send it to the President's desk for signature.
Gun rights
Murphy has a mixed record on guns. He is a concealed-carry permit holder and believes in the 2nd Amendment right to bear arms, but also recognizes the need for some regulation. In 2007, Murphy co-sponsored legislation that would re-authorize a Federal ban on semi-automatic firearmSemi-automatic firearm
A semi-automatic, or self-loading firearm is a weapon which performs all steps necessary to prepare the weapon to fire again after firing—assuming cartridges remain in the weapon's feed device or magazine...
s. The following year, he signed onto H.R. 861, a bill to establish national concealed-carry reciprocity. Also in 2008, Murphy was an original co-sponsor of legislation that would repeal the District of Columbia's ban on semi-automatic weapons and mandatory handgun registration.
Health care
Murphy voted for the Affordable Health Care for America ActAffordable Health Care for America Act
The Affordable Health Care for America Act was a bill that was crafted by the United States House of Representatives in November 2009. At the encouragement of the Obama administration, the 111th Congress devoted much of its time to enacting reform of the United States' health care system...
on November 7, 2009.
Committee assignments
- Committee on AppropriationsUnited States House Committee on AppropriationsThe Committee on Appropriations is a committee of the United States House of Representatives. It is in charge of setting the specific expenditures of money by the government of the United States...
- Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related AgenciesUnited States House Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related AgenciesThe United States House Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies is a standing committee of the U.S. House subcommittees and is within the United States House Committee on Appropriations.-Members, 112th Congress:...
- Subcommittee on Energy and Water DevelopmentUnited States House Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water DevelopmentThe House Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development, and Related Agencies is a standing subcommittee within the House Appropriations Committee.-Members, 112th Congress:-External links:* Official page...
- Subcommittee on the Legislative BranchUnited States House Appropriations Subcommittee on the Legislative BranchThe United States House Appropriations Subcommittee on the Legislative Branch is a standing subcommittee within the House Appropriations Committee.-Members, 112th Congress:-External links:**...
- Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies
- Permanent Select Committee on IntelligenceUnited States House Permanent Select Committee on IntelligenceThe United States House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence is a committee of the United States House of Representatives, currently chaired by Mike Rogers. It is the primary committee in the U.S...
- Subcommittee on Technical and Tactical IntelligenceUnited States House Intelligence Subcommittee on Technical and Tactical IntelligenceThe House Intelligence Subcommittee on Technical and Tactical Intelligence is one of the three subcommittees within the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence- Members, 112th Congress :- External links :*...
- Subcommittee on Intelligence Community ManagementUnited States House Intelligence Subcommittee on Intelligence Community ManagementThe House Intelligence Subcommittee on Intelligence Community Management is one of the four subcommittees within the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence-Members, 111th Congress:-External links:*...
- Subcommittee on Oversight and InvestigationsUnited States House Intelligence Subcommittee on Oversight and InvestigationsThe House Intelligence Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations is one of the four subcommittees within the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence- Members, 112th Congress :- External links :*...
- Subcommittee on Technical and Tactical Intelligence
Post-Congress career
Murphy became a partner at Philadelphia law firm Fox RothschildFox Rothschild
Fox Rothschild LLP is a national law firm with more than 500 attorneys practicing in 16 offices coast to coast. Lawyers at the firm provide a full range of legal services to public and private business entities, charitable, medical and educational institutions and individuals throughout the...
in the litigation department and an adjunct professor at the Widener University School of Law.
In June 2011, President Obama appointed Murphy to the United States Military Academy
United States Military Academy
The United States Military Academy at West Point is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located at West Point, New York. The academy sits on scenic high ground overlooking the Hudson River, north of New York City...
's Board of Visitors.
On April 26th, Patrick Murphy was awarded the John F. Kennedy Jr. Award from the Brown University Democrats.
2006 election
In 2005, Murphy decided to challenge Republican incumbent Representative Mike FitzpatrickMike Fitzpatrick
Michael G. "Mike" Fitzpatrick is the U.S. Representative for . He is a member of the Republican Party. He was reelected to Congress in 2010, and previously represented the district from 2005 to 2007, but lost to Patrick Murphy in 2006....
in Pennsylvania's 8th congressional district
Pennsylvania's 8th congressional district
The 8th Pennsylvania Congressional District serves Bucks County, along with a small portion of Montgomery County and Northeast Philadelphia, in Pennsylvania...
as a Fighting Dem
Fighting Dems
The Fighting Dems is a nickname given to more than 60 military veterans who ran for Congress as Democrats in the United States' 2006 congressional elections. Five of these candidates were elected to the House of Representatives and one was elected to the Senate...
, building his campaign around "Murphy Plans" for Iraq, ethics reform, online protection, and a GI Bill of Rights.
On May 16, 2006, he won the Democratic primary with about 65% of the vote, against Andrew Warren, a former county commissioner and ex-Republican who badly trailed Murphy in campaign funds.
