The man that accused our marines of murder is dead, Rot in HELL you Piece of SHIT!!!!!!!!!
TIA
:thefinger
TIA
:thefinger
Democrat SLUG Murtha DEAD.
- Thread starter Skulnik
- Start date
Well, perhaps someone with this kind of success and background IN the marines, might have a worthy opinion of what happened. I don't remember the situation, but he certainly put in his time AS a marine, unlike some others. But, nice to see your comments about someone dying - no surprise there...
On Murtha:
He left Washington and Jefferson College in 1952 to join the Marines, where he rose through the ranks to become a drill instructor at Parris Island, S.C., and later served in the 2nd Marine Division.
Murtha moved back to Johnstown and remained with the Marine Reserves until he volunteered to go to Vietnam. He served as an intelligence officer there from 1966 to 1967 and received a Bronze Star and two Purple Hearts.
After his discharge from the Marines, Murtha ran a small business in Johnstown. He went to the University of Pittsburgh on the GI Bill of rights, graduating in 1962 with a degree in economics.
He served in the Pennsylvania House in Harrisburg from 1969 until he was elected to Congress in a special election in 1974. In 1990, he retired from the Marine Reserves as a colonel.
"Ever since I was a young boy, I had two goals in life?I wanted to be a colonel in the Marine Corps and a member of Congress,"
On Murtha:
He left Washington and Jefferson College in 1952 to join the Marines, where he rose through the ranks to become a drill instructor at Parris Island, S.C., and later served in the 2nd Marine Division.
Murtha moved back to Johnstown and remained with the Marine Reserves until he volunteered to go to Vietnam. He served as an intelligence officer there from 1966 to 1967 and received a Bronze Star and two Purple Hearts.
After his discharge from the Marines, Murtha ran a small business in Johnstown. He went to the University of Pittsburgh on the GI Bill of rights, graduating in 1962 with a degree in economics.
He served in the Pennsylvania House in Harrisburg from 1969 until he was elected to Congress in a special election in 1974. In 1990, he retired from the Marine Reserves as a colonel.
"Ever since I was a young boy, I had two goals in life?I wanted to be a colonel in the Marine Corps and a member of Congress,"
- Feb 26, 2001
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No wonder he doesn't have respect from the Neo-cons on this board. A Neo-con can always figure out a way out of combat. They want to send others to die while they sit at home on their couch with their sisters eating popcorn. Good job Skul.
Well, perhaps someone with this kind of success and background IN the marines, might have a worthy opinion of what happened. I don't remember the situation, but he certainly put in his time AS a marine, unlike some others. But, nice to see your comments about someone dying - no surprise there...
On Murtha:
He left Washington and Jefferson College in 1952 to join the Marines, where he rose through the ranks to become a drill instructor at Parris Island, S.C., and later served in the 2nd Marine Division.
Murtha moved back to Johnstown and remained with the Marine Reserves until he volunteered to go to Vietnam. He served as an intelligence officer there from 1966 to 1967 and received a Bronze Star and two Purple Hearts.
After his discharge from the Marines, Murtha ran a small business in Johnstown. He went to the University of Pittsburgh on the GI Bill of rights, graduating in 1962 with a degree in economics.
He served in the Pennsylvania House in Harrisburg from 1969 until he was elected to Congress in a special election in 1974. In 1990, he retired from the Marine Reserves as a colonel.
"Ever since I was a young boy, I had two goals in life?I wanted to be a colonel in the Marine Corps and a member of Congress,"
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UN55B8000 55" LED TV
Compare PricesLawmaker: Marines killed Iraqis ?in cold blood?
Navy conducting war crimes probe into November violence in Haditha
Reuters Tv File
A video provided to Reuters in March by Hamourabi, a human rights group, shows covered bodies, which Hamourabi says are of 15 civilians shot to death by Marines in Haditha in November. NBC VIDEO
Haditha massacre?
May 17: U.S. Rep. Jack Murtha accused U.S. Marines Wednesday of killing innocent Iraqi civilians "in cold blood." NBC's Jim Miklaszewski reports from the Pentagon.
