Freshman U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy, D-Jupiter, applauded President Barack Obama for focusing on the economy and a long-term budget deal during the State of the Union speech tonight.

But the swing-district legislator also had a qualm.

“I would like to have heard President Obama speak even more about his commitment to bipartisanship,” Murphy said in a statement.

Murphy was narrowly elected in a Palm Beach-Treasure Coast district that Mitt Romney carried with 51.5 percent. He broke with most of his party to support a largely symbolic Republican balanced-budget resolution last week.

Not surprisingly, Murphy’s three-paragraph reaction to Obama’s speech echoed his campaign pledge to work with both parties.

“Our country is at a tipping point and we need less political gamesmanship and more leadership,” Murphy said. “With this leadership will come stability for our private sector and will help spur investment and access to capital in our communities which will in turn increase economic growth. I have pledged to reach across the aisle and work with both Democrats and Republicans to put the American people before partisanship. That is why I sat with Republican Representative Tom Rice of South Carolina and joined our fellow members of the No Labels’ Problem Solvers group in wearing orange pins to tonight’s address as a show of our commitment to working together.

Freshman U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy, D-Jupiter, broke with most of the Democratic caucus today and voted for a largely symbolic Republican measure requiring President Barack Obama to either submit a budget that balances by 2023 or identify a year when a balanced budget will be achieved.

The measure, which the Democrat-controlled Senate is not expected to consider, passed on a 253-167 vote with Murphy and 25 other Democrats joining 227 Republicans in support. One Republican and 166 Democrats were opposed.

The three other members of Palm Beach County’s congressional delegation — Democratic Reps. Ted Deutch of Boca Raton, Lois Frankel of West Palm Beach and Alcee Hastings of Miramar — all voted no.

Many Democrats derided the measure, with Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Mass., quoted in Roll Call as calling it “a gimmick wrapped in talking points inside a press release.”

Murphy represents a Palm Beach-Treasure Coast district where Republicans slightly outnumber Democrats and Mitt Romney got 51.5 percent of the vote in November. Murphy’s office sent out a press release headlined “Murphy votes with Republicans to demand balanced budget.”

Said Murphy: “Our country is at a tipping point and it is high time that we get serious about addressing our nation’s fiscal issues, which requires a bipartisan, balanced approach. I joined my Republican colleagues today in voting for this bill and demanding that we put a plan in place that leads to a balanced budget. Although I wish the bill had been amending to ensure a balanced approach is taken to reach a balanced budget, this is still an important step in getting our fiscal house in order.”

Before the final vote, Murphy joined Democrats in supporting a failed amendment specifying that efforts to balance the budget “take a balanced, bipartisan approach to deficit reduction that protects the middle class and seniors.”

Former Palm Beach County Tea Party Coordinator Pam Wohlschlegel and a national group called True The Vote have filed a federal lawsuit accusing St. Lucie County Elections Supervisor Gertrude Walker of failing to turn over public records related to Democrat Patrick Murphy‘s narrow victory over former Republican Rep. Allen West in November.

Murphy defeated West by less than 1 percent in Palm Beach-Treasure Coast District 18. In St. Lucie County, which is home to about 37 percent of District 18 voters, Walker admitted some early ballots were double-counted and others were ignored on election night. But after a retabulation of St. Lucie County’s early votes nearly three weeks after the election, vote totals did not change enough to trigger a district-wide recount under state law and West conceded the race.

In a suit filed in federal court in Fort Pierce, True The Vote and Wohlschlegel ask the court to compel Walker to allow the plaintiffs to physically inspect a variety of records, many of which appear to be aimed at determining whether any ineligible people cast ballots.

Walker today said her office had been in ongoing discussions with True The Vote about inspecting records. She said she had not seen the lawsuit and could not immediately comment on it.

Freshman Rep. Patrick Murphy, D-Jupiter, appears around the 1:54 mark of the above video to thank House Majority PAC for its efforts on his behalf. The National Republican Congressional Committee responded with the video below that highlights Murphy’s past description of super PACs as “gross.”

