Congress: Murtha story lingers

Posted: Friday, June 05, 2009 9:12 AM by Domenico Montanaro
Filed Under: Congress

Folks, the Murtha story isn’t going away. The Washington Post writes, “Murtha, who was celebrated at the LBK Ranch with a fundraiser held in his honor, last week sidestepped questions about $50 million in earmarked funds and contracts he has helped direct to Kuchera Defense Systems and Kuchera Industries Inc. since 2001. But newly obtained documents and interviews show that the current federal investigation is only the latest chapter in the troubled history of the Kuchera brothers' business ventures.”

"Worried by their prospects in the House, Democrats postponed final action on a nearly $100 billion wartime spending bill until next week so as to buy more time for talks among lawmakers and the return of President Barack Obama from overseas."

"Republicans ignited a firestorm of controversy on Thursday by revealing some of what they had been told at a closed-door Intelligence Committee hearing on the interrogation of terrorism suspects. Democrats immediately blasted the GOP lawmakers for publicly discussing classified information, while Republicans said Democrats are trying to hide the truth that enhanced interrogation of detainees is effective. GOP members on the Intelligence Committee on Thursday told The Hill in on-the-record interviews that they were informed that the controversial methods have led to information that prevented terrorist attacks."

Sen. Tom Coburn called for outlawing tobacco.

And Harry Reid wants to add immigration reform to the docket.

"Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) spent Thursday commemorating the 20th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square protests -- and fending off questions about whether she downplayed human rights issues on a recent trip to China."

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Comments

Murtha is teflon. Nothing sticks to this guy. He openly and freely performs his corruption. There are never any consquences to him. Is congress even thinking about investigating him? It wouldn't matter, it would go nowhere.

Recall also who Nancy Pelosi wanted to be the majority in the House. And no, it wasn't Steny Hoyer. It was her good friend, John Murtha.

Lyle Lee, NY NY (Sent Friday, June 05, 2009 9:20 AM)

First Read: Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) spent Thursday commemorating the 20th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square protests -- and fending off questions about whether she downplayed human rights issues on a recent trip to China."

I bet Nancy didn't bring this commermoration up too much when she was in China last week.

When will Nancy be commermoratiing her answering of the question of who in the CIA lied to her?

Nina Tees, Burlington VT (Sent Friday, June 05, 2009 9:22 AM)

[Sen. Tom Coburn called for outlawing tobacco. ]

Yeah, that will happen.

[And Harry Reid wants to add immigration reform to the docket.]

Will that reform let less or more illegal immigrants into the country?

TJ Jackson, Huntsville, AL (Sent Friday, June 05, 2009 9:24 AM)

Murtha has been too aggressive in getting earmarks and it's time for him to cool it on asking for more than anyone else does. This is why earmarks are wrong because some get too much and some get too little. Earmarks should be spread around more evenly.

Funny that that idiot tom coburn wants to outlaw tobacco, sounds like a Democrat now.

Nancy Pelosi was smart not to antagonize China about human rights when we have to go to them hat in hand like a beggar to ask for more money to dig us out of the bushwhacker's economic depression. Thanks Clueless George for making our country a beggar nation.

In Pelosi We Trust!
Go Lakers!

Eric, Salinas, CA (Sent Friday, June 05, 2009 9:26 AM)

This is the same John Murtha who called rural citizens of Pennsylvania "racists" mainly because they wouldn't vote for him or Obama. The same Murtha who accused our brave Marines of horrible crimes without waiting to hear the facts. And now he's yet another Dem (along with Rangel, Blagoyevich, Burris,...) with unethical ties. As for Pelosi in China, we're still waiting to hear if she really does stand for women-and if so--did she challenge the CHinese gov't about their forced abortion and sterilization policies which abuse women? Or wouldn't Planned Parenthood let her?

Murtha and Pelosi (Sent Friday, June 05, 2009 9:27 AM)

Murtha is the most corrupt politician in Washington...period. He has enriched himself and his family to a ridiculous extent from his "public service." Murtha is a crook and his votes are for sale.

Interesting that the Democrats seem to be banking on classified documents staying classified. They're freaking out about the notion of declassifying documents that would show that enhanced interrogation saved American lives. How about a transparent administration. We're at a point where the Republicans are calling for a complete, wide open investigation, while Democrats are trying to limit what can be investigated. The tables have really turned. The Republicans want the investigation and the Democrats are running from it now.

DG, Houston, TX (Sent Friday, June 05, 2009 9:30 AM)

Polls may say that 51% think it's okay to torture and think it is a reliable way to get reliable information (the experts in interrogation say it isn't and I tend to trust the experts more than joe blow on the street) but none of that matters, people - TORTURE IS, IMMORAL AND WRONG! Period! End of discussion.

Matthew, Houston, TX (Sent Friday, June 05, 2009 9:47 AM)

Murtha's got his own airport in PA. Only 3 flights leave there everyday and it looks like a ghost town but he got it in the stimulus package.

We're all paying for Murtha's ego and corruption.

Bad Chihuahua (Sent Friday, June 05, 2009 9:51 AM)

Google "Michelle Obama in a soup kitchen picture"

First you see Michelle serving FREE GOVERMENT FUNDED food to homeless people.

Then you see one homeless man taking a picture of her with his $500.00 blackberry phone.

This is a perfect example of how our government is even more corrupt now that Obama is president.
Way to go Demos!

JQ, Altoona, PA (Sent Friday, June 05, 2009 10:17 AM)

Watch Murtha, he seems like a weasel to me. Yes, both parties have their snakes. Maybe he won't get reelected in 2010 and we can breathe easier.

eagle1776 (Sent Friday, June 05, 2009 10:27 AM)

DG, Houston, TX (Sent Friday, June 05, 2009 9:30 AM)

I think that is a very limiting statement. There is a LOT of corruption in Washington DC. I hardly think Murtha is the worst, however - he certainly wins some kind of 'prize'. I think Rangel is probably on the list somewhere and I feel pretty certain there are others.

Term limits just seem to make sense when all they seem to do in DC is perpetually campaign. Congressional seats are only two years. I say throw most of the bums out - both parties. Clean house every eight years. Or two terms at the Senate level. Power corrupts and I am not terribly impressed by either side.

Clara Kansas City, MO (Sent Friday, June 05, 2009 10:35 AM)

http://briefingroom.thehill.com/2009/06/04/barney-frank-wins-delay-of-gm-plant-closing-after-ceo-meeting/

Rep Barney Frank (D-Mass.) won a stay of execution on Thursday for a General Motors plant in his district that the automaker had announced it would close.

No other lawmaker has managed to halt the GM ax. As chairman of the House Financial Services Committee Frank oversees the government's bailout program, known as TARP. Frank's staff said the lawmaker spokes with GM CEO Fritz Henderson on Wednesday and convinced him to keep the Norton, Mass. plant open for at least 14 months

Dave, Tn (Sent Friday, June 05, 2009 11:12 AM)

Clara - I couldn't agree more about imposing term limits to the Senate and House. That's the real problem. I think what Murtha has done is particularly disgusting, but both parties have their share of criminals. Most of the corruption comes from elected officials that have been in power for several terms.

DG, Houston, TX (Sent Friday, June 05, 2009 12:49 PM)

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