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By Jim Miklaszewski
and Mike Viqueira
NBC News
updated 8:27 p.m. CT, Wed., May 17, 2006
WASHINGTON - A Pentagon probe into the death of Iraqi civilians last November in the Iraqi city of Haditha will show that U.S. Marines "killed innocent civilians in cold blood," a U.S. lawmaker said Wednesday.
From the beginning, Iraqis in the town of Haditha said U.S. Marines deliberately killed 15 unarmed Iraqi civilians, including seven women and three children.
One young Iraqi girl said the Marines killed six members of her family, including her parents. ?The Americans came into the room where my father was praying,? she said, ?and shot him.?
Story continues below ↓
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On Wednesday, Rep. John Murtha, D-Pa., said the accounts are true.
Military officials told NBC News that the Marine Corps' own evidence appears to show Murtha is right.
A videotape taken by an Iraqi showed the aftermath of the alleged attack: a blood-smeared bedroom floor and bits of what appear to be human flesh and bullet holes on the walls.
The video, obtained by Time magazine, was broadcast a day after town residents told The Associated Press that American troops entered homes on Nov. 19 and shot dead 15 members of two families, including a 3-year-old girl, after a roadside bomb killed a U.S. Marine.
On Nov. 20, U.S. Marines spokesman Capt. Jeffrey Pool issued a statement saying that on the previous day a roadside bomb had killed 15 civilians and a Marine. In a later gunbattle, U.S. and Iraqi troops killed eight insurgents, he said.
U.S. military officials later confirmed that the version of events was wrong.
Murtha, a vocal opponent of the war in Iraq, said at a news conference Wednesday that sources within the military have told him that an internal investigation will show that "there was no firefight, there was no IED (improvised explosive device) that killed these innocent people. Our troops overreacted because of the pressure on them, and they killed innocent civilians in cold blood."
Military officials say Marine Corp photos taken immediately after the incident show many of the victims were shot at close range, in the head and chest, execution-style. One photo shows a mother and young child bent over on the floor as if in prayer, shot dead, said the officials, who spoke to NBC News on condition of anonymity because the investigation hasn't been completed.
One military official says it appears the civilians were deliberately killed by the Marines, who were outraged at the death of their fellow Marine.
?This one is ugly," one official told NBC News.
Three Marine officers ? commanders in Haditha ? have been relieved of duty, and at least 12 Marines in all are under investigation for what would be the worst single incident involving the deliberate killing of civilians by U.S. military in Iraq.
The Marine Corps issued a statement in response to Murtha's remarks:
"There is an ongoing investigation; therefore, any comment at this time would be inappropriate and could undermine the investigatory and possible legal process. As soon as the facts are known and decisions on future actions are made, we will make that information available to the public to the fullest extent allowable."
Murtha held the news conference to mark six months since his initial call for "redeployment" of U.S. forces from Iraq.
He said U.S. forces were under undue pressure in Iraq because of poor planning and allocation of resources by the Bush administration.
The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.
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April 21, 2009
?Pelosi, Other Dem Leaders Pressure Members to Oppose Ethics Measure
April 21, 2009
?More Than A Little Help From Murtha
April 20, 2009
?Murtha's Earmarks Keep Airport Aloft
April 20, 2009
?A 'Majority' Definition of Ethics
April 17, 2009
?Lobbying Firm Closes, Earmarker Fundraising Plummets?
