WPTV - Patrick Murphy, Carl Domino Spar over Political Alliances, Local Concerns

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By Eliot Kleinberg

In their first of just two debates, one-term incumbent U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy and former State Rep. Carl Domino argued issues both far-reaching and extremely local, and talked about people who weren't there, including Barack Obama, Nancy Pelosi, Harry Truman and Ronald Reagan.

At the debate held at the Palm Beach Gardens campus of Palm Beach State College Tuesday, Murphy touted himself as an "independent voice" who's been "working tirelessly to bridge the divide between the two parties." But Domino said he's far from independent.

Domino said Murphy, who ousted Allen West in 2012, was a Democrat then, when it was to his advantage, and is ducking that now that President Obama and the Affordable Care Act -- "Obamacare" -- are unpopular.

Murphy pointed out that Domino had switched from Democrat to Republican. But Domino said he did that to follow Ronald Reagan, while he said Murphy switched from Republican to Democrat to follow Obama.

Murphy said that while he voted to make Nancy Pelosi the House Majority Leader, he's voted against her 47 percent of the time. He said Domino, as a state legislator, voted with Republicans nearly 90 percent of the time.

Murphy noted he's one of only six Democrats endorsed by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Domino countered that Murphy "has the advantage of incumbency" but that he still votes left on key votes.

When Murphy noted area newspapers endorsed him, Domino said, "the people that know me the best have endorsed me."

Domino said Murphy supports the federal health care law, which he said "is costing citizens and the district every day. They are not getting the doctors and policies they were promised."

Asked by panelist and Palm Beach Post political reporter George Bennett if he'd repeal Obamacare, and if so, with what would he replace it, Domino said he knows repeal won't happen as long as the Democrats control the Senate and the White House.

Murphy bragged of his work toward protecting Lake Okeechobee and southeast Florida's lagoons and waterways.

Domino applauded his efforts but quipped, "I hope all that money the congressman's talking about actually gets here." He said a Republican-controlled Congress would have a better chance to bring federal money to Florida for such efforts.

The two both expressed dislike for the proposed All Aboard Florida rail line -- in a reflection of the view of many on the Treasure Coast, where supporting the line is a third-rail issue, as residents complain they will get all the noise and dirt with no stops and thus no benefits.

Domino said he believes the project is "economically unviable" and said that if elected, "I will be a loud voice to stop that train in its tracks."

He said Murphy supported All Aboard last year and took donations from the operators and that if it goes through, it will be because of Murphy's early efforts to expedite it.

Murphy said Domino is the "only person" on the stage who voted for a tax-subsidized rail system when he supported the Orlando-area's SunRail while a legislator. Domino said that was a public project that has thrived, not a private venture such as All Aboard.

Domino said the high cost of ads forces candidates to take a lot of campaign money but called Murphy "a hypocrite," saying he's taking large donations now but that, "two years ago, he was campaigning in ads saying 'phooey on special interests.'" Murphy said he's been "one of the strongest advocates of campaign finance reform."

Domino said he'd support medical use of marijuana -- a state constitutional amendment is on the ballot in Florida -- but said it, like every other drug, should have to pass muster with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Murphy said he supports the state amendment but that it needs "strict restrictions."

The two agreed immigration must be fixed. Domino said undocumented immigrants should be adjudicated in 90 days, not three or four years; the Border Patrol needs to be beefed up; and employers must be held accountable.

Murphy said he supported a "no-brainer" comprehensive immigration reform bill that passed the Senate but died in the House.

Murphy said "we were not prepared" for the Ebola threat in the United States and it's important to determine what went wrong. Domino said he's happy Murphy agrees "that the administration was asleep at the switch on this important issue."

The debate was produced by the Northern Palm Beach County Chamber of Commerce and sponsored by the Hanley Center Foundation.

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