These elite liberal hatriotics had better pray that Iraq doesn't become a rich and free standing nation. A rich and free Iraq might hire a lot of mercs to capture and bring these war criminals to trial in Iraq for War Crimes against innocent Iraqis.
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 ...
Now we both know!
Your post and thread are more important and newsworthy than any cheapshot intrusion from some some random, irrelevant self-promoter.
Good catch, jaz/smooth. I rec’d a FReepmail categorizing it as a “paraphrase”. No mention of satire.
Thanks, george.
Well! Helloooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!
These elite liberal hatriotics had better pray that Iraq doesn't become a rich and free standing nation. A rich and free Iraq might hire a lot of mercs to capture and bring these war criminals to trial in Iraq for War Crimes against innocent Iraqis.
Slow? HA! Here I am again, quick as lightning!
Heyheyhey...Top o the mornin’
Yeah...I’m far from being a writer, I have enough trouble with spelling but somewhere long ago I seem to remember learning quotation marks are for quoting a persons exact words.
Yeah. There are enough lies and things that make my head spin.
Given, murtha might as well have said it, but....
he didn’t.
Murtha is such a disingenuous buffoon I can’t believe his party or his wife will let him appear on TV.
E-mail, partner!
He looks like a baby stuck in a dirty diaper.
Well, poop.
I always look forward to them.
Murtha knew Russert had exposed him as a fool, that's why he couldn't look at Russert.
When I look at those pictures of Murtha then and the one below now, it's clear that Murtha is failing physically as well as mentally, but for whatever reasons, he can't stop himself. He's destroying himself.
Normally I would be concerned for him, but in his case I can not be. I'm far more concerned about what his words, deeds, and actions do to others.
You’re right, Smooth. It’s kind of sad that that happens to anyone but in Murtha’s case it’s his own fault and I can’t have sympathy for him either.
The corruption, graft and the number of people he’s hurt are things I will not forgive him for.
It won’t hurt my feelings if he’s run out of town on one of those bridges.
‘Night All!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.