April 17, 2009
?New Ethics Office Says 10 Hill Figures Face Investigations
April 17, 2009
?3 Linked to Lobby Firm See Donations Drop
April 17, 2009
?Not All Murtha Lawsuits Gone Away
April 17, 2009
?Congress: Murtha Watch
April 16, 2009
?New Ethics Panel Starts 10 Lawmaker Probes
April 16, 2009
?Murtha Draws Donations from PMA Clients
April 15, 2009
?New Ethics Office, Established Last Year, Open for Business
April 14, 2009
?Turnover on Panel Slows Progress
April 14, 2009
?Murtha Seeks Earmarks for PMA Clients; Visclosky Steers Clear
April 9, 2009
?Pennsylvania Lawmakers Let Light Shine on Federal Budget Earmarks
April 8, 2009
?More on $1 Billion Murtha-Connected Biodefense Facility
April 8, 2009
?Ex-Pittsburgher in Middle of Earmark Scandal
April 6, 2009
?Rep. Murtha Wants $134M In Earmarks
April 6, 2009
?Lawmaker Said to Surface in Lobbying Inquiry
April 6, 2009
?Lawmakers Slow to Comply With New Filing Requirement
April 6, 2009
?Earmarks of Scandal
April 2, 2009
?Murtha Stays Mum on PMA Inquiry
April 2, 2009
?PMA Scandal Dogs Pelosi
April 1, 2009
?Firms Mum on PMA Plans
April 1, 2009
?Work to Do
April 1, 2009
?Murtha: If Loving Constituents Is Wrong ... I Don't Wanna Be Right!
March 31, 2009
?Did Murtha Say What He Meant?
March 31, 2009
?Criminal Inquiry Into Murtha Lobbyist Heats Up
March 31, 2009
?Flake's Call For PMA Probe Gaining Support
March 31, 2009
?Critics Claim John Murtha is Capitalizing on a Corrupt System, but He's Not Apologizing
March 30, 2009
?Dems Fear Defections in PMA Probe
March 30, 2009
?Star Lobbyist Closes Shop Amid F.B.I. Inquiry
March 30, 2009
?Slow Start for Pelosi's New Watchdogs
March 25, 2009
?Companies Try to Clean up Their Act
March 24, 2009
?PMA Group Clients Migrate to Firm?s Former Lobbyists
March 24, 2009
?THE INFLUENCE GAME: Mixing Donations, Earmarks
March 23, 2009
?Congressman Murtha?s Friends Team Up on Big Biodefense project
March 20, 2009
?Political Animal Behavior 101
March 20, 2009
?Murtha Defends Statement
March 19, 2009
?Questions About Murtha Contract Awards
March 18, 2009
?Reaction to Murtha Investigation
March 18, 2009
?Flake Won?t Give Up on PMA
March 18, 2009
?Jack Murtha?s Got That PMA
March 17, 2009
?Donations from Defense Lobbyist PMA Group were a Family Affair
March 17, 2009
?Documents: Penn. Center Funneled Federal Funding to Rep. Murtha's Supporters
March 16, 2009
?PMA Group and Clients Paid Out $40 Million to Current Congress
March 13, 2009
?PMA Lobbyist, Relatives Gave Lawmakers $1.5 Million Since 2000
March 12, 2009
?Inside Murtha's 'Earmark Factory'
March 11, 2009
?Lawmakers Defend Earmarks as Way to Bring Federal Funds Home
March 11, 2009
?Flake is Fighting a Lonely Battle against Earmarks
March 10, 2009
?GOP Says Ethics Turnabout is Fair Play
March 10, 2009
?Pentagon's Unwanted Projects in Earmarks
March 9, 2009
?Who Are You Calling Partisan?
