INTERVIEW
William J. Murphy
POSITION: Speaker of the R.I. House of Representatives; partner in the Providence law firm of Murphy & Fay LLP
BACKGROUND: William J. Murphy was first elected as House Speaker in January 2003, and was elected to a second term in January 2005. A Democrat, Murphy has served in the House since 1992. He represents District 26 (West Warwick, Coventry and Warwick).
EDUCATION: B.A. in politics and government, University of Hartford, 1985, and J.D. from Franklin Pierce Law Center, Concord, N.H., 1989.
RESIDENCE: West Warwick
AGE: 43
House Speaker William J. Murphy faces a potentially tumultuous year, with an election coming up and several divisive issues on the table, most notably a proposal to amend the Rhode Island Constitution to make it possible for Harrah’s Entertainment and the Narragansett Indians to put a casino in his hometown of West Warwick. PBN sat down with Murphy on Jan. 27, two days after Gov. Donald L. Carcieri’s State of the State address, to discuss the year ahead.
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PBN: What did you think of the governor’s State of the State address?
MURPHY: Being an election year, it was a very safe State of the State address – many broad strokes without specifics…. As of this [interview], we have not seen the state’s budget yet. We realize that it’s going to be a very difficult budget, and it’s one where we anticipate a large deficit. So as far as the speech is concerned, it was one that was a safe one. I think much of that has to do with the fact that we have a large deficit and that it is an election year.
PBN: Speaking of the deficit, what parts of the budget will the House look at to close the gap?
MURPHY: We’re going to look across the board. Anytime you have a deficit, there’s no question it will be a difficult year. In order to close the gap, just about everything has to be put on the table. The House Finance Committee and the House Finance staff will do the job that they do year in and year out – to make sure that they have public hearings and to make sure that all the issues are adequately heard. We will scrutinize every revenue source that we have and will look at all areas of our spending.
PBN: Will the House consider the governor’s proposal for science and technology tax credits?
MURPHY: Any proposal that is suggested to bring new businesses to Rhode Island will always get a fair look…. We’ve seen tax credits work. As we look out the window here, we see the development of the Masonic Temple by Sage Hospitality Resources. With the film and tax credit, which the General Assembly passed last year, we’ve already reaped the rewards from that legislation.
PBN: Are energy concerns still topping the House agenda for the 2006 session?
MURPHY: Energy is a very big issue. The governor addressed that in his State of the State address. On the House side, Majority Leader Gordon Fox and the rest of the leadership [are] looking at ways to address the issue of the skyrocketing cost of energy. The reason why some of this is difficult with energy is that some of the answers are found at the federal level. But as a state, there are certain things that we can accomplish. We’re looking at tax credits for the purchase of energy-efficient products and weatherization. We’re also considering bulk purchasing.
PBN: Why did you suggest looking at the idea of a full-time Legislature when this session started?
MURPHY: I have not said that I support a full-time Legislature, but I think it’s an idea that’s at least worth studying…. There are only a few pure full-time legislatures. What I think we need here in Rhode Island, in our post-separation of powers era, is a full-time, professional staff in different disciplines.
PBN: If forced to choose between your job as Speaker and your career as a lawyer, which would you choose, and why?
MURPHY: If it’s a pure, 100-percent full-time Legislature where you were not able to work in another capacity… I would choose my private-sector job. I’ve spent years building a law practice. Also, politics comes to an end for everybody at some point. I’ve got a family with two young children to support.
PBN: Has your opinion changed on the plan to put a casino in West Warwick?
MURPHY: We expect the casino to be proposed. Legislation has already been proposed. I’m not sure if it’s the final version that Rep. Timothy A. Williamson [D-Coventry, West Warick] will propose, but we believe that people of Rhode Island have the right to decide whether or not a casino should be here.
PBN: Even if that means changing the constitution, which is what this year’s bill calls for?
MURPHY: We don’t change the Constitution; the people of Rhode Island are the ones who would change the constitution. I’m all for the right of the people to vote on this issue. Whether they vote for it or against it is not the concern.
PBN: Why is now the right time to raise the minimum wage?
MURPHY: We have people that are being saddled with high energy costs and the cost of living. We think that it is only fair that we increased the minimum wage. The raise in the minimum wage is important because it will help… some people in society have a better quality [of life]. Some of these individuals have to make decisions between food and rent.
PBN: Do you expect the discourse on the House floor to be as lively as it was in 2004, the last election year?
MURPHY: We are a House that since I’ve been Speaker has enjoyed lively debate…. We encourage debate. Sometimes people say it gets a bit too raucous, but we’re not here to stifle debate; we’re here to encourage it. And we think that emotionally charged debate on the House floor is very good for the state of Rhode Island.
