Murphy was named a "Hero of the Taxpayer" by Americans for Tax Reform.[36] Notably, he voted to increase the debt limit along with historic budget cuts in August 2011.[37] Prior to that, he approved the "short term" debt limit increase.[38]
Murphy supported a House earmark ban in theory but made nearly $14 million in earmark requests in 2010.[39] The left-leaning lobbying group called Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) released its third annual report on the most corrupt members of Congress titled "Beyond DeLay: The 22 Most Corrupt Members of Congress (and two to watch)".[40] Murphy was included on the list. CREW issued its analysis of Murphy's alleged ethical lapses.[41][41]
Murphy co-sponsored the Currency Reform for Fair Trade Act, along with Democratic Representative Tim Ryan of Ohio. The bill, which passed the House of Representatives on September 29, 2010, received bi-partisan support. The final vote was 348–79. The measure would authorize the United States Department of Commerce to impose tariffs and countervailing duties against goods from countries with currencies that it deems are undervalued.[42]
Murphy told WDUQ that the goal was to "protect domestic manufacturers and the steel industry from countries unwilling to compete fairly in the global marketplace". He added that by tying China's currency to the dollar and not floating its currency on the open market, China could undercut US manufacturers by 40%. In other words, manufacturers in China could make and ship products to the US for less than a US manufacturer could buy the raw materials.[43] The Senate failed to take up the legislation, and Murphy reintroduced the bi-partisan measure in February 2011.[43]
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