March 9, 2009
?Visclosky Calls for PMA Ethics Investigation
March 6, 2009
?Coburn Effort to Strip PMA Earmarks Fails
March 5, 2009
?PMA Politics May Infect 2010 Races
March 5, 2009
?Raided Lobby Firm Still a Force on Capitol Hill
March 4, 2009
?Visclosky's Ties to Troubled PMA Group Run Deep
March 2, 2009
?PMA's Exodus Grows, Founder Hires a Lawyer
February 26, 2009
?Flake?s Earmark Crusade Converts Some
February 26, 2009
?House Kills Effort to Investigate Lobbyist-Lawmaker Ties
February 26, 2009
?With PMA Earmarks In Spending Bill, GOPer Forces Vote On Probe
February 25, 2009
?104 Will Get You $300 Million
February 20, 2009
?PMA Group Shuttering Its Lobbying Practice
February 20, 2009
?Lawmakers Return Money Tied to Troubled Lobby Firm
February 19, 2009
?Firm with Murtha Ties Got Earmarks From Nearly One-Fourth of House
February 19, 2009
?3 Lawmakers Will Return Money Tied to Lobbyist
February 18, 2009
?Fundraiser for Murtha may have Broken Campaign Finance Rules
February 18, 2009
?The 'Culture Of Corruption,' Redux
February 18, 2009
?PMA Closes PAC
February 17, 2009
?Firm Tied to Murtha Closes PAC
February 17, 2009
?Rep. Moran: Murtha Not Worried over Raid
February 13, 2009
?Murtha Bogus Campaign Contributions Questioned
February 13, 2009
?Following Mr. Murtha?s Money
February 12, 2009
?Pelosi Concerned about a Murtha Probe
February 12, 2009
?Murtha May Be In Hot Water
February 12, 2009
?Running for the Exit at PMA Group
February 12, 2009
?Federal Authorities Raid Top Donor to Ohio Congressmen
February 11, 2009
?Lobbyist Inquiry Appears to Be Widening
February 11, 2009
?After FBI Raid, Top Defense Lobbying Firm Falling Apart
February 11, 2009
?FBI Raids Lobby Firm with Murtha Ties
February 10, 2009
?U.S. Raids a Lobbying Firm With Ties to a Congressman
February 10, 2009
?Feds Raid Another Firm Linked to Congressman Murtha
February 10, 2009
?Federal Raid on Plant Has Residents Worried
February 2, 2009
?Possible Shakeup At Firm Tied To John Murtha
January 30, 2009
?Kucheras Donated Thousands To Pennsylvania Representatives
January 27, 2009
?Murtha Got Payback in ?08
January 27, 2009
?Murtha's 'Big-Game' Link
January 27, 2009
?Investigators Still Mum on Raids on Two Contractors
January 26, 2009
?Dems Wrestle with Ethics Problems
January 26, 2009
?Big Game Hunting with John Murtha
January 26, 2009
?Feds Raid Contractor with Murtha Ties
January 23, 2009
?Federal Agencies Raid Kuchera Companies
January 23, 2009
?Pa. Defense Firm Raided by FBI
January 23, 2009
?FBI Raids Contractor with Murtha Link
January 23, 2009
?U.S. Raids Contractors Aided by Murtha
January 23, 2009
?Pratt & Whitney Faces New Engine Fight
January 21, 2009
?Jefferson Frozen Out Once Again
December 9, 2008
?Bachmann One of 9 'Most Embarrassing' Members of Congress
December 9, 2008
?Murtha Got $330K-Plus Boost from Democrats Right Before Election
December 3, 2008
?A K Street Murtha Connection
November 18, 2008
?Area Business Leaders Applaud Murtha's Re-Election
November 10, 2008
?Gifts to Favored Cause Lobby Now Being Monitored
October 20, 2008
?Is the Boom Set to End for Defense Contractors?
October 20, 2008
?Earmarks, Contributions, Contracts
October 16, 2008
?Congress Hides $3.5B in Earmarks
October 15, 2008
?Embattled Alaska Sen. Stevens Tops List for Earmarks
September 25, 2008
?Nonprofit fingers Murtha as corrupt
September 12, 2008
?Congressmen Murphy, Murtha on CREW group's 'most corrupt' list
September 11, 2008
?Murtha Intervenes for Company That Broke Export Law
September 9, 2008
?Dems, GOP together nix Murtha earmark
May 13, 2008
?Editorial: If we're going to complain about federal waste, let's not leave out Johnstown's Rep. Murtha
November 2, 2007
?Editorial: Mud thrown at Murtha stains all of us
September 21, 2007
?Murtha, Murphy criticized
September 19, 2007
?Murtha on 'Corrupt' List
September 19, 2007
?Watchdog group ranks Murtha among most corrupt
September 19, 2007
?Watchdog's latest report shows Congress still has plenty of corruption
September 18, 2007
?13 Lawmakers Subpoenaed in Bribery Trial
September 18, 2007
The 15 most corrupt members of Congress
?Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-FL)
?Sen. Roland Burris (D-IL)
?Rep. Ken Calvert (R-CA)
?Rep. Nathan Deal (R-GA)
?Sen. John Ensign (R-NV)
?Rep. Jesse Jackson, Jr. (D-IL)
?Rep. Jerry Lewis (R-CA)
?Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY)
?Rep. Alan B. Mollohan (D-WV)
?Rep. John P. Murtha (D-PA)
?Rep. Charles B. Rangel (D-NY)
?Rep. Laura Richardson (D-CA)
?Rep. Pete Visclosky (D-IN)
?Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA)
?Rep. Don Young (R-AK)
Dishonorable mentionsRep. John P. Murtha (D-PA)
NEW! Check out You Don't Know Jack, our interactive web detailing all of Rep. Murtha's connections to the defense industry and its lobbyists!