Republicans are slamming freshman U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy, D-Jupiter, for appearing in a web video to thank the House Majority PAC for its efforts on his behalf after he slammed super PACs during his campaign as “gross.”

Murphy says there’s no inconsistency. He says he’s opposed to the Citizens United decision that enabled super PACs and wants to overturn it — but until that happens he’ll play by the rules as they’re written.

Read about it in this week’s Politics column.

Three members of Palm Beach County’s congressional delegation — Rep. Ted Deutch, D-Boca Raton, and newly elected Reps. Lois Frankel, D-West Palm Beach, and Patrick Murphy, D-Jupiter — will take ceremonial oaths of office on Monday in West Palm Beach.

Florida Supreme Court Justice Barbara Pariente will administer the oaths.

The event is scheduled for 5 p.m. in the West Palm Beach City Commission chambers at City Center at 401 Clematis Street.

Members of Congress officially took office Jan. 3.

Freshman U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy, D-Jupiter, made his first speech on the floor of the House and offered an amendment that was voted down today during the debate over extending the federal government’s debt limit.

The Republican-led House voted 285-to-144 to extend the government’s borrowing authority until mid-May. Republicans retreated, at least temporarily, on demands that spending cuts be tied to any increase in borrowing authority. But the GOP succeeded in including language that says members of Congress won’t get paid if their chamber fails to pass a budget by April 15. The Democrat-controlled Senate hasn’t passed a budget for three years.

Before the final vote, the House rejected a Murphy amendment that would have shielded seniors, veterans and active members of the military from any spending cuts. The Murphy amendment failed 277-to-151 vote. All four members of Palm Beach County’s congressional delegation — Democratic Reps. Murphy, Ted Deutch of Boca Raton, Lois Frankel of West Palm Beach and Alcee Hastings of Miramar — voted for the failed amendment.

On the final vote to raise the debt ceiling, Murphy and Deutch joined 84 other Democrats and 199 Republicans in the majority. Frankel and Hastings were opposed. Hastings told Politico.com the measure is unconstitutional because Congress cannot change its pay until the start of a new session.

Former Republican U.S. Rep. Allen West, who just announced a new Internet TV job with conservative PJ Media, says he’s not interested in a 2014 challenge to Democratic U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy for the Palm Beach-Treasure Coast District 18 seat.

Murphy narrowly defeated West last year in America’s most expensive House race. West, whose blunt-spoken conservatism has attracted a national following of admirers and critics, was immediately encouraged by fans to run again in 2014.

Other Republicans who might be interested in running have been waiting on the sidelines for an announcement from West.

The Politics column asked West today what his new “Next Generation” venture means for any potential future run for office.

Here’s the answer West sent via text message:

“My commitment is to the future of the next generation of Americans. The conversation should not be about me but what is the legacy we shall leave to our children and grandchildren, greater debt, a less secure Country and world, diminished opportunity? Shall we be the first generation to fail to ensure the American dream for future generations? So if all you want to know is if I am running for Congressional district 18, the answer is no. My sights and objectives, political and otherwise, are focused on something far greater.”

The two announced candidates for Florida Democratic Party chairman — Hillsborough County Committeeman Alan Clendenin and Leon County Committeewoman Allison Tant — are rolling out big-name endorsements as the Jan. 26 election approaches.

Clendenin and Tant both announced key labor endorsements Tuesday, with Florida AFL-CIO President Mike Williams announcing his support for Clendenin while the Service Employees International Union declared its backing of Tant.

Today, Tant announced the endorsement of U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson and nine U.S. House Democrats, including Democratic National Committee Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz and all four members of Palm Beach County’s House delegation — Reps. Ted Deutch, Alcee Hastings, Lois Frankel and Patrick Murphy.

Clendenin this afternoon unveiled the endorsement of Alex Sink, the party’s 2010 nominee for governor and a potential 2014 candidate. He also has the support of U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor, D-Tampa.

Tant and Clendenin are vying to replace Rod Smith, who isn’t seeking reelection as party chairman.

Former Republican U.S. Rep. Allen West of Palm Beach Gardens lost his November reelection bid, but he snagged two votes for speaker of the House when the newly seated 113th Congress selected its leader today.

