Fitzpatrick's Vote On Lobbyist - Heavy Budget Underscores Problems In Washington
February 2, 2006 (Levittown, Pennsylvania)
Fitzpatrick's Vote On Lobbyist - Heavy Budget Underscores Problems In Washington
In a Courthouse press conference today, Patrick Murphy, an Iraq War Veteran and candidate for Congress in Pennsylvania's 8th Congressional District, attacked "Special Interest Mike"Fitzpatrick's vote on yesterday's budget bill and announced an ethics reform package aimed at limiting the influence of lobbyists in Washington.
Fitzpatrick's vote resulted in the passage of a bill that includes deep cuts to student aid, Medicaid, Medicare and Child Support enforcement.
"This is a bad bill that hurts Pennsylvania families," Murphy said. "Because of Mike Fitzpatrick, it will be harder for Bucks County students to afford an education. Because of Mike Fitzpatrick, more seniors will have to decide between health care and heat. And because of Mike Fitzpatrick, deadbeat dads can rest a little easier today."
"Our Representative is not representing the people who elected him. It's
time for a change in Washington," Murphy said.
The budget bill, which passed the House by a 216-214 margin, also included $22 billion in kickbacks to the HMO industry-a provision that, according to the Washington Post, was added to the bill in a closed-door backroom deal between industry lobbyists and the Republican Congressional Leadership.
This development is shocking only in that it comes on the heels of ongoing corruption scandals centering on convicted felon and former Republican lobbyist Jack Abramoff. A January 22nd story in the Bucks County Courier Times and Doylestown Intelligencer linked Fitzpatrick to $211,000 in Abramoff-directed money.
"We have seen the results of the current system in Washington-a confusing prescription drug plan written by the drug companies; a bad energy bill written by the oil companies; and now a devastating budget bill that makes it harder to afford health care while giving $22 billion to the HMO industry."
Murphy's plan incorporates elements of both Democratic and Republican plans currently proposed in Washington, as well as elements that incumbents would not dare propose.
The Murphy Plan:
1. Slows the revolving door between K Street and the Capitol by increasing the waiting time before former Members and key staff can lobby Congress;
2. Bans lobbyist-paid gifts, meals and travel;
3. Creates an independent, non-partisan agency with enforcement power to administer increased disclosure and make sure that all parties follow the rules.
4. And calls for the appointment of an independent counsel to further examine the Abramoff scandal and its connection to current members of Congress.
"Only an independent counsel can get to the truth and restore Americans' confidence in their elected officials and in their government," Murphy said. "Without that stamp of approval, we will all continue to be suspicious of the steady stream of special-interest legislation coming out of Washington-and rightfully so."
http://www.murphy06.com/press-020206.html