Hafer described a challenge to Murphy as "a tough race," but noted that DCCC polling painted an encouraging picture for her and other Democrats.

While President Bush carried the district's communities in 2000 and 2004, she said, "The world has changed; the numbers for Republicans, including the president, have dropped dramatically."

Democrats in Washington County out number republicans more than 2 to 1. Allegheny County is similar. I don't know why the republicans win. Democrats need to get out to vote!

I couldn't believe this Letter to editor! What are these democrats thinking? Murphy has followed Bush on everything. He is turning on private accounts for social security because the poll numbers are changing. It doesn't cost him republican votes and gets democrats support. Murphy will never have to vote on this issue.

Bipartisan support

I applaud U.S. Rep. Tim Murphy, R-Upper St. Clair, for having the courage to defend the structural integrity of Social Security, in the face of pressure from President Bush and Republican party leaders in Washington ("Murphy Against Bush's Private Accounts Proposal for Social Security," June 19). Rep. Murphy is on solid ground with Pennsylvanians. Funding private investment accounts through the Social Security trust fund or from payroll taxes is tantamount to gambling with the retirement security of the 47 million retirees, disabled workers and surviving spouses that rely on Social Security benefits.

Social Security will be solvent until mid-century and its long-term deficit is not so extreme that we can't solve it with common-sense solutions that protect middle income Americans. The labor movement stands ready to work with political moderates like Tim Murphy to put Social Security on sound footing, and we should take whatever time is necessary -- ignoring the demands of party loyalty -- to get it right.


JACK SHEA
President
Allegheny County Labor Council
AFL-CIO
Downtown

Murphy against Bush's private accounts proposal for Social Security
Sunday, June 19, 2005
By Dennis B. Roddy and James O'Toole, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05170/524107.stm

U.S. Rep. Tim Murphy, R- Upper St. Clair, yesterday said he opposes a key portion of President Bush's proposed Social Security reform package, but offered an alternative he said would not weaken the government pension program's solvency.

Murphy, who is one of two local Republicans being targeted by the Democrats in next year's House elections, said Bush's proposal to allow employees to redirect part of their Social Security withholding into private savings accounts "will weaken Social Security" and result in a reduction in retiree benefits for those who rely on the program as a primary source of retirement income.

Murphy instead suggested an "add-on" option that would allow people to designate an additional amount of withholding for personal savings and investment accounts, similar to the program now available to federal employees. But, Murphy said, if workers are permitted to partially opt out of the system by redirecting a share of their current withholding away from the Social Security general fund, "somewhere along the way the government would have to reduce benefits."

Studies have suggested that Social Security could begin running out of money as early as 2017.

Murphy said he has discussed his position with President Bush. "I asked him if he was wedded to any specific plan and he said 'No.' " Murphy's position, which he said has been evolving since last year, elicited strongly partisan reactions from both Democrats and Republicans this week.

The Young Conservatives of Pennsylvania, in a news release Friday, denounced Murphy for "siding with MoveOn.org" and other liberal organizations and abandoning President Bush. They also attacked U.S. Rep. James Gerlach, R-Chester County, for also opposing the private savings account option.

Democrats were just as critical of Murphy.

Noting that Murphy had once sided with the private savings account option from current withholding, Rep. Rahm Emanuel, D-Ill., said that "when you have someone who says one thing and then another on Social Security, that's very important to people. It goes beyond the issue itself, it goes to character.'' [flip-flopper]

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, which is chaired by Emanuel, has targeted both Murphy and U.S. Rep. Melissa Hart, R-Bradford Woods, as Republicans they believe could be unseated next year.

U.S. Rep. Mike Doyle, D-Swissvale, this week said House Democrats are actively recruiting candidates to run against the pair and believes the party is prepared to commit significant money to winning back seats that had previously belonged to Democrats.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Dennis B. Roddy can be reached at droddy@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1965. James O'Toole can be reached at jotoole@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1562.)

Here is what Murphy said about the Schiavo case.... 6/29/05 email to constiuents... no apologies.
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Thank you for contacting me regarding events surrounding the death of Terri Schiavo. I appreciate this opportunity to respond to your concerns.

The subject of withdrawing life support from a person who is disabled, in a coma, or in a persistent vegetative state became a national debate due to the moral implications in the case of Terri Schiavo. I believe that the decision to remove Terri’s life support is a tragic testament to the lack of value our court system and society places on human life. To allow this woman to starve to death is unconscionable, and as you know, several actions were taken by Congress in response to the removal of her feeding tube.

First, Representative Dave Weldon (R-FL) introduced the Incapacitated Persons Legal Protection Act of 2005 (H.R. 1151). This bill, which I co-sponsored, cites the Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution and would extend the protections of habeas corpus to all disabled individuals in circumstances in which there is a dispute about his or her wishes or best interests and a court has ordered the removal of food and water. On March 16, 2005, I also voted in favor of the Protection of Incapacitated Persons Act of 2005 (H.R. 1332). Similar to H.R. 1151, H.R. 1332 passed the House and was referred to the U.S. Senate, where it was heavily disputed and eventually dropped in favor of a bill for the relief of the family of Theresa Marie Schiavo. This legislation (S. 686), introduced by Senator Mel Martinez (R-FL), required the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida to hear a lawsuit regarding the removal of Terri’s life support. In an emergency vote, the bill was passed in the both the House and Senate before being signed into law by President Bush early in the morning on March 21st. Following these efforts, however, Terri Schiavo’s fate was sealed by the Florida judicial system. Pleas to reinsert Terri’s feeding tube were denied, leaving her to suffer the torment of death by dehydration and starvation. [this is contrary to the autopsy report]

Congress must carry on the government’s role in protecting the sanctity of life at all stages, but we must also learn a lesson from Terri’s struggle. Prior to the Schiavo case becoming highly visible, it was estimated that only 20 percent of Americans had a living will. While this number has increased greatly since, it is important for every American to have a legal record of their end-of-life wishes. In the wake of the death of Terri Schiavo, all must recognize the importance of establishing a living will. If you are uncertain weather or not your desires have been properly documented, I encourage you to contact my office or your health care provider for further instructions.

Please do not hesitate to contact me with further questions or concerns. If you are interested in receiving my email newsletter describing important votes and key committee activity, I invite you to visit my website at http://murphy.house.gov and sign up.

Sincerely,

Tim Murphy

heritage, my understanding is that some unions in that area for some bizarre reason get taken in by repubs.

The coal miners in northern WV voted for Bush also.