Pennsylvania: Rep. Murtha dead at age 77

Rep. John Murtha (D-PA), who represented Johnstown and other parts of southwestern Pennsylvania in the U.S. House of Representatives for 36 years, passed away Monday. He was 77.

Murtha had been hospitalized in the intensive care unit last week due to complications following a gall bladder surgery.

His office released the following statement:

Congressman John P. Murtha (PA-12) passed away peacefully this afternoon at 1:18 p.m. at Virginia Hospital Center in Arlington, VA. At his bedside was his family.
Murtha, 77, was Chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense.

First elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in February of 1974, Murtha dedicated his life to serving his country both in the military and in the halls of Congress. A former Marine, he became the first Vietnam War combat Veteran elected to the U.S. Congress.

This past Saturday, February 6, 2010, Murtha became Pennsylvania's longest serving Member of Congress.

A complete biography is available on his website.

Murtha has more than his share of controversy. He was known for earmarking federal dollars for his district, many of which went to projects that accomplished little or were simply unnecessary. Perhaps the most infamous of Murtha's earmarks was for a new terminal at the airport in Johnstown. That terminal, which handles exactly three flights a day - all of them to Washington-Dulles - has been dubbed by critics "the airport to nowhere."

He also was one of the lawmakers tabbed in the ABSCAM investigation in the 1980s. He was never charged in the scandal, which involved lawmakers taking cash in exchange for favors. However, he was caught on tape asking lawmakers to an undercover officer to put money into his district.

Murtha was a social conservative, typical of that part of the state. But he was more liberal on fiscal policy, was very pro-union and was critical of the Iraq War.

As for what happens next with this district, Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell will set a special election date, possibly to coincide with the May 18 statewide primary. The winner will have to win election again on November 2 to serve a full term. It's very much a swing district, with a Cook Partisan Voting Index rating of R+1.