Jeffrey Schott

Candidate for Pennsylvania's Eighth U.S. Congressional District

Report Card on Patrick Murphy

It’s been over three years since Patrick Murphy was elected Congressman of Pennsylvania’s 8th district.  Since there has been recent talks about report cards for President Obama, I thought it would be a good time to measure Patrick Murphy’s performance since being elected. 

Congressman Murphy consistently brings up being a “Blue Dog Democrat”.  In this NPR interview on January 7th, 2007, shortly after being elected,  he said:

If we want to put forth a piece of legislation that’s going to help out people, which is a good piece of legislation, I’ll support it. But we have to figure out first how we’re going to pay for it because we cannot keep racking up these record debts and these deficits.

Let’s see how his being in Washington has affected our deficit spending.  The chart below shows the percentage of deficit spending since Murphy was elected

Looks like deficit spending has increased more than five times.  The deficit also increased from under $8 trillion dollars to over $12 trillion dollars. 

Now, let’s take a look at the stock market since Patrick Murphy was elected.  The chart below shows the stock market since he was elected.

While the market is starting to rebound, it’s still way below what it was in November 2006.

Finally, let’s take a look at unemployment.  The chart below shows the unemployment rate since Murphy was elected.

Enough said!

In summary, since Patrick Murphy was elected:

• Deficit spending has gone out of control
• The stock market has lost value
• Unemployment has increased dramatically

Mr Murphy has consistently voted for increased spending (bailouts, stimulus, cap and trade, and increased health care spending) despite claiming to be a ” Blue Dog” .  I give him an “F”.

We’ve added a poll below (and in the sidebar)  for you to assign your grade.  We look forward to seeing your grade for Congressman Murphy.

2 Responses to “Report Card on Patrick Murphy”

1. Robert Shattuck Says:
   December 16th, 2009 at 7:26 pm

   Plaintiffs’ lawyers impede economic recovery
   Dear Mr. Schott,

   I am an Alabama resident.

   I think plaintiffs’ lawyers impede the country’s economic recovery. I also think they undermine business ethics. They particularly stand in the way of sensible medical malpractice reform as a way to lower the nation’s health care costs.

   I have a blog How To Combat Plaintiffs’ Lawyers where I record my efforts to communicate with lawmakers, judges, attorney generals and academics, among others, about how I believe plaintiffs’ lawyers ill serve societal interests.

   I receive no remuneration for any of my activities. I am not a member of any tort reform organization, chamber of commerce, or any other organization that has an interest in opposing plaintiffs’ lawyers.

   Congress is debating more stimulus, health care reform, and other governmental action to get our nation’s economy back on track, and the country is moving toward the 2010 elections that will be a referendum on how the current Congress performs about these important domestic issues.

   I hope you, as a United States Senator or Representative, or as a candidate for the Senate or the House of Representatives, will look at the contribution the plaintiffs’ lawyers make to the country’s economic difficulties and will consider, advocate and propose legislative action to lessen the problem of the plaintiffs’ lawyers.

   Thank you.

   Sincerely,
   Robert Shattuck

2. lower bucks county chamber - StartTags.com Says:
   March 1st, 2010 at 10:49 pm

   [...] I can pay lower property taxes and put a little less money into the Los Angeles County coffers. …Report Card on Patrick Murphy | Jeffrey SchottThey particularly stand in the way of sensible medical malpractice reform as a way to lower the [...]

Comments

Name (required)

Mail (will not be published) (required)

Website

CAPTCHA Code *