Patrick Murphy—against free trade (except when it makes his family money)

Yesterday Florida Senate candidate Patrick Murphy continued his desperate lurch to the left and formally came out in opposition to the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) deal.

Murphy cited environmental concerns and the need to “level the playing field” for Florida businesses. Yet Coastal Construction, owned in part by Patrick Murphy, wasn’t focused on using environmentally safe American products when it was importing Chinese Drywall to build homes in South Florida, leading to a multi-district class action lawsuit.

Among the environmental problems associated with Murphy’s company’s Chinese imports (which led to a multimillion-dollar settlement) are:

“[H]igh levels of sulfur, which may be responsible for a rotten egg smell in affected homes, blackened or corroded pipes, failure of air conditioners and other household appliances, and health problems such as asthma, coughing, headaches, sore throats, and irritated eyes.”

So…if it helps ex-Republican Murphy win in a Democratic primary, he’s against free trade.  If it puts cash in his family’s pocket, he’s for it—even if it hurts Florida businesses, families and the environment.