There is no requirement that the speaker be a member of the House.

Reps. Paul Broun, R-Ga., and Louie Gohmert, R-Tex., voted for West, joining seven other Republicans who voted for someone other than John Boehner. Boehner — criticized by some Republicans for supporting a “fiscal cliff” deal that broke the GOP’s anti-tax pledge and didn’t rein in entitlement spending — got 220 votes to retain his speakership.

West, who voted against the fiscal cliff deal, is in Phoenix today with his family to watch tonight’s Fiesta Bowl between Kansas State and Oregon. West got a Master’s degree in political science at Kansas State and his wife earned a bachelor’s degree there.

West called the speaker votes “humbling” but said “I don’t think anything about it. I’m out here for a football game.”

West was elected in 2010 to Palm Beach-Broward District 22, but after redistricting he ran in adjacent District 18. Democrat Lois Frankel won the District 22 seat and Patrick Murphy edged West in District 18. Murphy and Frankel were both sworn in today.

Rep. Allen West, R-Palm Beach Gardens, and Democrat Patrick Murphy didn’t agree on much during a bitter and costly U.S. House race that Murphy narrowly won in November.

But West and Murphy have found some common ground in criticizing the “fiscal cliff” deal approved by Congress Tuesday.

West voted against the deal Tuesday night, citing concerns about its tax hikes and failure to rein in spending. Murphy, who will be sworn in Thursday, released a statement late Tuesday saying he’s pleased middle-class tax cuts will be preserved but “extremely disappointed” in the overall package.

The deal prevents an income tax increase for individuals earning less than $400,000 and couples making less than $450,000. But it does little to address long-term deficit and debt issues, merely delaying by two months the imposition of automatic spending cuts that would total $1.2 trillion over 10 years.

That means Murphy and other members of the 113th Congress will have to deal with more fiscal drama as the automatic spending cuts approach and President Barack Obama is expected to ask for an increase in the debt ceiling.

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With 2013 dawning, soon-to-be-sworn-in U.S. Reps. Patrick Murphy and Lois Frankel, whose battleground districts include parts of Palm Beach County, have just completed a fund-raising rush before the ball fell at midnight last night.

It’s all part of an attempt by the two newly elected Democrats to replenish campaign accounts and look like they have some influential backing as they enter Congress. Most of all, brandishing a robust bank book as of the Dec. 31 fund-raising deadline may help ward-off possible challengers in 2014.

Story here:  http://bit.ly/VqpbtK

U.S. Rep. Allen West, R-Palm Beach Gardens, says he won’t support a “fiscal cliff” bill passed by the Senate early this morning.

“No one’s taxes need increase and this Senate legislation does not promote economic growth, debt/deficit reduction, or spending discipline, which should be our main goals,” West said in a statement that was posted on Facebook.

West, a freshman tea party favorite who lost his reelection bid to Democrat Patrick Murphy in November, hasn’t revealed his future political plans. But his statement today suggests he sees some role for himself in the future.

“The day is coming when principled pragmatic Constitutional Conservatives will be sought after to restore the American Republic, and we will answer the call,” West said.

U.S. Rep. Allen West, R-Palm Beach Gardens, offered parting remarks on his congressional Facebook page this afternoon, though he’ll continue to post on a campaign Facebook page.

Tea party freshman firebrand West represents Palm Beach-Broward congressional District 22, but after redistricting he ran for a second term in Palm Beach-Treasure Coast District 18. He narrowly lost in November to Democrat Patrick Murphy in America’s most expensive U.S. House race. Murphy will be sworn in Thursday.

Said West:

“It has been an honor to serve the Constituents of Florida’s 22nd Congressional District. I am deeply thankful to have been given this opportunity. It has been particularly rewarding to have met so many of you personally, and I am humbled that our office was able to make a difference in the lives of thousands of individuals by assisting with their Veterans, Social Security, Medicare and immigration needs.

“I have spent my adult life serving this great nation, and I will continue. Tomorrow, this Facebook page will be taken down until the next chapter is revealed. Stay tuned.

