Two Florida Democratic congressmen running to replace U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., offered contrasting styles on Wednesday as they look ahead to 2016.
U.S. Reps. Alan Grayson and Patrick Murphy, D-Fla., spoke at the annual AP Florida Legislative Planning Session in Tallahassee and made their cases for why they should be in the Senate.
Grayson pointed to his record in Congress, insisting he was a successful congressman even with the GOP in control of the House.
“I have passed more bills ... than any other member,” Grayson said. “I’ve also written more bills than any other member of the House of Representatives.
“I get things done,” Grayson added, calling himself a “bold progressive” whose political hero was Claude Pepper, the 20th century Florida Democrat who carved out a reputation for protecting seniors during his decades in both chambers of Congress.
Asked how he is so successful in getting his bills through, Grayson said he worked hard and tried to get blocks of representatives behind his proposals. “I figure out a way to make things more palatable or shame the Republicans into it,” Grayson said.
Grayson called for increasing Social Security benefits and extending Medicare to cover eyes, ears and dental work which were not included when it was launched 50 years ago. Showcasing his “Seniors Deserve a Raise Act,” Grayson called for giving Social Security recipients a 3 percent cost of living increase, noting that the Social Security Administration is expected to announce later this week that it will keep benefits the same.
The Central Florida congressman also highlighted his proposal to “eliminate the double taxation of Social Security” when taken out of paycheks and, later, when benefits are issued to seniors.
“I think I can actually get this done,” Grayson said of that proposal.
Noting that small donors back him, Grayson insisted he is “unbought and unbossed” and made no apologies for his freewheeling style and constant attacks on the GOP.
“I don’t try to bore people with the usual dribble,” Grayson insisted before calling old rival U.S. Rep. Dan Webster, R-Fla., as “utterly unqualified” to be speaker of the House. Grayson labeled Webster a “puppet in the hands of the extreme right wing” who will not be speaker when the smoke clears.
“Republicanism in the House of Representatives is cannibalizing itself,” Grayson said, adding the GOP’s chief mentality was “rich people don’t have enough money.”
Murphy noted he used to be a Republican but events like the Iraq war and the BP oil spill moved him over to the Democrats. Calling for more spending on education, Murphy voted to protect entitlements like Medicare and Social Security and pledged to find “bipartisan cooperation” on fiscal issues. But Murphy added he would not retreat on certain issues including same-sex marriage, abortion, immigration and protecting the environment.
Asked about where he parts with Grayson, Murphy said, “The biggest difference between us is style.”
Murphy noted that he votes with Grayson around 90 percent of the time but called his primary rival a “bomb thrower” and “name caller” and said he offered a contrast with that style.
“You have to find the common ground and move the ball forward,” Murphy said.
“I’m going to do the best job I can for Florida,” Murphy said. “We have a great opportunity to win this seat.”
Attorney Pam Keith is also running for the Democratic nomination to replace Rubio. Currently running for the GOP presidential nomination, Rubio has said he will not seek a second term in the Senate come 2016.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or follow him on Twitter: @KevinDerbySSN
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