As Patrick Murphy visits with entrepreneurs in Tampa this morning, the Rubio campaign released the following statement:
“Patrick Murphy was caught lying about being a small business owner himself, making him the last person to know what it takes to help Florida’s entrepreneurs succeed. Murphy doesn’t even know whether the business he claims to own is still operating. Florida’s small businesses already have a senator who fights for them, and that’s why local business groups from across the state are supporting Marco’s campaign.” – Michael Ahrens, Rubio spokesman
Murphy lied about being a small business owner:
CBS 4 Miami: “First it is now clear, Murphy was not a small business owner.” REPORTER: “Although Murphy said he would be happy to turn over those documents during our interview in September, what followed were weeks and months of negotiations with his campaign staff. As a private company, Murphy was under no obligation to release anything. Ultimately, the campaign allowed CBS4 News to review copies of the contracts, but only if we agreed not to name the companies who hired them or the dollar amounts of the contracts. First it is now clear, Murphy was not a small business owner. Coastal Environmental was control and financed by Murphy’s father’s company, Coastal Construction. But perhaps most important, neither Patrick Murphy nor Coastal Environmental Services were awarded a single contract to clean up oil in the Gulf.” REP. MURPHY: “Several.” (CBS-Miami, 6/22/16)
Kristen Clark at The Miami Herald said “I don’t think you can say definitively that he owned this company.” THE FIX: “Can you explain the question about whether Patrick Murphy was actually a small business owner?” CLARK: “I don’t think you can say definitively that he owned this company. When Murphy’s on the campaign trail — and even this week, he was on MSNBC saying “I’m a small business guy” — he wants people to know that.” (The Washington Post, 6/24/16)
The Miami Herald disagrees with Murphy’s talking points, substantiating two key findings from the CBS Miami report – that ‘That Murphy never ‘worked’ as a CPA and isn’t a ‘small business owner.’” “However, some of the points that Murphy’s campaign asserts today are false actually aren’t — including the two key conclusions of DeFede’s reporting: That Murphy never ‘worked’ as a CPA and isn’t a ‘small business owner.’” (The Miami Herald, 6/23/16)
The Washington Post called Murphy’s resume embellishment “the consensus among Florida political reporters.” “Rep. Patrick Murphy (D-Fla.) embellished parts of his résumé. That’s the consensus among Florida political reporters who have been looking into the Senate candidate’s stated work history for the past few months. It all came to a head this week when CBS Miami’s Jim DeFede put the pieces together in a two-part investigation. The hard-hitting report was especially noticeable (and noted by national media), given the first part aired on the day Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) announced he was reversing course and seeking reelection, setting up a potential Rubio vs. Murphy general election.” (The Washington Post, 6/24/16)
Murphy recently told The Miami Herald he doesn’t even know if his business is still operational:
VIDEO: When asked whether Coastal Environmental Services is still operating, Murphy said, “You’d have to talk to them. I am not engaged. I’m not an active at Coastal anymore.” REPORTER: “You mentioned the environment as an issue that you’re passionate about a number of times. The business unit of Coastal that you stood up during the spill—is that still operating?” MURPHY: “You’d have to talk to them. I am not engaged. I’m not active at Coastal anymore. My role is in the Congress. I’m plenty busy with what I’m doing, not only in the Congress, but running for the Senate…” (Patrick Murphy, Remarks At Miami Herald Editorial Board [20:22-41], 7/28/16)
Small businesses across Florida are supporting Marco’s campaign:
The Associated Industries of Florida endorsed Marco Rubio, saying “Florida needs his leadership in the U.S. Senate.”‘Marco has led rational efforts to reassert American principles of freedom and representative government throughout the globe. At home, he has fought to protect job growth by fighting onerous draconian regulatory mandates from the executive branch, and has championed pro-growth tax policies. Senator Rubio has long fought for prosperity in Florida, and Florida needs his leadership in the U.S. Senate,’ said Tom Feeney, President and CEO of Associated Industries of Florida. Associated Industries of Florida joins other pro-business groups such as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in recognizing Marco’s continued efforts to reduce taxes and regulation for Florida’s businesses.” (Associated Industries of Florida, Press Release, 8/12/16)
The National Federation of Independent Business endorsed Marco Rubio because he has “proven that he understands what it takes to defend free enterprise and allow small businesses owners to thrive.” The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), the nation’s leading advocate for small business owners, today endorsed Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) for reelection. ‘Small business owners are glad to see Senator Rubio running for re-election,” said NFIB President and CEO Juanita Duggan. ‘In the Senate, he has worked to reduce crushing taxes and protect small business from red tape and regulations. We need him back in the Senate next year continuing to promote pro-growth economic policies.’ … ‘Since his days serving in the Florida House, to his Speakership of the Florida House, to his service in the U.S. Senate, Marco Rubio has proven that he understands what it takes to defend free enterprise and allow small businesses owners to thrive,’ said NFIB/Florida Executive Director Bill Herrle.” (National Federation of Independent Business, Press Release, 7/18/16)
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce endorsed Marco Rubio saying Florida voters have “one of the clearest choices” in this election. “The U.S. Chamber of Commerce stands fully behind Rubio, and so do local affiliates, as he girds up for a general election campaign (likely against Patrick Murphy) that both Rubio and the Chamber see as a stark contrast between an avatar of free enterprise values on one side and a defender of government overreach on the other. … Florida voters, said Engstrom, have ‘one of the clearest choices’ between a Democratic nominee who has been a “consistent failure on economic issues.’ … Engstrom took great pains to speak about Murphy as not trustworthy, saying ‘trust has been broken.’ However, Rubio represents a contrast, said Engstrom, citing Sen. Rubio’s ‘courage to govern’ and willingness to ‘reach across the aisle when appropriate” as “someone sought out to build consensus.’ Daniel Davis of the Jacksonville Chamber pointed out Rubio has ‘always been a friend of Jacksonville small business,’ and that the Chamber’s federal PAC was backing Rubio.” (Florida Politics, 7/28/16)
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