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 ...
Thanks, smooth. I like the immediate impact of the format. I only wish there were more videos available. Keep an eye out for interesting new stuff, would you?
I can’t imagine what continues to drive Murtha. For a guy who owned a car wash, he’s come further than his wildest dreams. How much money does he need to fill his pockets? How much fun is it really to hang out with Nancy Pelosi?
I sent you an e-mail that people are expecting an important decision from Gen Mattis this coming week. If it swings our way, we’ll have to make the most of it—to keep the heat on the Evil Porker.
I'll go back and look.
General Mattis is the man of the hour now, I hope he sucks in his gut, stands up straight, and honors the Corps.
Thanks for giving me the heads up.
Murtha wouldn't know a "murder" or a "map" if either bit him on his ass, but his sense for treason is uncanny.
After the IO’s recommendation in the Sharratt case, there was a flurry of “Censure Murtha” (etc) activity.
But no politican picked it up as an issue and Murtha kept quiet and rode it out.
If we get the news we expect this week, I’d like to see us attack from a different angle.
Murtha only mattered because of the media. On May 30 06, for instance, Murtha was on CNN literally morning, noon, and night.
Seems to me that, when the good news comes, we should target the media, CNN in particular.
It’s still a longshot that they’ll listen. But we stand a better chance of getting their attention than Murtha’s. And there’s always a chance that liberals will turn on their former best friends and eat their own (figuratively speaking).
I don’t really have a plan in mind but thought I’d throw it out there to see what people thought.
Agreed...We should target all cable news. Though I nor many others watch MSNBC, murtha has appeared there also and they might pick up on the fact that he was dead wrong. It would be a hoot if prissy Cwissy would pick up on it. lol
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