Representative John P. Murtha (D-PA) is a nineteen-term member of Congress, representing Pennsylvania?s 12th congressional district. Rep. Murtha chairs the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee. Rep. Murtha?s ethics issues and violations stem from (1) his ties to the PMA Group, a now defunct lobbying firm under federal investigation; (2) his ties to Kuchera Industries, a defense contractor under federal investigation; (3) his ties to defense executives and former military personnel convicted of skimming money from government contracts; (4) actions he may have taken to benefit his brother?s lobbying clients; and (5) his chief of staff?s threats to a political opponent. Rep. Murtha was included in CREW?s 2006, 2007, and 2008 reports on congressional corruption.
PMA Group Investigation
Paul Magliocchetti worked with Rep. Murtha as a senior staffer on the Appropriations Committee Subcommittee on Defense for 10 years. After leaving the committee, Mr. Magliocchetti founded the PMA Group, which was one of the most prominent Washington, D.C. defense lobbying firms. In November 2008, federal authorities raided the offices of the PMA Group and the home of Mr. Magliocchetti. The PMA Group is being investigated for allegedly violating campaign finance laws by using ?straw? donors to make contributions to lawmakers, concealing the true source of the money. In some cases, lawmakers received contributions from individuals listed as PMA lobbyists despite the fact that the individuals were never employees of the firm. Additionally, Mr. Magliocchetti may have reimbursed his employees for contributions made to candidates. After news of the raid broke, the lobbying shop closed its doors on March 31, 2009.
Despite the investigations into PMA?s practices, lawmakers have continued to earmark for the firm?s former clients with Rep. Murtha requesting $16.2 million in earmarks for Parametric Technology Corporation, Ardiem Medical, MobileVox, DRS Technologies, and MTS Technologies. In exchange, these companies made contributions to Rep. Murtha?s campaign committee and PAC.
On June 11, 2009, the Ethics Committee revealed it was investigating ?certain, specific allegations within the committee?s jurisdiction? relating to the PMA Group The Ethics Committee?s statement did not mention any specific lawmaker by name, and Rep. Murtha?s spokesperson said the committee had not contacted his office.
Since 1998, Rep. Murtha has accepted $2,378,552 from PMA Group employees and clients of the firm, making him the biggest recipient of contributions from the firm.
Kuchera Corporation Investigation
In January 2009, federal investigators raided the headquarters of Kuchera Corporation as well as the homes of the company?s two top executives. The investigation concerns the misuse of corporate funds to finance a private ranch owned by the company?s president, Bill Kuchera, and contract fraud. In response to the investigation surrounding the firm, the U.S. Navy placed the company on its Excluded Parties List, barring the firm from receiving any more federal contracts. The suspension was revoked, however, after Kuchera agreed to alter some of its accounting practices.
In 1982, Mr. Kuchera pleaded guilty to a single felony count related to drug trafficking and spent less than a year in prison. After his release Mr. Kuchera approached his uncle, then the owner of Kuchera Industries, based in Racine, Wisconsin, for a job. When Mr. Kuchera?s partner in the drug-running operation, Peter Whorley, was released from prison in 1986, he approached Mr. Kuchera and invested $50,000 in the fledgling company in exchange for a share of the profits. Kuchera?s felony conviction never barred his company from winning contracts to handle sensitive government work.