“In the meantime, you may follow me at http://www.facebook.com/ElectAllenWest”

RIVIERA BEACH — Democratic U.S. Rep.-elect Patrick Murphy met with Mayor Thomas Masters this morning and pledged to work with the city on a long-term solution to the problem of beach erosion on Singer Island.

Neither a specific fix — nor a price tag — were discussed in the brief meeting in Riviera Beach City Hall.

Lobbyist Tom DeRita , representing a group called Protect Our Beaches, said pumping sand onto the beach doesn’t work.

“We need the federal government, we need the state government, we need to work together…Our title is Palm Beach County and without the beaches our economic impact can be destroyed,” DeRita said.

“Putting sand down is not just the answer. What we need to do is find a solution that’s going to be permanent, whether it’s the groins or we have to put in some type of solution to stop the erosion.”

Murphy, who takes office next month, said he agrees on the need to do more than periodic sand pumping.

“We need a long-term solution. We can’t continue to have these Band-Aids, and while it’s nice to keep putting the sand back on, that’s a short-term solution and ultimately it’s going to cost all of us, the taxpayers, a lot more money. So we need to work in a coordinated fashion with all governments, all agencies, all groups in tandem to come up with the best solution, wither it’s a breakwater, whatever it may be, we need to look beyond what we’re doing now,” Murphy said.

Fresh off his certification for the District 18 congressional seat, Patrick Murphy appeared on MSNBC’s The Ed Show this evening — but not before host Ed Schultz gave a send-off to Allen West, congratulating West for conceding “after two weeks of kicking and screaming.”

Schultz told Murphy “you are exactly what the Republicans love to put up in front of a crowd. You’re a successful businessman, you understand small business. I’ve done some research on your background.”

Schultz then asked Murphy if he won because of West’s rhetoric.

“It started off with his rhetoric,” Murphy said. “That offended a lot of Republicans. We’d get phone calls from Republicans every day saying ‘Patrick, look, we’re tired of the Tea Party, we’re tired of Allen West. We want somebody with your background as a CPA, as a small business owner, representing us. Part of my campaign was about showing the difference between Allen West and myself but also talking about what I want to do moving forward and my background and why I thought I was the better candidate moving this country forward.”

Schultz said that while Obama wants to raise taxes on those making more than $250,000 a year, Murphy has said he favors a tax hike only for those making $1 million or more. Schultz asked Murphy if he would agree to a tax hike on those making $250,000 and higher if Obama asked for his vote.

“Being a CPA I’ve studied the tax code and unfortunately it’s riddled with loopholes and deductions,” Murphy said. “If we’re going to be serious about making sure we don’t fall off this fiscal cliff so that we do have economic stability going forward, we’re going to have to really look at our tax code from scratch. I said the $1 million because I believe there are so many businesses out there that want to keep that money invested in their companies so that’s why I have the line at $1 million. If we’re going to be serious the first thing I said is that I want to sit down with the Republicans and find compromise to ensure we move this country forward.

“Of course I don’t want to raise taxes on the middle class. But I am fiscally more conservative than the president so that’s where I stand. I’m not saying I wouldn’t compromise because there’s a bigger picture at hand here. That’s where I drew the line but we’ve got to do what’s best for all Americans.”

UPDATED with response from Murphy

Republican U.S. Rep. Allen West announced this morning that he won’t challenge Democrat Patrick Murphy’s narrow victory in their nationally watched battle for the Palm Beach-Treasure Coast congressional District 18 seat.

“While many questions remain unanswered, today I am announcing that I will take no further action to contest the outcome of this election,” West said in a statement released early this morning to The Palm Beach Post.

West later made his concession Fox-official by appearing briefly on Fox & Friends at about 6:15 a.m.

Murphy has led by less than 1 percent since election night. Final results Sunday from Palm Beach, Martin and St. Lucie counties gave the Democrat a lead over West of 1,904 votes or 0.58 percent.

Until now, West has refused to concede, citing admitted errors by St. Lucie County in its initial tallying of more than 37,000 ballots from early voting. West finally succeeded in getting the county to conduct a full retabulation of its early ballots, but the recount failed to reduce Murphy’s margin to the 0.5 percent or closer that would push the race into a full recount of the entire district.

