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John Murphy's Issue Positions (Political Courage Test)

Key

Official Position: Candidate addressed this issue directly by taking the Political Courage Test.

Inferred Position: Candidate refused to address this issue, but Vote Smart inferred this issue based on the candidate's public record, including statements, voting record, and special interest group endorsements.

Unknown Position: Candidate refused to address this issue, or we could not infer an answer for this candidate despite exhaustive research of their public record.

Additional Information: Click on this icon to reveal more information about this candidate's position, from their answers or Vote Smart's research.

Other or Expanded Principles & Legislative Priorities are entered exactly as candidates submit them. Vote Smart does not edit for misspelled words, punctuation or grammar.

John Murphy has demonstrated Political Courage by telling citizens where he stands on the issues he may face if elected.

What is the Political Courage Test?

Pennsylvania Congressional Election 2012 Political Courage Test

Abortion

Pro-choice		Do you generally support pro-choice or pro-life legislation?
I generally support pro-choice legislation. I'm a Catholic. Some Catholics are opposed to abortion, some are not. Those who are opposed however are nevertheless Americans who support the First Amendment and do not want the government to force their religious beliefs on the rest of the country.

Afghanistan

No		Do you support United States' combat operations in Afghanistan?
Yes		Do you support a timetable for withdrawal from Afghanistan?
We should never have been there in the first place.

Budget

Indicate which proposals you support (if any) for balancing the federal budget.In order to balance the budget,

		do you support reducing Medicaid spending?
		do you support reducing Medicare spending?
No		Is balancing the budget a legislative priority?
Yes		do you support reducing defense spending?
John Murphy. Project Vote Smart: 2006 Pennsylvania Congressional Political Courage Test. Selected "No" for: "5) Do you support making President Bush's tax cuts permanent?" Budgetary, Spending, and Taxes, Part 3: Taxes (B) Other or expanded principles: "We must eliminate corporate welfare and bring the ratio of corporate versus individual income tax back to 1965 levels when corporations paid 66% of the income tax and individuals paid 34% as opposed to the present situation when individuals pay 82% of corporations pay only 18%. " John Murphy. Project Vote Smart: 2006 Pennsylvania Congressional Political Courage Test. Selected "Greatly Increase" for: "Using the key above, indicate what federal tax levels you support for the following general categories. Select one number per category. d) Over $150,000" Family Income Other or expanded principles: "I would eliminate all Federal income tax for anyone making less than $100,000 a year. We must tax wealth not work. I would introduce a tiny tax on currency speculation and the sale of stock. This would not be an exorbitant tax rate; in fact a 0.25% tax on the purchase of stocks, bonds, derivatives and currency speculation would produce hundreds of billions of dollars a year because of the volatility. " John Murphy. Project Vote Smart: 2008 Pennsylvania Congressional Political Courage Test. Selected "Greatly Increase" for: "Indicate what federal tax levels (#1-6) you support for the following general categories. Select one number per category, you can use a number more than once. f) $350,001 and above" Family Income Taxes Other or expanded principles: "I would eliminate the federal income tax for every American making less than $100,000 a year. The philosophy behind my tax program is to tax wealth not work. 60% of US corporations have paid no federal income taxes 1999. This, coupled with the Bush tax cut for the wealthy has directly increase the tax burden of working Americans." John Murphy. Project Vote Smart: 2006 Pennsylvania Congressional Political Courage Test. Selected "No" for: "5) Do you support making President Bush's tax cuts permanent?" Budgetary, Spending, and Taxes, Part 3: Taxes (B) Other or expanded principles: "Balancing the budget is not a top priority for me at this point. I am more interested in reducing the $8.5 trillion national debt by cutting our defense budget in half and reinvesting in infrastructure, schools, and libraries -- those economic activities which have a multiplier effect. We must create secure sustainable jobs and create an economy which is not dependent upon the defense industry then we can begin to think about a balanced budget. " John Murphy. Video: John Murphy for Congress. 19 October 2008. "We must eliminate the federal income tax for every American making $100,000 a year or less. We must tax wealth, not work." (youtu.be) John Murphy. Facebook: Wall. 22 February 2012. "According to a CBPP report, the wealthiest in our country are making more money (with pre-tax income up 400 percent since 1995) and getting taxed far less (almost half of the 1995 rates)! TAX WEALTH NOT WORK!" (www.facebook.com)
Unknown Position		do you support an income tax increase on any tax bracket?
John Murphy. Project Vote Smart: 2006 Pennsylvania Congressional Political Courage Test. Selected "No" for: "5) Do you support making President Bush's tax cuts permanent?" Budgetary, Spending, and Taxes, Part 3: Taxes (B) Other or expanded principles: "We must eliminate corporate welfare and bring the ratio of corporate versus individual income tax back to 1965 levels when corporations paid 66% of the income tax and individuals paid 34% as opposed to the present situation when individuals pay 82% of corporations pay only 18%. " John Murphy. Project Vote Smart: 2006 Pennsylvania Congressional Political Courage Test. Selected "Greatly Increase" for: "Using the key above, indicate what federal tax levels you support for the following general categories. Select one number per category. d) Over $150,000" Family Income Other or expanded principles: "I would eliminate all Federal income tax for anyone making less than $100,000 a year. We must tax wealth not work. I would introduce a tiny tax on currency speculation and the sale of stock. This would not be an exorbitant tax rate; in fact a 0.25% tax on the purchase of stocks, bonds, derivatives and currency speculation would produce hundreds of billions of dollars a year because of the volatility. " John Murphy. Project Vote Smart: 2008 Pennsylvania Congressional Political Courage Test. Selected "Greatly Increase" for: "Indicate what federal tax levels (#1-6) you support for the following general categories. Select one number per category, you can use a number more than once. f) $350,001 and above" Family Income Taxes Other or expanded principles: "I would eliminate the federal income tax for every American making less than $100,000 a year. The philosophy behind my tax program is to tax wealth not work. 60% of US corporations have paid no federal income taxes 1999. This, coupled with the Bush tax cut for the wealthy has directly increase the tax burden of working Americans." John Murphy. Project Vote Smart: 2006 Pennsylvania Congressional Political Courage Test. Selected "No" for: "5) Do you support making President Bush's tax cuts permanent?" Budgetary, Spending, and Taxes, Part 3: Taxes (B) Other or expanded principles: "Balancing the budget is not a top priority for me at this point. I am more interested in reducing the $8.5 trillion national debt by cutting our defense budget in half and reinvesting in infrastructure, schools, and libraries -- those economic activities which have a multiplier effect. We must create secure sustainable jobs and create an economy which is not dependent upon the defense industry then we can begin to think about a balanced budget. " John Murphy. Video: John Murphy for Congress. 19 October 2008. "We must eliminate the federal income tax for every American making $100,000 a year or less. We must tax wealth, not work." (youtu.be) John Murphy. Facebook: Wall. 22 February 2012. "According to a CBPP report, the wealthiest in our country are making more money (with pre-tax income up 400 percent since 1995) and getting taxed far less (almost half of the 1995 rates)! TAX WEALTH NOT WORK!" (www.facebook.com)
Balancing the budget is not only NOT a legislative priority, the very discussion of such an idea makes absolutely economic policy sense for a democracy!