Since 2001, Rep. Murtha has directed approximately $50 million in earmarks to Kuchera Industries. In turn, since 2002, employees of Kuchera Industries and their families have donated to $90,500 to Rep. Murtha?s campaign committee. Additionally, since 2006, employees as well as their families have donated $7,000 to Rep. Murtha?s PAC. Kuchera Industries shares links with a host of other Rep. Murtha connected organizations, including lobbyists and defense contractors.
KSA Consulting
KSA Consulting is a lobbying firm that has employed Rep. Murtha?s brother, Robert ?Kit? Murtha, as well as Carmen Scialabba. Mr. Scialabba joined KSA Consulting after leaving the House Appropriations Committee where he worked as an aide to Rep. Murtha. KSA clients that have received earmarks from Rep. Murtha include Aeptec Microsystems, Coherent Systems International, MountainTop Technologies, and KDH Technologies.
Mr. Murtha was personally invited to join KSA Consulting as a lobbyist in 2002 by Mr. Scialabba, where he established a reputation as an ?earmark specialist.? In 2004, Congress passed a $417 billion defense appropriations bill, which included earmarks benefitting at least 10 companies represented by KSA Consulting. Records show that KSA Consulting directly lobbied Rep. Murtha?s office for seven of those companies. Mr. Murtha retired from KSA Consulting in 2006.
Concurrent Technologies Corporation (CTC)
CTC is a large non-profit that in 2007 received $220,423,075 in funding from the federal government. The group?s 990 form also indicates that it paid the PMA Group $461,334 for consulting services. Since 2002, CTC?s employees and employees? family members have donated more than $126,000 to Rep. Murtha?s political committees and leadership PAC.
Commonwealth Research Institute (CRI) is a subsidiary non-profit of CTC. In 2007, the non-profit received $5,104,829 in funding from the federal government. Since 2003, the group?s totally funding has jumped from $632,884 to just over $5 million.
Federal authorities continue their investigation into (CTC) and its subsidiary, Commonwealth Research Institute (CRI). CRI is under particular scrutiny concerning the process in which it was awarded its non-profit status. When CRI petitioned the IRS for tax-exempt status the IRS questioned whether the group?s purpose as a research institute was adequate rationale for tax-exempt status and noted that ?research results must be made available to the interested public.? CRI responded that it planned to work primarily with government contracts, only a small portion of which would be classified. But in the nine years since the group petitioned the government for tax-exempt status, it has never published any of its government backed research.
Previously, CRI caught the attention of the Pentagon?s Office of Inspector General (IG), which was investigating payments made by CRI to an Air Force official awaiting confirmation for work that was never done. Shortly after admitting to a Washington Post reporter that he was being paid, but not doing any work in return, the official committed suicide. The IG?s investigation has been placed on hold pending the outcome of other probes into Rep. Murtha related entities.
If, as it appears, Rep. Murtha accepted donations to his campaign and political action committees in direct exchange for earmarking federal funds, he may have committed bribery and honest services fraud and engaged in conduct not reflecting credibility on the House.
well then,
I guess after all that, there should be reason to celebrate someones death? He was someones husband, father, grandfather, brother, but yet still there is reason to be joyous over his death.
I thought Dale Sr was an asshole, but a great racer, but I NEVER WANTED TO SEE HIM OR ANY DRIVER DIE ON OR OFF THE TRACK
SEEK HELP SKUL DROPPINGS, RAYMOND, HEDGEFUCK.
You rightwing, bent over the bitch stump ass hats really are sick fucks.
I guess after all that, there should be reason to celebrate someones death? He was someones husband, father, grandfather, brother, but yet still there is reason to be joyous over his death.
