Murphy, Miller debate tax cuts, spending and healthcare

Democratic U.S. Rep. Stephanie Murphy and her Republican challenger, Mike Miller, squared off Tuesday at Orlando’s Tiger Bay Club, debating a wide range of topics including tax reform, whether to impeach President Donald Trump and climate change.

Elected in 2016 over longtime GOP U.S. Rep. John Mica, Murphy pitched herself to Central Florida’s largest political club as a moderate who has worked across the aisle and been rated by Quorom, a software company that also specializes in legislative tracking, as the most effective legislator of her freshman class.

Miller, a two-term Republican state representative, pledged if elected to the District 7 seat to vote to further lower taxes and spend less. He also said he would propose a balanced budget amendment, similar to one used in the Florida Legislature. The district covers Seminole County, most of Orlando and Winter Park, where both candidates live.

The two sparred over the taxreform bill passed by Congress last year and signed by Trump.

Murphy, who opposed the bill, said she supports tax cuts for small businesses and the middle class, and that the Republican tax bill mainly helped the wealthy.

“The Republican tax bill disproportionately benefitted the wealthiest among us,” she said.

But Miller credited the tax bill with improving the economy and employment numbers, which in turn could lead to increased wages.

“Four percent growth needs to be sustained,” Miller said. “I think we’re seeing right now the results of a tax package that we’ve yet to see the best part about it.”

In response to a question on government spending, Miller said a bill proposed by Murphy that would withhold congres-