Campaign Finance

Yes		Do you support the regulation of indirect campaign contributions from corporations and unions?
There should be no private money at all in federal elections. All federal elections should be publicly financed.

Capital Punishment

No		Do you support capital punishment for certain crimes?
The only countries beside the USA that use such a barbaric punishmnet are: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Belarus, China, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Malaysia, North Korea, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, UAE, Vietnam, and Yemen. Not exactlly the coolest countries with which to keep company!

Economy

Yes		Do you support federal spending as a means of promoting economic growth?
No		Do you support providing tax incentives to businesses for the purpose of job creation?
Yes		Do you support spending on infrastructure projects for the purpose of job creation?
Yes		Do you support the temporary extension of unemployment benefits?
Yes		Do you support the 2010 temporary extension of tax relief?
Economic growth is not the problem; creating jobs with a living wage is the problem.

Education

Do you support requiring states to implement education reforms in order to be eligible for competitive federal grants?

Energy

Do you support reducing restrictions on offshore energy production?

Environment

Yes		Do you believe that human activity is contributing to climate change?
Yes		Do you support the federal regulation of greenhouse gas emissions?
United States must stop blocking efficient and effective measures to cut greenhouse gas emissions.

Guns

Yes		Do you support restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns?
The question is vague. I would have to know why the restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns would be imposed and upon whom.

Health Care

No		Do you support repealing the 2010 Affordable Care Act?
No		Should individuals be required to purchase health insurance, as mandated in the 2010 Affordable Care Act?
The "affordable care act" is ludicrous but since it does help a few people I cannot in conscience support its repeal. Everyone in the United States is entitled to universal, single-payer healthcare. To that extent the "Affordable Health Care Act" creates a major impediment and is bad law. Everyone should be covered by Medicare.