I thought Dale Sr was an asshole, but a great racer, but I NEVER WANTED TO SEE HIM OR ANY DRIVER DIE ON OR OFF THE TRACK
SEEK HELP SKUL DROPPINGS, RAYMOND, HEDGEFUCK.
You rightwing, bent over the bitch stump ass hats really are sick fucks.
- Feb 26, 2001
- 13,593
- 164
- 63
I like what I see,
An Army VET who knows what he speaks of.
I could lose 10 to 15 lbs, but you will always be an asshole.
That is a fact, and it will never change. Celebrating a man's death has certainly shined the light on your true character.
Forget the PAIN he put those marines through, being old and stupid is no excuse.
Neither is being young or middle aged and stupid, but it doesn't stop you from putting all of us through the pain of reading your garbage on a daily basis.
I saw this item, and remembered J. Murtha's Legacy
I saw this item, and remembered J. Murtha's Legacy
NOTE: I am not happy that Murtha is dead - don't drag me into that stuff...
Now that I've made that clear, his name coming up again reminded me of his biggest legacy.....
He was KING of the pork projects....
John Murtha's Airport for No One
By TYLER GRIMM
Johnstown, Pa.
If you hate the hubbub of crowded airports, you might want to consider flying out of Johnstown, Pa. The airport sees an average of fewer than 30 people per day, there is never a wait for security, you can park for free right outside the gate, and you are almost guaranteed a row to yourself on any flight.
You might wonder how the region ever had the air traffic demand to justify such a facility. It didn't. But it is located in the district of one of Congress's most unapologetic earmarkers: Democrat John Murtha.
In 20 years, Mr. Murtha has successfully doled out more than $150 million of federal payments to what is now being called the airport for no one. I took a trip to southwestern Pennsylvania to explore how this small town received so much money and whether the John Murtha Airport is a legitimate federal investment.
There are many in Johnstown who see the airport as crucial. Johnstown Chamber of Commerce President Bob Layo tells me: "If the airport isn't paying dividends now, it will in the future." But those dividends appear to be a mirage.
There are a total of 18 flights per week, all of which go to Dulles Airport in Washington, D.C. I was visiting the airport from Washington, but because flights cost a pricey $400, I drove. The drive took less than three and a half hours and cost about $35 in gas?not to mention that it was arguably faster than flying. And this isn't a remote area of the state: Murtha airport is less than two hours from the Pittsburgh airport.
The airport has an $8.5 million, taxpayer-funded radar system that has never been used. The runway was paved with reinforced concrete at a cost of more than $17 million. The latest investment was $800,000 from the $787 billion American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to repave half of the secondary runway. (Never mind that the first one is hardly ever in use.)
Airport Director Scott Voelker admitted in an interview that having a never-used unmanned radar system is "dumber than dirt." But he says the airport is necessary and blames its current shortcomings on the economy. "To get more passengers, we need more flights. To get more flights, we need more passengers," he says. Mr. Voelker believes the "economy has dictated to the airlines to cut back on flights." In other words: The airport was not built in response to passenger or airline needs.
The usually barren airport?there were several times during the day I paced the building for 15 minutes and did not see another human being?has a lot of unused advertising space. But you can't miss the large picture of John Murtha among a collage of Lockheed Martin workers at the airport's center. It's a monument to earmarks: "Partnerships Make a World of Difference," the ad reads.
Tickets to fly to Johnstown are expensive, even though every passenger flying out of John Murtha Airport has a $100 subsidy behind the ticket courtesy of the federal Essential Air Service program, which provides support to struggling rural airports. A woman who had just gotten off a flight told me that there were only four people on her plane. "The plane could have held at least 30 passengers," she said.
In addition to the airport, Mr. Murtha's ability to corral federal funds is apparent in the local medical research center (named after his wife), the John P. Murtha Technology Center, the area's thriving defense contracting industry, and numerous other local landmarks. The unemployment rate in Johnstown is currently below the national average of 9.4% thanks to federal largess and the fact that so many have moved away from the area.
Bill Polacek, a local businessman and a member of the airport's board of directors, told me that the citizens of Johnstown need Mr. Murtha's earmarks. "Quite frankly, if he didn't do that, we wouldn't elect him," he said.