“While there are certainly still inaccuracies in the results and the actions of the St. Lucie County and Palm Beach County Supervisors of Elections rightly raise questions in my mind and for many voters, after much analysis and (Sunday’s) recount in St. Lucie County, our legal team does not believe there are enough over-counted, under-counted or fraudulent votes to change the outcome of the election,” West’s statement said.

(more…)

Republican U.S. Rep. Allen West has neither conceded nor committed to future challenges after final results from St. Lucie, Martin and Palm Beach counties on Sunday showed Democrat Patrick Murphy winning the congressional District 18 race by 1,904 votes or 0.58 percent.

Murphy’s margin is just beyond the state’s 0.5 percent threshold for an automatic recount. And Murphy’s lead would be 242 votes larger if problem-plagued St. Lucie County hadn’t missed Sunday’s noon deadline for submitting final results after a recount of more than 37,000 ballots from early voting.

The state’s Elections Canvassing Commission will meet Tuesday morning in Tallahassee to give final certification to all elections results from across the state. Once the results are certified, West would have 10 days to contest the election — a decidedly uphill proposition.

“We will be discussing how we will move forward at some point tomorrow,” West campaign spokeswoman Michele Hickford said today.

West and his campaign publicly toned down talk of contesting the race as Sunday wore on.

Soon after St. Lucie County blew the noon deadline, West campaign manager Tim Edson declared: “This election is far from over. We will continue to fight on behalf of all voters in District 18 to ensure a fair and accurate count of their votes.”

But later in the afternoon, West issued a statement that left his options open but wasn’t as combative as Edson’s.

“We will review the results of today’s recount and the other available data to determine how to proceed. I have been humbled by the support we have received and the hard work of so many to ensure the integrity of this process,” West said.

A few hours later, West put a statement on Facebook that neither conceded nor mentioned the possibility of fighting on.

“From the bottom of my heart, I want to thank everyone for their support during this effort to ensure the integrity of our electoral process. It is truly humbling. I cannot state enough how proud I am to stand with each and every one of you, patriots all. You are the bedrock of our constitutional republic,” West wrote.

The West campaign remains interested in a report by three Florida Division of Elections auditors who were sent from Tallahassee last week by Secretary of State Ken Detzner to monitor the St. Lucie County elections office.

That report “will likely not be completed until after Thanksgiving,” Detzner spokesman Chris Cate said.

FORT PIERCE — A judge today denied U.S. Rep. Allen West‘s request that he order a recount of 37,379 ballots from early voting in St. Lucie County — effectively leaving the decision up to the county’s canvassing board, which meets today at 4 p.m.

Circuit Judge Dan Vaughn said he did not have the authority to issue an injunction ordering the recount, which West wanted after problems emerged in the counting of early votes on election night.

Unofficial returns show Democrat Patrick Murphy leading the race by 1,907 votes or 0.58 percent in District 18, which includes St. Lucie, Martin and northern Palm Beach counties.

West has not conceded.

In denying West’s motion, Vaughn noted the canvassing board is considering the issue at a meeting this afternoon. The judge also said that West has other legal remedies — specifically mentioning a statute that allows a candidate to contest an election within 10 days of the final certification of results. That certification is scheduled for Tuesday.

After West filed his motion for an injunction on Tuesday in St. Lucie County circuit court, the canvassing board on Thursday scheduled a meeting for this afternoon to consider a full recount of early votes.

Murphy attorney Gerald Richman said in court today that there is no basis for a full recount of early votes and if the canvassing board orders a full recount of them, the Murphy campaign will go to court to try to block it.

“If the canvassing board were to decide that they want to do that without any evidentiary basis to do so, we’ll be back before your honor with a motion for injunctive relief against them doing it because under the law the statute that we cited for your honor they have absolutely no right to do it,” Richman said.

“Now we’re getting both sides threatening us,” said St. Lucie County Attorney Dan McIntyre, representing the canvassing board.

