Rep.-elect from Florida pledges support for climate change legislation

By Zack Colman - 12/07/12 09:48 AM ET

Rep.-elect Patrick Murphy (D-Fla.) said he is ready to come out swinging on climate change.

Murphy, who will replace Tea Party favorite Rep. Allen West (R-Fla.), said he would support climate change legislation, according to The Miami Herald.

"Unfortunately we have far too many politicians who continue to bury their heads in the sand and pretend it's not happening," Murphy said Thursday at the Southeast Florida regional climate leadership summit in Jupiter, Fla.

Murphy also said he would be a “passionate advocate” for the Everglades and on other environmental issues.

Murphy is vice president of Coastal Environmental Services, a disaster relief and environmental clean-up firm.

West conceded to Murphy on Nov. 20 in what was one of the most expensive House races during the 2012 campaign.

West had challenged the election results, which showed Murphy with a less than a 1-percentage-point lead.

That deficit was too large to trigger a recount, but West won a legal challenge to force St. Lucie County to review early ballots. That process added to Murphy’s lead, pushing West to give up.