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Murtha: Redefining corruption
US
Representative John Murtha is a proud practitioner of the dark art of
congressional earmarks. The federal largesse he's brought home to his
southwestern Pennsylvania district easily tallies in the billions,
according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Meanwhile, firms benefitting
from Murtha's earmarks have contributed hundreds of thousands of
dollars to his campaign. This cozy practice has led a Washington
watchdog group to label him "one of the most corrupt members of
Congress." Now federal authorities are investigating a lobbying shop
and several other outfits with close ties to the congressman. Murtha
himself is unrepentant. "If I'm corrupt, it's because I take care of my
district," he told the paper. It's time for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi
to tell her close ally to clean up his act.
© Copyright 2009 Globe Newspaper Company.
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