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Posted on 12/30/2009 11:30:22 AM PST by jazusamo
Ford City, Pa. -- Rep. John P. Murtha's record of bringing home money from Washington -- at a current rate of $100 million a year -- has become the envy of Capitol Hill colleagues and a subject of grateful awe in a stretch of Pennsylvania desperate for new jobs. In Congress, Murtha beats everybody in loading legislation with earmarks, federal funds steered to chosen contractors without the usual reviews.
But after two decades of Murtha-directed federal investment here, a look at the results shows the congressman's promises of jobs often fall short. In some cases, the federal government has spent more than $1 million to create each new position.
Of 16 local companies Murtha has helped win earmarks, a Washington Post analysis shows, 10 have generated far fewer jobs than forecast by Murtha and corporate leaders, and half of those firms already have closed operations in his district. On the positive side, four firms expanded dramatically with the help, although their success has sometimes been fleeting. Scores of jobs generated by Murtha earmarks began disappearing soon after projects were completed.
The results show how inefficient lawmakers' pork-barrel spending can be in producing sustained employment, the goal often cited by Murtha and other members of Congress. Amid one of the worst recessions in modern times, these results add to the long-standing Washington debate over the wisdom of parceling out taxpayer money in an ad-hoc system shaped by favoritism and political muscle.
"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," said Peter Fiske, a former defense executive in Murtha's district. Fiske helped found RAPT Industries, a company that Murtha once forecast...
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
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Russellbrigade.com
Bill Russell will be running against him again. He is a solid Conservative, military: good guy.
I’m sure any help for Bill would be appreciated.
This scumbag Murtha has to go!
Inquiries to:
POBox 630, Johnstown, PA 15907
Tel. 814-525-9171
Contact me to be added to ping list.
Great cartoon, Smooth. Murtha the Porker is depicted by the enemedia as a strong advocate for our military and no one abuses the defense budget more than he for pork.
Timothy McNulty | December 30, 2009
Jack Murtha may have escaped an ethics inquiry, but questions remain about the earmarks he tosses around his district, says the WashPost's Carol Leonnig, in a story filed from Ford City:
But after two decades of Murtha-directed federal investment here, a look at the results shows the congressman's promises of jobs often fall short. In some cases, the federal government has spent more than $1 million to create each new position.
Of 16 local companies Murtha has helped win earmarks, a Washington Post analysis shows, 10 have generated far fewer jobs than forecast by Murtha and corporate leaders, and half of those firms already have closed operations in his district....excerpted from Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Glad to see the Post-Gazette picked some of this up. I checked earlier and the Trib-Dem & Pitt Trib-Review doesn’t have a word about it and probably won’t, I’d like to see it splashed in every paper in PA. :-)
From his website...
I am a conservative. I believe in the sovereignty and security of this one nation, under God. I believe in the sanctity of life and that life begins at conception. I believe in marriage between one man and one woman. I believe that all children in our school systems should be educated in English and taught the civic duties and responsibilities of citizenship and patriotism. I believe that we have the responsibility and obligation to control our borders and determine who is allowed to live and work in our country. I believe in private property rights and that the death tax should be killed. I believe government economic policies should reward those who build business or save and invest their money. I believe in the right to bear arms and the right of self defense. I believe in rugged individualism and that no one owes me anything just because I live and breathe. I believe we should all practice charity in some form or fashion, especially to those who are suffering and least fortunate. But charity must be voluntary and spring from a spirit of altruism and love for your neighbor. I believe that imposed systems of wealth redistribution destroy families, produce a culture of dependence and hurt everyone. Finally, I believe there is room to acknowledge the role of our Creator in public life as stated in the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution. ---Bill Russell in his own words
Jaz, these are interesting links....
http://thecable.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2009/12/30/about_those_systemic_failures
Wow! I guess that is interesting. Defunding the PNSR gets right to the heart of the matter of intel sharing.
Murtha and any others involved whether GOP or not should be strung up for that little fiasco and no matter how many others are involved it’s Murtha who’s got the final say being the Chair of the committee.
These turf squabbles undoubtedly have been and will kill more people in the future, no wonder Mazonkey wouldn’t talk about it.
That, coupled with Murtha’s recent comments about al-Qaida..
http://www.tribune-democrat.com/editorials/local_story_363075137.html
are disturbing glimpses into Murtha’s state of mind.
If Murtha is #1 then I’d have to think that Robert C. Byrd has to be a very close 2nd.
Yes, I read that piece earlier today and for the last week or more he’s been dropping that comment that al Qaeda isn’t a national threat.
We’ve talked about senility in the past and this kind of talk seems to confirm our beliefs. For anyone to say that they’re no longer a national threat is laughable.
By all rights that detonator should have set off that charge. Had it taken that plane down with 300 on board those lives would have just been the first of the losses, untold hundreds of millions in financial losses could have followed. If that isn’t a national threat I don’t know what is.
Murtha’s living in lala land.
I have to agree with you on that. Byrd has probably funneled more over the years but he’s more years to accomplish it.
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