John Murtha - All that Pork But No Jobs

by Sammy Benoit: Congressman John Murtha reminds me of the character Big Julie in the Guys and Dolls, who boasts: “I got a poifect record: thoity-three arrests, no convictions.”

Months ago, the FBI raided the offices of the PMA group. What they found suggested that Murtha and his buddies at the PMA Group operated their own little Earmark Factory. You have to give Congressman John Murtha points for creativity. Almost every day, Murtha finds a brand new way to disgrace the US Congress he sits in, or the Marine uniform he once wore.

He convicted some of our military heroes in the "court of public opinion" by claiming a"massacre" of which they were later cleared . He hasn't fessed up to his mistake and apologized. Neither has he apologized for being named by the Citizens Against Government Waste for being the biggest government waste Porker in Congress getting almost two thirds of the vote.

Last year Murtha's was caught having a $2,000 shopping spree at a NRA convention (using campaign funds). The Second amendment give him the right to buy guns at an NRA convention ...but he is supposed to do it WITH HIS OWN MONEY.

The worst part of Murtha's use of the Federal Budget as his personal "reward my buddies" fund is that according to the Washington Post, all of those earmarks aren't generating many jobs. Murtha's claim that his earmarks are bringing home the bacon is false, he is bringing home nothing but fat:

FORD CITY, PA. -- In 2005, Rep. John P. Murtha announced here that a technology firm was moving into an abandoned plate glass factory. Best of all, he promised, the new firm would generate 140 jobs.

The Pennsylvania Democrat steered $150 million in defense money to Caracal Inc., along with a $3 million grant for factory renovations. "Today's ribbon-cutting ceremony is yet another indication that our investment in this region's economic revitalization is paying off," he said that day. But Caracal never created the jobs the congressman touted. The firm peaked at 10 employees and then folded in early 2008. Once its Murtha-engineered Navy contracts ended, the company could not survive.

Murtha, 78, the chairman of the House Appropriations defense subcommittee, has been dubbed the "King of Pork" because he is the House member with the most requests for earmarks, funding added by lawmakers without going through normal reviews. Murtha has defended the practice as a way to create jobs in this hard-hit former coal-mining region.

"Let me tell you: We look at jobs. How do we attract jobs?" he said. A Washington Post analysis of Murtha's earmarks, however, shows that his job promises often come up short. Of 16 local companies the congressman has helped win federal earmarks, 10 have generated far fewer jobs than forecast, and half of those already have closed operations in his district. Murtha's strategy yielded some successes too. Four firms have expanded dramatically with the aid of earmarks, notably Concurrent Technologies Corp., which after more than a dozen years of earmarks has grown to employ 800 in Johnstown and now wins competitively bid contracts.

The Post analysis illustrates the fleeting success of some of the companies backed by earmarks. Some of the jobs generated by Murtha's earmarks cost about $2 million each, and scores disappeared as soon as projects were completed.

At $2 million per job Murtha's earmarks are worse than Obama's porkulus bill.

Peter Fiske, a former defense executive in Murtha's district, said awarding earmarks to fledgling companies often backfires, a problem that might be avoided with a more rigorous assessment of project risks. Fiske helped found RAPT Industries, a company that Murtha forecast would generate 45 new jobs. It shuttered its four-person office this year.

"If you looked at Congressman Murtha's efforts in the same way you look at an investor's efforts, it's easy to see that the business model originally conceived hasn't really panned out in terms of its rate of return, " Fiske said. Stagnant joblessness

Murtha's office said that all new businesses have a high failure rate and that it is natural for him to be optimistic in the early days of a startup.

"Have we seen startup companies offer a good product only to fail in the end? Unfortunately, yes. But, we've seen a far greater number of companies come to western Pennsylvania and find success, illustrated by the fact that today our local unemployment rate is below the national average," spokesman Matthew Mazonkey said.

In October, the national jobless rate hovered around 10 percent, while the nine counties in Murtha's mountainous central Pennsylvania district reported unemployment of 7.7 to 10.6 percent.

For all the billions in federal contracts the congressman has steered to the region in the past 10 years, now at a rate of $100 million a year, joblessness in his distressed district has not improved. In six of the nine counties in his district, the unemployment rate rose or did not budge, from 1998 to 2008, according to state employment records.

