Tim Murphy Deserves Re-election

The Patch recently posted an article that inferred  Congressman Murphy is to blame for the economic ills that have “forced” the Air Force to close the 911th, and cut back 10% at the 171st Air Refueling Wing, both units stationed at Greater Pittsburgh Airport. I’m an unabashed supporter of Tim Murphy, who has been described by some as “high maintenance.” I agree that Tim Murphy is high maintenance, because when an elected representative decides to dig deep and get his hands dirty, he gets busy, but not inaccessible. There are some in Congress who are decidedly “low maintenance”. Of course, they don’t do much but sit around and collect a paycheck.
 
There’s an election coming soon, on April 24th, and we in the 18th Congressional District must choose between the superior of the Republican candidates. If you’re a registered Democrat, file this away and read it as you go to the polls in November.
 
This blog isn’t so much to encourage you to vote for Mr. Murphy (that’s obvious), but rather to point out to those who don’t follow politics closely why he’s the superior choice. Contrary to some shots fired at him regarding our current fiscal crisis, when you go to the polls you should consider some crucial facts. The first fact that you should consider is that the challenger has no voting record. He’s a nice enough fellow, and his wife in engaging, and his son is just too cute. Regardless, there’s no point of reference to judge him by.
 
So far as Tim Murphy, you should know that:

• His opponent supported HR 2560, lifting the debt ceiling to $16.7 trillion dollars. Hmmm, hardly a fiscal conservative, and it runs counter to claims that its “Murphy’s Fault”.

• While Tim Murphy has been in the face of Leon Panetta, and the Secretary of the Air Force, demanding a detailed fiscal justification for closing the 911th and pulling 4 KC-135’s from the 171st, his opponent implies that the Pittsburgh Air Force is a “parochial interest”. Sorry, but I’ve put 20 years into the Air Force and the PA Air National Guard in Logistics, and know a bit about the Air Force and deployed aircraft. Tim Murphy considers our locally assigned aircraft to be a part of a strategically based group of units. He’s joined in that by politicians of every stripe. Indeed, Tim Murphy testified today, 17 April, in front of the House Armed Services Committee during their hearings on the 2013 National Defense Re-Authorization Act, to argue against closing the 911th.
  
  
• Tim Murphy is a psychologist in the Naval Reserve. As a doctor, he gets many opportunities to speak to men and women who have undergone PTS, (I detest the word “Disorder” when speaking about Post Traumatic Stress. Its an injury, not a disorder) and TBI (traumatic brain injury). Western Pennsylvania has an inordinately high number of returning vets who look to the Veterans Administration for care. I’m included in that number, with injuries suffered in 1970 and 1974 while on active duty. Tim’s opponent
  thinks shuttering the doors at the VA hospital is a good idea. He prefers
  sending them to UPMC. I can tell you from personal experience that the VA
  Hospital is more than adequate, the VA Center is one of the best in the country, and the VA’s John Heinz center in Fox Chapel is state of the art. I’ve been treated at all three facilities, and I watched my brother in law draw his last breath at the care center at the John Heinz Center. From the moment he walked in everyone knew his condition was fatal, yet the care and dedication of health care professionals was incredible, including the sympathy and professionalism displayed by doctors, nurses, and support staff when he passed on. Closing veterans care facilities is NOT on Tim Murphy’s “to do” list, nor should it be.

The list goes on and on. Yes, Tim Murphy is “high maintenance”. It's because he works hard for us, and deserves another term in Congress.

Editor's note: The article referred to in the first paragraph of this blog is published April 13. For more articles about the 911th Airlift Wing, see and on Moon Patch.