1st District Democrat: Pat Murphy

My story, like my name, probably sounds familiar. It's not a Hollywood story, but it's a pretty good Iowa story.

My wife Teri and I raised four kids in the house she grew up in. For us, raising them and putting food on the table was always a joint effort. Teri has been a nurse for 33 years, and in addition to serving Dubuque in the state legislature, I've taught at our local community college and worked in the hospital just down the street from our house in Dubuque.

Our kids are grown up and have children of their own now. We're lucky to have all four living and working in Iowa, and raising our grandkids here, too. They're teachers, union workers, public servants, and one even builds bridges.

While life isn't always easy for them, or for us, we're all getting by. But for too many Iowans, that's not always true. That's a big part of why I'm running for Congress. And that's why for more than two decades I fought for families like ours in the state legislature.

As Speaker of the Iowa House, the first bill I passed was a raise in the minimum wage. We were the first state in the country to pass the Lily Ledbetter Act helping women get equal pay, and I'm proud to have authored the Hawk-i trust fund that expanded health care to nearly 40,000 Iowa kids. We gave teachers a pay raise, defended the civil rights of Iowans, created jobs and brought our schools into the 21st century so our kids can be prepared to compete in this new global economy.

I want to bring that record to Washington and get Congress refocused on helping grow our middle class. As a Democrat who believes in standing up for the little guy, defending workers' rights and treating everyone equally, I'm going to fight for our values. As an Iowan, I'm going to work hard to get that done.

From raising the minimum wage and finally getting a fair-pay-fo-women act passed, to standing up to Republicans who want to repeal health care for 8 million Americans, I've got the commitment and the right experience to get the job done. All I need, and all I ask for, is your help.

I'd be honored to have your vote in the Democratic primary on Tuesday. And I'd be honored to be your voice in Washington - because they need to hear more stories like yours and mine.

' Pat Murphy of Dubuque is a Democratic 1st District candidate for Congress. Comments: info@patmurphyforiowa.com