Really? Millions...sure.....Billions??? Horse feathers!
Murtha is a worthless POS and, even worse, a disgrace to the Corps.
However, ALL members of Congress get contributions, often suspicious, and steer as much federal waste (that WILL go somewhere) to their home districts. Quite frankly, that is the only time when they are truly doing what they were elected for. Have you ever taken a look at Kuchera's battle tank renovation and storage operation?
While I have never worked for Kuchera Defense, I have worked on other Murtha-generated contracts, both with a direct effect on 03-04 war operations in Iraq.
Better that than passing govt health care, hate crime laws, gun control, TARP, cap & trade, etc, etc, etc....
Tell me why there is a $50 million National Drug Intelligence Center located in Johnstown???? In the 2010 budget alone there is another $44 million budgeted for this. There has probably been a half a billion dumped into Johnstown on the NDIC alone. Or how about the $200 million spent on the Murtha Memorial Airport. Oh yeah, that airport has three commercial flights scheduled per day! There is no reason anyone flies to Johnstown except to support Murtha's pork. These are just a couple of examples. Also, look at all the money Murtha has provided defense contractor DRS. Murtha puts in multi-million dollar sole source awards in the budget every year for this company. Murtha by himself turned DRS from a tiny company into a major defense contractor. Oh yeah, a few of Murtha relatives such as a brother inlaw happened to have benefited hugely on these awards. If you think Billions is horse feathers, you have no idea how deep this is.
I don’t think it’s a stretch at all to say Murtha has gotten billions in earmarks.
He’s been a Congressman for over 35 years and one of the most corrupt, ABSCAM is a testament to that.
With the amounts he has gotten just in the last ten years could easily put him in the billion category.