Steve Ellis, vice president of Taxpayers for Common Sense, said members of Congress in economically depressed areas, such as rural Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Mississippi, have tried for years to use earmarks to generate new industry. But he contends the money is wasted because those areas are still left with some of the lowest household incomes and highest unemployment rates in the nation.

"This method continues to fail everywhere it is tried," Ellis said. "Just throwing as much money as possible at your community, or strong-arming larger defense contractors into moving into the area, isn't a sustainable business model, because some day Representative Murtha isn't going to be chairman anymore."

I guess that makes it "thoity-three four arrests, no convictions." . . . [Full Story]

Low blows done by Murtha

by Thomas J. Smith, Taxpayer: In response to the letter to the editor stating that criticism of U.S. Rep. John Murtha, D-Johnstown, was a cheap shot and a low blow, I offer the following comments. n my opinion, this letter was inaccurate since everything that was written about Rep. Murtha in the original letter is documented and true.

I do believe when Murtha said to the mainstream press, without checking the facts, "those Marines killed innocent civilians in cold blood," that was a low blow. When those Marines were later proved innocent and Murtha, to this day, has refused to apologize to the Marines, his constituents and the American people, this is a low blow. In his last campaign when he announced to the news media that some of his constituents were "rednecks and racist," this was a low blow.

As a constituent of Murtha's, it gives me no pleasure that for many years he has been known as the ``King of Pork,'' in the U.S. House of Representatives. Being a frugal, pay-as-you-go individual, this is yet another low blow for me.

Rep. Murtha's favorable endorsement and yes vote to TARP funding and bailout legislation was another low blow. His yes vote to cap-and-trade, which will do nothing for the environment but bring in a huge amount of tax dollars, was another low blow. His yes vote and support of nationalized health care, which will give our out-of-control government more power over the American people than most people can fathom, was still another low blow.

It is my firm belief that the one person continuously giving low blows to his constituents is U.S. Representative John Murtha. History tells us that Murtha will be out next election visiting various towns, supporters and spe" and in return they will be inclined to support and vote for him, which will be yet another low blow.

The amount of debt that this Congress, including Rep. Murtha, has saddled the American people with is staggering. It is so staggering that the "for me generations" will never need or be able to pay it back. This debt will fall to our children, grandchildren and many future generations. This is to date possibly the lowest blow of all from Rep. John Murtha.

Tim Kaine approves of the corrupt voting practices of John Murtha

John Murtha has been known to declare without count votes in the US congress in the favor of his liking. One You Tube in 2007 shows a few Ayes and resounding No’s and he picked the Ayse… no count… and worse insists no rules of accountability  Does the chairman of the democratic party approve and if so should he be fired?  Yes, they do nothing about congressmen like Murtha and they should all be fired.  [Source]

John Murtha Cap and Trade: No Jobs

The Conservative Reform Network: Obama Pelosi Democrat John Murtha is not good for his district. Pennsylvania House 12.

On climate control, the CBO tells us “industries that produce or use fossil fuels like coal ‘intensively’ could see their employment levels decline due to a cap on carbon.” The employment impact could be “significant.” The impact on southwest Pennsylvania will be significant. One wonders why US Rep. John Murtha voted for this bill that reduces work opportunities for his constituents in the southeast. As work opportunities shrink, the voters become more and more dependent on his access to government dollars solidifying his power and status in the community. Jack Murtha is manipulating the economics of his district for his personal gain.

It is unclear why the United Mine Workers continue to support John Murtha. Are the Organizers of Organized Labor profiting more than workers they represent? Are Union Organizers selling out their constituents.

Pelosi’s New Pet - Rep. John Murtha

by William Warren:

Oddsplayers See John Murtha Vulnerable in 2010

The Conservative Reform Network: [T]he professional odds makers have done extensive polling in the district and find John Murtha vulnerable in 2010. Pat Toomey will be running in 2010 and Pat Toomey will expose the Pelosi Murtha economic policies as ineffective. Unfortunately, I don’t think employment will be significantly down by November 2010. In my opinion, the economy will be worse by the November 2010 election.

Murtha’s southwestern Pennsylvania district was the only one in America that voted for the Kerry-Edwards ticket in 2004 and McCain-Palin in 2008 — narrowly, both times.