Polls taken in October, 2006, generally showed a tight race between Murphy and Fitzpatrick
Mike Fitzpatrick
Michael G. "Mike" Fitzpatrick is the U.S. Representative for . He is a member of the Republican Party. He was reelected to Congress in 2010, and previously represented the district from 2005 to 2007, but lost to Patrick Murphy in 2006....
: A poll by Grove Insight (a Democratic polling firm) showed Murphy leading 44% to 40%, a mid-October poll by Global Strategies Group (another Democratic polling firm) showed Murphy leading 45% to 43%, a late October poll by Global Strategies Group showed Murphy leading 46% to 41%, a poll by Constituent Dynamics showed Murphy leading 50% to 47%, and a poll by Muhlenberg College
Muhlenberg College
Muhlenberg College is a private liberal arts college located in Allentown, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 1848, Muhlenberg is affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and is named for Henry Melchior Muhlenberg, the patriarch of the Lutheran Church in America.- History...
showed Murphy trailing 47% to 42%. A sixth poll, by Franklin & Marshall College Poll
Franklin & Marshall College Poll
The Franklin & Marshall College Poll is a prominent Pennsylvania-based opinion poll. It is considered the "longest running Pennsylvania statewide poll exclusively directed and produced in the state."...
, showed Murphy trailing 48% to 39%, but was flawed by the inadvertent inclusion of a third candidate who was not on the ballot.
On election day, Murphy's campaign, led by campaign manager Scott Fairchild and GOTV Director Brent Welder, engaged in a massive get-out-the-vote effort with over 2000 volunteers knocking on 160,000 doors. The resulting high turnout in Democratic lower Bucks County and Philadelphia, combined with surprisingly strong returns for Murphy in Republican upper Bucks County, was enough to push Murphy over Fitzpatrick 125,656 to 124,138. Murphy narrowly lost the Bucks County portion of the district (116,669 to 115,645), but decisively won the Philadelphia County portion (6,024 to 5,048) and the Montgomery County portion (3,987 to 2,421). Overall, he received 50.3% of the vote.
2008 election
Murphy faced Republican Tom Manion, a retired Marine Corps Reserve ColonelColonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
and executive at Johnson & Johnson
Johnson & Johnson
Johnson & Johnson is an American multinational pharmaceutical, medical devices and consumer packaged goods manufacturer founded in 1886. Its common stock is a component of the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the company is listed among the Fortune 500....
, as well as independent Tom Lingenfelter
Tom Lingenfelter
Tom Lingenfelter is a teacher, historian, intelligence agent, businessman, and political activist from the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. He is a perennial candidate for public office and was an Independent candidate for Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania in 2006....
. Significant national attention was drawn to the race because of both candidates' connections to the Iraq War. Murphy is an Iraq War veteran and a strong critic of Bush's war strategy. Manion, whose son (1st Lt Travis Manion, USMC) was killed in Iraq in April 2007, supports the Iraq War Surge.
Congressman Murphy won election to a second term with 57 percent of the vote. Murphy won re-election to a second term by increasing his margin in Democratic Lower Bucks County while at the same time winning many rural townships in Upper Bucks and keeping his margin down in Central Bucks (his opponents' home territory).
2010 election
Murphy was defeated by Republican nominee and former U.S. Congressman Mike FitzpatrickMike Fitzpatrick
Michael G. "Mike" Fitzpatrick is the U.S. Representative for . He is a member of the Republican Party. He was reelected to Congress in 2010, and previously represented the district from 2005 to 2007, but lost to Patrick Murphy in 2006....
, whom Murphy had previously defeated in 2006.
2012 Race for Pennsylvania Attorney General
On April 20, 2011 Patrick Murphy announced that he will be running for Attorney General of Pennsylvania. His announcement was accompanied by over thirty endorsements from prominent elected officials and organizations across the state. He will face former Assistant District Attorney Kathleen Granahan Kane in the Democratic Primary.Personal life
Murphy married Jennifer Safford on June 17, 2006. Their first child, a daughter, was born shortly after his Congressional victory. Their second child, a son, was born on November 2, 2009. The family lives in the Edgely section of Bristol Township, PennsylvaniaBristol Township, Pennsylvania
Bristol Township is a township in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 54,582 at the 2010 census, making it the 13th largest municipality in the state. Bristol Township, along with Bristol Borough, is a cultural hub for Lower Bucks County, hosting celebrations of African...
.
In 2010, Murphy was given the Fenn Award by the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library's New Frontier Award Committee. The award is presented to a distinguished young elected official in honor of Dan Fenn, the Kennedy Library's first director and a former member of President Kennedy's staff.
Works
Patrick J. Murphy with Adam Frankel, Taking the Hill: From Philly to Baghdad to the United States Congress, Henry Holt and Co. (February 19, 2008), ISBN 978-0805086959External links
- Patrick Murphy for Pennsylvania Attorney General
- Profile at SourceWatchSourceWatchSourceWatch is an internet wiki site that is a collaborative project of the liberal Center for Media and Democracy...
- Fighting Dems for Congress