John Murtha, a Pennsylvania congressman going on 36 years, may be today’s uncrowned “king of pork.” Recently, he told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, “If I’m corrupt, it’s because I take care of my district.”
Murtha was responding to questions about the FBI, which is now looking into his “pattern of steering millions in earmarks to defense contractors who give to his campaign and hire his allies as lobbyists.”
In taking care of his district, Murtha takes care of himself, too. For instance, he has his own airport: the John Murtha Johnstown-Cambria County Airport.
The airport has received over $200 million in federal tax money, most of it earmarked by Murtha. In addition to a big portrait of the congressman, the airport also has free parking and boasts “easy check-in.”
Of course, the airport hosts only three flights a day — all going to Washington, DC. A recent Washington Post report mentioned that there were seven TSA personnel screening the four passengers boarding with their six pieces of luggage.
Federal taxpayers also provided the airport an $8‑million radar system back in 2004 — a system that has never been used.
In addition to Murtha’s numerous earmarks, the Murtha airport just got $800,000 in federal stimulus funds. Seems it was “shovel-ready.”
Yes, one needs a shovel for all the … well, you know.
This is Common Sense. I’m Paul Jacob.
6 replies on “If I’m Corrupt”
[…] Common Sense with Paul Jacob — Brought to You by Citizens in … […]
If I or any member of my family or friends had acted, (or not acted,) similar to the lawless manner that many of the liberals to whom we have seen exposed by the media, we’d either be in jail, or trying our best to not be in jail! In a more sane time of history, rats like Murtha would have been “ratted out,” and debunked. Then, they’d be serving prison time. I have had a couple of minor traffic incursions with the local Law, and I have always ended up on the short end; Why not these truly lawless, Godless, classless, and clueless members of our Federal Houses, who have pledged to defend us, and the Constitution? I am not whining about my way past problems. I am concerned about the fact that we have true “RATS” in both Houses, and in the Presidency, and we are in deep trouble. To anyone who does not agree with my assessment, please keep my E‑mail address, and in let’s say, 2 years, we chat again. You’ll be in deep crap, as will I, and the tone of our conversation will have changed. Mark my words! Keep my info, and I’ll look forward to your comments. Heh, heh, heh.
Rich Collignon
Snohomish, WA
How can he get away with this? This man is a bigger crook than someone who comes up and sticks a gun in your back and demands your wallet. At least you have a chance, albiet slim, of turning around and grabbing the gun. How can we defend ourselves against this crook of 36 years in office? A day or two ago they were talking on TV about investigating his nephew getting a government contract. That was nothing compared to what I read here. HE should be chaged with grand theft, made to repay every penny, and then sent to share a cell with Illinois’ past Gov. George Ryan and soon to be sentenced (we hope), past Illinois Gov. Rod Blagovich. If only we had term limits, we could at last reduce the amount they could steal by limiting the time they would have to steal it. Lyle R. Rolfe, Aurora Il.
Rich:I don’t think we will have to wait two years. I told my dau in Oregon(a leftist lib if there ever was one) to tell me how she feels about jugears in July. Here it is May and the guy has done more dameage than I thought it would take him til July to do-what are wew going to have in July? Or for Christas, forthat matter. I look forward, bassed on his actions so far, to Christmas being effectively banned throughout the cuntry by December, along with all else that has nothing to do with Islam. Welcome to the Islamic Republic of the US — Heil, Jugears!
Hank
What is the difference between what Murtha is doing and what former Ill. gov. Ron B did?
I read this and I did not know what to make of it “If I’m corrupt, it’s because I take care of my district.”
Sounds odd, but maybe he is telling the truth, some people just have a funny way of telling lies.
Mark