The canvassing board originally planned a full recount of early votes after some were double-counted and others were ignored on election night. But after announcing the full recount late Saturday, the board reversed course Sunday morning and decided to only recount 16,275 ballots from three of the eight days of early voting.

That recount resulted in 799 early votes vanishing from the West-Murphy race. West argued the irregularities that came to light in the partial recount merited a full recount.

West’s attorneys also amended their complaint this morning to ask for a recount of approximately 37,000 absentee ballots from St. Lucie County, but Vaughn did not rule on that petition.

In an amended complaint filed this morning, the West campaign says its review of absentee ballot records shows “significant problems” with those ballots as well the early votes. The West camp says that in some precincts, the number of absentee votes recorded exceeds the number of voters who are listed as casting absentee ballots.

Under Florida law, a candidate must be within 0.5 percent to merit a recount. Murphy’s margin is larger. The West campaign technically wanted the judge — and now the canvassing board — to order a “retabulation” under Florida statutes, which allow a county to conduct such an exercise if it finds errors in its initial tabulation of votes.

If there is a retabulation, West would need to gain a few hundred votes to get within 0.5 percent and trigger a full recount from all three counties.

FORT PIERCE — Republican U.S. Rep. Allen West‘s attorneys this morning amended their request for a recount of more than 37,000 ballots cast during early voting in St. Lucie County to also include a request to recount about 37,000 absentee ballots from the county.

A hearing is set for 1 p.m. before St. Lucie County Circuit Judge Dan Vaughn.

Unofficial returns show Democrat Patrick Murphy leading West by 1,907 votes or 0.58 percent. West has not conceded, citing admitted errors by the St. Lucie County elections office in tallying early votes on election night. Elections Supervisor Gertrude Walker says those problems, which included double-counting some ballots and failing to count others, were rectified in a partial recount Sunday and no further recounts are needed.

In an amended complaint filed this morning, the West campaign says its review of absentee ballot records shows “significant problems” with those ballots as well the early votes. The West camp says that in some precincts, the number of absentee votes recorded exceeds the number of voters who are listed as casting absentee ballots.

Placard-carrying West supporters are marching and chanting outside the courthouse in anticipation of the two-hour hearing.

Under Florida law, a candidate must be within 0.5 percent to merit a recount. Murphy’s margin is larger. The West campaign technically is asking for a “retabulation” under Florida statutes, which allow a county to conduct such an exercise if it finds errors in its initial tabulation of votes.

Attorneys for Republican U.S. Rep. Allen West‘s campaign today will ask a judge for a recount of all 37,379 ballots cast during early voting in St. Lucie County in West’s tight re-election race against apparent Democratic victor Patrick Murphy.

Arguments before St. Lucie County Circuit Judge Dan Vaughn begin at 1 p.m. in Fort Pierce. Follow postonpolitics.com, palmbeachpost.com and twitter.com/gbennettpost for updates.

While waging its court fight, the West legal team also sent a letter late Thursday to Secretary of State Ken Detzner outlining what it says are other inconsistencies in St. Lucie County’s vote totals and arguing that “serious doubt exists as to the accuracy of the vote count so far reported by St. Lucie County.”

Detzner has sent three representatives to Fort Pierce to monitor the St. Lucie County elections office and make recommendations.

Unofficial returns show Murphy edging West by 1,907 votes or 0.58 percent in congressional District 18, which includes St. Lucie, Martin and northern Palm Beach counties.

West has not conceded, citing problems with the early vote tally in St. Lucie County, where Elections Supervisor Gertrude Walker has acknowledged her office double-counted some ballots and ignored others on election night.

Walker says the problem was limited to ballots cast on the last three days of early voting. She says a partial recount of those ballots Sunday — in which 799 votes disappeared from the West-Murphy race and 448 new votes were discovered in the Fort Pierce mayor’s race — fixed the problems and no additional recounts are needed.

The West campaign says the irregularities that came to light in the partial recount of early votes justify a full recount of all the early ballots. West’s motion asks Vaughn to order a full recount and bar the county from certifying its results until such a recount is complete.

Counties must file certified results with the state by noon Sunday. The state’s Elections Canvassing Commission gives final certification to all results Tuesday.