I asked Mr. Layo of the Chamber of Commerce if he thinks Mr. Murtha's earmarks should stop now that Johnstown has emerged from the economic crisis it faced two decades ago. "I don't think you're ever finished," he replied. As long as Mr. Murtha is in Congress, they never will be.
I saw this item, and remembered J. Murtha's Legacy
NOTE: I am not happy that Murtha is dead - don't drag me into that stuff...
Now that I've made that clear, his name coming up again reminded me of his biggest legacy.....
He was KING of the pork projects....
John Murtha's Airport for No One
By TYLER GRIMM
Johnstown, Pa.
If you hate the hubbub of crowded airports, you might want to consider flying out of Johnstown, Pa. The airport sees an average of fewer than 30 people per day, there is never a wait for security, you can park for free right outside the gate, and you are almost guaranteed a row to yourself on any flight.
You might wonder how the region ever had the air traffic demand to justify such a facility. It didn't. But it is located in the district of one of Congress's most unapologetic earmarkers: Democrat John Murtha.
In 20 years, Mr. Murtha has successfully doled out more than $150 million of federal payments to what is now being called the airport for no one. I took a trip to southwestern Pennsylvania to explore how this small town received so much money and whether the John Murtha Airport is a legitimate federal investment.
There are many in Johnstown who see the airport as crucial. Johnstown Chamber of Commerce President Bob Layo tells me: "If the airport isn't paying dividends now, it will in the future." But those dividends appear to be a mirage.
There are a total of 18 flights per week, all of which go to Dulles Airport in Washington, D.C. I was visiting the airport from Washington, but because flights cost a pricey $400, I drove. The drive took less than three and a half hours and cost about $35 in gas?not to mention that it was arguably faster than flying. And this isn't a remote area of the state: Murtha airport is less than two hours from the Pittsburgh airport.
The airport has an $8.5 million, taxpayer-funded radar system that has never been used. The runway was paved with reinforced concrete at a cost of more than $17 million. The latest investment was $800,000 from the $787 billion American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to repave half of the secondary runway. (Never mind that the first one is hardly ever in use.)
Airport Director Scott Voelker admitted in an interview that having a never-used unmanned radar system is "dumber than dirt." But he says the airport is necessary and blames its current shortcomings on the economy. "To get more passengers, we need more flights. To get more flights, we need more passengers," he says. Mr. Voelker believes the "economy has dictated to the airlines to cut back on flights." In other words: The airport was not built in response to passenger or airline needs.
The usually barren airport?there were several times during the day I paced the building for 15 minutes and did not see another human being?has a lot of unused advertising space. But you can't miss the large picture of John Murtha among a collage of Lockheed Martin workers at the airport's center. It's a monument to earmarks: "Partnerships Make a World of Difference," the ad reads.
Tickets to fly to Johnstown are expensive, even though every passenger flying out of John Murtha Airport has a $100 subsidy behind the ticket courtesy of the federal Essential Air Service program, which provides support to struggling rural airports. A woman who had just gotten off a flight told me that there were only four people on her plane. "The plane could have held at least 30 passengers," she said.
In addition to the airport, Mr. Murtha's ability to corral federal funds is apparent in the local medical research center (named after his wife), the John P. Murtha Technology Center, the area's thriving defense contracting industry, and numerous other local landmarks. The unemployment rate in Johnstown is currently below the national average of 9.4% thanks to federal largess and the fact that so many have moved away from the area.
Bill Polacek, a local businessman and a member of the airport's board of directors, told me that the citizens of Johnstown need Mr. Murtha's earmarks. "Quite frankly, if he didn't do that, we wouldn't elect him," he said.
I asked Mr. Layo of the Chamber of Commerce if he thinks Mr. Murtha's earmarks should stop now that Johnstown has emerged from the economic crisis it faced two decades ago. "I don't think you're ever finished," he replied. As long as Mr. Murtha is in Congress, they never will be.