Oink: How your stimulus billions are being wasted

Press-Telegram: The California Energy Commission had received $226 million in federal stimulus money for green-energy and other conservation projects. That's a tidy sum for creating jobs, since the state's unemployment rate continues to rise, probably to 20 percent if all facets of joblessness are tallied. After all, the $787 billion stimulus package was designed to address joblessness.

The term "shovel ready" was used, and meant that once the money was received, millions of jobs would be created. Problem solved. Except, as the state auditor's office noted, not a penny of the $226 million for the Energy Commission, which has been available for months, has been spent. So much for jobs. . . .

Impressive and practical, however, don't begin to describe a list of the "most wasteful stimulus projects," described on the Business Insider website. So, hang on to your tax money, Americans, and discover once again why big government has never met a spending program it didn't like.

Canadian crossing: $31 million is being spent to secure two border crossing in Montana. About 20 cars cross from there to Canada daily.

Let the sun shine in: As an energy-saving measure $2.2 million worth of skylights will be installed in Montana's state-run liquor warehouse.

How did the turtle cross the road? In Florida, where 11.2 percent of residents are unemployed, $3.4 million in stimulus money is being used to build an underground tunnel so turtles and alligators don't get hurt crossing the road. . . .

Stop us if you've heard this one: You've probably heard about this one before, but it's worth repeating: Rep. John Murtha of Pennsylvania has the Youngstown airport named after him. Even though the airport serves about 20 travelers a day, Murtha convinced dispensers of your cash to provide $800,000 for a huge backup runway.

Window to waste: Microsoft has garnered $11 million for a bridge to connect its two campuses. Local officials claim the bridge will ease traffic, which might be true, but - perish the thought - Bill Gates could have funded this one out of petty cash.

Creating a problem: Union, N.Y. is getting $578,661 to help solve its homeless problem. That's great, except the city doesn't have a homeless problem. You have to wonder if the city couldn't have reaped more federal funds if it had created a homeless problem, which would justify the half-million to then solve it.

DOA: Finally, the Social Security Administration spent $2.5 million sending out 10,000 stimulus checks to ... people who are deceased.

So, while the state Energy Commission dithers on how to spend its windfall, other entities all over this great land of ours have their shovels ready to scoop us cash for dubious projects we taxpayers are funding. Remember that next April 15.

Bill Russell Challenging John Murtha Outraises Every Congressional Candidate in PA

The Conservative Reform Network Blog: Republican Bill Russell, who is challenging Democrat John Murtha US House-12, has raised more money than any other Pennsylvania Congressional candidate this quarter. . . . Only one House candidate in Pennsylvania has raised more money than Bucks County’s Patrick Murphy, an ally of John Murtha: 12th District Republican William Russell, running against John Murtha, has accumulated $2 million. [December 9th, 2009]

Dec 7th - "Day Of Infamy" ...

Since history today often omits the truth and fails to warn about the danger and the damage that may be created by our enemies when our leaders are weak in addressing foreign threats, it seems appropriate that we remember December 7th "A Day in Infamy . . ." Follows is a post By SJA: Early on the afternoon of December 7, 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt and his chief foreign policy aide, Harry Hopkins, were interrupted by a telephone call from Secretary of War Henry Stimson and told that the Japanese had attacked Pearl Harbor ... at about 5:00 p.m., following meetings with his military advisers, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt calmly and decisively dictated to his secretary, Grace Tully, a request to Congress for a declaration of war ... he had composed the speech in his head after deciding on a brief, uncomplicated appeal to the people of the United States rather than a thorough recitation of Japanese perfidies, as Secretary of State Cordell Hull had urged.

President Roosevelt then revised the typed draft - marking it up, updating military information, and selecting alternative wordings that strengthened the tone of the speech ... he made the most significant change in the critical first line, which originally read, "a date which will live in world history" ... Grace Tully then prepared the final reading copy, which Roosevelt subsequently altered in three more places.

On December 8, at 12:30 p.m., "FDR" addressed a joint session of Congress and the Nation via radio ... the Senate responded with a unanimous vote in support of war; only Montana pacifist Jeanette Rankin dissented in the House ... at 4:00 p.m. that same afternoon, President Roosevelt signed the declaration of war ... his "Day Of Infamy" speech is as follows: [Read More]