Immigration

		Do you support allowing illegal immigrants, who were brought to the United States as minors, to pursue citizenship without returning to their country of origin?
		Do you support the enforcement of federal immigration law by state and local police?
Unknown Position		Do you support requiring illegal immigrants to return to their country of origin before they are eligible for citizenship?
John Murphy. Project Vote Smart: 2008 Pennsylvania Congressional Political Courage Test. Did Not Check SUPPORT for: "g) Illegal immigrants should be given a pathway to citizenship." John Murphy. Project Vote Smart: 2008 Pennsylvania Congressional Political Courage Test. Did Not Check SUPPORT for: "e) Support amnesty for illegal immigrants already working in the United States." John Murphy. Project Vote Smart: 2008 Pennsylvania Congressional Political Courage Test. Did Not Check SUPPORT for: "f) Illegal immigrants should have to return to their countries of origin before being considered for citizenship." John Murphy. Project Vote Smart: 2006 Pennsylvania Congressional Political Courage Test. Checked SUPPORT for: "e) Support amnesty for illegal immigrants already working in the United States." Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding immigration. Other or expanded principles: "The current problem has been framed incorrectly. The problem is not one of "illegal immigrants" but one of "economic refugees". Replacing so-called free trade agreements like NAFTA with fair trade agreements, penalizing US corporations for relocating to other nations in order to reduce their labor costs along with ending the US practice of propping up plutocratic governments like the Fox government in Mexico would stem the tide of economic refugees." John Murphy. Immigration. 24 August 2012. "Permanent border passes should be granted to all citizens of Mexico and Canada whose identity can be traced and verified. Work permits for citizens of Mexico and Canada must be easily obtainable, thereby decriminalizing the act of gainful employment. This action would help eliminate exploitation of undocumented persons by criminals engaged in human contraband (coyotes) and unethical employers." (www.johnmurphyforcongress.org)
There is no such thing in law as an "illegal immigrant". If you don't get the question right, you can't come up with the right answer. The problem we are dealing with has to do with "economic refugees". When we accept that our own trade policies have caused an influx of economic refugees then we will be able to approach the issue equitably.

Marriage

Yes		Do you support same-sex marriage?
The most important thing is really having equal rights. It�s not about the marriage. It�s having the same rights that you would get if you were married.

National Security

No		Do you support targeting suspected terrorists outside of official theaters of conflict?
No		Should the U.S use military force in order to prevent Iran from possessing a nuclear weapon?

Social Security

No		Do you support allowing individuals to divert a portion of their Social Security taxes into personal retirement accounts?
I am vehemently opposed to any attempt to privatize Social Security insurance.

Spending and Taxes

SpendingIndicate what federal spending levels (#1-6) you support for the following general categories. Select one number per category; you can use a number more than once.TaxesIndicate what federal tax levels (#1-6) you support for the following general categories. Select one number per category; you can use a number more than once.

Greatly Decrease		a) Agriculture
Greatly Increase		b) Arts
Greatly Decrease		c) Defense
Greatly Increase		d) Education
Greatly Increase		e) Environment
Greatly Decrease		f) Homeland Security
Maintain Status		g) International aid
Slightly Increase		h) Medical Research
Slightly Decrease		i) Scientific Research
Eliminate		j) Space exploration
Maintain Status		k) United Nations
Greatly Increase		l) Welfare
		m) Other or expanded categories
Greatly Increase		a) Capital gains taxes
Greatly Increase		b) Corporate taxes
Greatly Increase		c) Excise taxes (alcohol)
Greatly Increase		d) Excise taxes (cigarettes)
Maintain Status		e) Excise taxes (transportation fuel)
Eliminate		f) Income taxes (low-income families)
Greatly Decrease		g) Income taxes (middle-income families)
Greatly Increase		h) Income taxes (high-income families)
Greatly Increase		i) Inheritance taxes
Greatly Decrease		j) Payroll taxes
Eliminate all federal income tax for working Americans making less than $100,000 a year.

Administrative Priorities

Top priority is secure jobs with living wage requiring expenditure of funds. Funds should be generated through surtaxing the superrich, increased corporate taxes and progressive taxation on Americans making in excess of $100,000 per year. Other revenues can be raised through the implementation of a very small tax on stock and currency speculation. This tax should be 0.25%. Universal single-payer healthcare. The Pentagon/defense budget should be cut by 50% Stiff regulations must be imposed on the banking and finance industry and all corporate boards of directors of private manufacturing or service companies must be replaced by employees of the company.

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