ONEONTA _ Scott Murphy, the Democratic candidate for the vacant 20th Congressional District seat, touted his business experience Wednesday during an hourlong interview with the editorial board of The Daily Star.
Murphy and Republican James Tedisco are striving to succeed Democrat Kirsten Gillibrand, who was appointed to the U.S. Senate this year.
Tedisco, the state Assembly minority leader, is scheduled to meet with the editorial board today.
As managing director of Advantage Capital Partners, Murphy works with small businesses to improve their productivity and create jobs. In the last 15 years, he has helped create more than 1,000 jobs in the state, he said.
``I think that's exactly the right experience for someone to have going to Washington now,'' he said.
As a businessman, Murphy said, he has tried to steer clear of partisan politics. And though he's running for office, he expects to work with Republicans as well as Democrats if elected.
``The challenge of how to get the economy going again is not a partisan problem,'' he said.
Murphy said he is fiscally conservative and plans to join the Blue Dog Coalition, a bloc of like-minded Democrats in Congress. Had he been in office last year, he would have voted against the massive bailout of banks, brokers and insurers ``because there were no strings attached'' to the money.
Furor over how insurer American International Group paid out large bonuses with some of its bailout money, he said, only confirms his belief that the government should set conditions on the money it dispenses.
However, Murphy supports the nearly $800 billion stimulus plan, signed into law by President Barack Obama and containing what Murphy called ``the largest middle-class tax cut in history.''
By lowering payroll taxes, rebuilding infrastructure, extending broadband Internet service and providing money to help counties pay for Medicaid, the stimulus will help to ameliorate the deep recession, he said.
``With the economy in such bad shape, I thought it was a risk we had to take.''
In response to a number of questions, Murphy said he supports:
ä Roe v. Wade, the U.S. Supreme Court decision that permits abortion. ``To me, it's a personal decision.''
ä Civil unions, backed by laws guaranteeing equality for gay and straight couples. Asked if he backs ``gay marriage,'' Murphy said, ```Marriage' is a word associated with private religious beliefs. I'm in favor of civil unions.''
ä The Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, guaranteeing the right to bear arms. ``I received an `A' rating from the NRA,'' he said.
ä Comprehensive immigration reform, including ``securing our borders, making sure employers are not employing people illegally, providing a path to citizenship'' (for illegal aliens) and creating a ``guest worker program'' that would allow foreigners who don't want to become Americans to work here.
Murphy said he believes all Americans should be able to opt into the same health care system offered to members of Congress. He said Medicare should be allowed to bid for drugs from pharmaceutical firms to drive down their cost and that the health care system should be reformed ``so we have more people treating patients and less people pushing paper.''
Murphy gave high marks to Obama for accomplishments in his first 50 days in office, and said he would welcome campaign trail assistance from Obama or Vice President Joe Biden.
However, he said, he does not see the special election in the 20th as a referendum on the new administration.
``The voters I talk to are worried about the economy and jobs,'' he said. ``They want to know how we're going to implement the stimulus plan and make sure the 20th Congressional District gets its fair share.''
When asked about Tedisco's stances and campaign, Murphy said, ``I'll let you ask him.''
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