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AP Photo
Once again, the name of Rep. John Murtha has come under scrutiny as more defense contractors associated with him are being investigated.
This time the names include Mountaintop Technologies which received $10 million in earmarks and Kuchera Industries which got $9 million in earmarks in 2008. The Pennsylvania representative allegedly used his seniority and position on the U.S. House Appropriations committee to secure the earmarks that he passed on to companies with whom he had relationships.
Donations from executives of Mountaintop to Murtha's campaigns amounted to $40,200 while employees of Kuchera kicked in $89,000.
Murtha's aides accuse the political watchdog groups of making "baseless accusations" but meanwhile groups such as Taxpayers for Common Sense, maintained that he has steered (earmarked) nearly $130,000 million to his district in just the last year, some to firms that are now under investigation under various government departments.
To read the entire articles, go to:
http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/06/03/murtha.defense.contractors/
To read more about Murtha's past, go to:
For a definition of earmarks, go to:
http://earmarks.omb.gov/earmarks_definition.html
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Comments
So much for ending earmarks and porkulus spending. This is pretty sleazy, but nowhere near the scandalous waste of "his" opulent airport with two flights daily. Voters, take note. If your elected officials do this, vote them out. Sure you want them to bring home some money to stimulate employment in your district, but outright shameful paybacks for campaign contributions should land any politico in pink underwear.
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