Peters Native to Challenge Rep. Murphy

A Peters man announced Wednesday morning he will challenge Congressman Tim Murphy, R-Upper St. Clair, in the 2012 Republican primary, according to a release.

“We need leadership Murphy cannot provide because he is part of the problem,” said Evan Feinberg, 27, in a statement.

A former aide to GOP Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky and Tom Coburn of Oklahoma, Feinberg filed necessary paperwork to challenge five-term incumbent Tim Murphy in the Republican primary to represent the 18th District of Pennsylvania in the U.S. House of Representatives Wednesday.

"The people of southwestern Pennsylvania deserve a representative who shares their principles and values and will put the next generation before the next election,” he said. “America is on the brink of fiscal ruin and Tim Murphy has been a willing and enthusiastic contributor to our country’s fiscal catastrophe. Murphy’s voting record is clear: he is for Big Government, Big Bailouts and Big Labor.

“Since Tim Murphy first came to Congress, the federal government has doubled in size and the national debt has exploded to nearly $15 trillion,” he continued. “If reckless politicians like Tim Murphy have their way, Washington will pile on trillions more, mortgaging my son’s future.

"Tim Murphy voted for every bailout that came across his desk, handing out billions of taxpayer dollars to Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and the auto industry. Even worse, Murphy has consistently stood against job creators and voted for anti-worker measures like the ‘card check’ bill to eliminate the secret ballot in union elections.

“The time of Arlen Specter Republicanism is over,” he said. “We need leadership in Congress that Tim Murphy cannot provide because he is part of the problem. The people of Pennsylvania’s 18th District deserve a representative who will care more about their jobs than his own. I look forward to taking my message of limited government, pro-growth policy and honest governance to the people.”

According to the Pittsburgh-Tribune Review, Murphy, R-Upper St. Clair, first won election to the southwestern district in 2002, and has never faced a primary challenger for the seat. He beat his Democratic opponent, Dan Connolly, by a 2-1 margin last year.

This article first appeared on Peters Patch.