I have been to Johnstown. There isn't much there, but what is there seems dependant on government contracts. I stayed at a hotel there and in the lobby was a big picture of Murtha. He does bring in a lot of pork considering the size of the town.
You are correct, Johnstown is in a deep valley and is decaying. I think even the incline to the top of the hill has shut down, but what the hey nancy pelosi and timmy russert have a congresscritter hand puppet to spout off fatalistic rhetoric about Iraq and he's glad to do it(ala pat buchanan)
"I have been to Johnstown. There isn't much there, but what is there seems dependant on government contracts. I stayed at a hotel there and in the lobby was a big picture of Murtha. He does bring in a lot of pork considering the size of the town."
Make that "considering what's left of the town" and I'll agree, but Murtha's "pork" hasn't stemmed the tide. Unfortunately, the "pork" hasn't spurred any ancillary "growth", which is puzzling, to say the least. Of course, I can actually remember when the Johnstown area was thriving. Those days are gone and aren't likely to return any time soon. :(
My husband's family has been in this area since 1840, but alas, we're the last generation to reside here. My children and the vast majority of their generations are gone for good. As it is, we'll probably be leaving after my husband's retirement, as increasing taxes and regulation will drive us out too.
My point is that it's easy for Murtha's "pork" to look like a whole lot more than it is, when that's *all* there is. :( Whether it's enough to keep him in office, I don't know.