To be added to the Murtha Watch ping list please notify myself or RedRover.
Posted on 08/04/2007 12:50:01 PM PDT by jazusamo
WASHINGTON -- Pennsylvania's Rep. John Murtha is still the king of the earmark.
The Johnstown Democrat has snagged more than $150 million in pet projects in the massive 2008 defense appropriations bill, putting him ahead of all 434 other House members, according to an analysis this week from Taxpayers for Common Sense, or TCS, a watchdog group.
Mr. Murtha's ascent is not surprising. When his party won control of Congress last year, Mr. Murtha, one of the most senior members, again became chairman of the House's powerful panel on defense spending.
But Democratic leaders have called for a 50 percent reduction in earmarks this year, in keeping with their campaign promise to clean up a process that has become tainted by rapidly growing spending and several high-profile scandals, including the imprisonment of Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham, a California lawmaker who was convicted of bribery.
For the first time, House members are required to certify that they have no financial interest in the earmarks they sponsor through public letters to the appropriations committee. Also, the committee has released a report pairing sponsors with their earmarks.
The House is considering a $459.6 billion defense spending bill for the upcoming fiscal year, containing 1,337 earmarks with a price tag of about $3 billion.
Mr. Murtha is the recipient of 48 earmarks worth $150.5 million. Last year, his earmarks were valued at about $80 million to $100 million, said Steve Ellis, a vice president for TCS.
The increase may follow the change in Mr. Murtha's power status, but it also comes as other members are seeing a cut in their share of the earmark pie.
"He certainly wasn't sharing the pain," Mr. Ellis said. "There were the little people, and then there was Chairman Murtha."
TCS and other watchdog groups don't object to all...
(Excerpt) Read more at post-gazette.com ...
These kind of earmarks are why no money is being spent on infrastructure (ie. bridges)
To be added to the Murtha Watch ping list please notify myself or RedRover.
I hope Ms Irey kicks his fat ass next time.
$150,000,000—think of the bridges we could fix....
You and me both! I hope she runs again.
more than $150 million in pet projects : Lots of bridges ?
Yep...That’s a lot of money for pet projects, disgraceful!
Hmmm, this could get interesting.
I wonder if Diana Irey wil run against Murtha in 08?
Murtha was one of only eight in the House to vote against the Ethics bill, you’re right, it’ll get interesting. He’s going to have to figure a new way to hide his corruption.
Too late ... the damage has been done and the fat one has been busy all this time cementing his creds and ordering cement.
There has been indications that she may not, we’ll just have to wait and see I guess.
Huh? al-Murthawi spends his money on infrastructure!
What a scum bag. My opinion of him continues to get worse.
I love that pic of murthawi's road to nowhere, it befits him. He's a nowhere!
I wonder if he is still in the business of getting kick-backs for delivering votes and power.........scannell
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