From October 23, 2022 post

In a statewide debate hosted by the Spokesman-Review and League of Women Voters, U.S. Senator Patty Murray made clear to Washington state viewers that there is a clear choice in this election and that she will be the strongest, most effective voice for Washington state voters in the U.S. Senate. 

Murray outlined her work to lower costs and build an economy that works for everyone—not just giant corporations and billionaires, her fight to protect every woman’s right to make her own health care decisions, and her commitment to protecting our democracy. 

“We talked about a lot of really important topics tonight,” said Senator Patty Murray. “But what you didn’t hear is anything from my opponent about: restoring the right to abortion nationwide, protecting our democracy and every American’s right to vote, or even serious solutions for lowering families’ costs or getting illegal guns off our streets.”

“These have been really challenging times. I know what that’s like,” continued Murray. “My family struggled growing up: working class, 6 siblings, dad was a WWII veteran who ran a small store on Main Street in Bothell—so I fight for an economy that puts working families first. In the last year and a half, I’ve passed bills to lower prescription drug costs, deliver the biggest middle class tax cut in generations, lower energy costs and fight climate change, and bring manufacturing jobs back to Washington state.

“My opponent—as you saw tonight—gave you Mitch McConnell and Donald Trump’s talking points,” said Murray in closing. “We don’t need a voice in the other Washington who’s there to work for Mitch McConnell and Donald Trump. We need someone who is looking out for our state, first, foremost, and always. And Washington, if you give me your votes, that is exactly what I will do as your United States Senator.”

Fighting for Lower Costs and a Stronger Economy: Patty Murray’s top priority in Congress right now is lowering everyday costs for people in Washington state. In just the past year and a half, Patty has helped pass the Inflation Reduction Act to lower prescription drug costs, lower health care costs, and lower energy costs. Patty is fighting in Congress to pass her child care plan to save parents thousands of dollars per year on child care. Patty is also focused on getting state and local governments the resources they need to build more housing to drive down rent and mortgage costs for families everywhere.

And she’s passed legislation like the CHIPS and Science Act and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to lower costs in the long-term, too–investing in our infrastructure and strengthening supply chains so that more goods and services are available to help drive down costs. 

Patty is focused on middle-class tax cuts, not tax breaks for billionaires. That’s why Patty helped push for and pass one of the largest middle-class tax cuts in history through the expanded Child Tax Credit, which cut child poverty nearly in half—and is fighting to make the expanded Child Tax Credit permanent. 

THE DIFFERENCE: Tiffany Smiley  said she supports Rick Scott’s extreme agenda, which would sunset all federal programs after 5 years, potentially ending them permanently  — including Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, and the Affordable Care Act. Importantly Smiley wants to extend the Trump tax cuts permanently which: showered benefits on the very wealthiest  – the richest 5 percent of Americans received more than one-quarter of the benefits of the tax, and increased the debt by $2.3 trillion. Tiffany Smiley is trying to scare voters– but she has no serious solutions to bring down inflation or address rising costs—and would just be another rubber stamp for Mitch McConnell. From the Seattle Times: “Smiley has consistently said she will “rein in the out-of-control spending” she says is fueling inflation. But she has consistently declined to say what spending she would cut.” 

Original source can be found here.