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Politics : Liberalism: Do You Agree We've Had Enough of It? -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: sandintoes who wrote (6536)	10/4/2006 11:29:22 AM
From: Ann Corrigan	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 224722

It's on the Boot Murtha website. His opponent is a woman, Diana Irey, who has gained strong support in recent wks: October 04, 2006 Report prompts Murtha opponent to raise issues By MIKE FAHER, Tribune Reporter U.S. Rep. John Murtha is “abusing taxpayer dollars for his own personal political benefit” by trading congressional votes for money, Republican challenger Diana Irey said Tuesday. Irey was responding to a Sunday New York Times article that says the veteran Johnstown Democrat operates a “political trading post” from his House seat. Murtha, the top Democrat on a House defense-spending subcommittee, often persuades members of his own party to vote for Republican initiatives “in a tacit exchange for earmarks for himself and his allies,” the Times reported. Irey, a Washington County commissioner, used the opportunity to fire another salvo at Murtha’s camp. “Serving in Congress is not about making deals,” she said. “It is about representing your district – with honor.” Murtha’s campaign did not immediately respond Tuesday to a request for comment. But in the Times story, Murtha – a consistent provider of federal funding for projects in his 12th district – said his actions simply are representative of the status quo in Washington. “You just need to get the things done, so you give them the votes to get the things done,” Murtha told the newspaper. “There is no question that some projects come out of it for our members, and that is not a bad thing,” he said. “Deal making is what Congress is all about.” The Times article also raises other issues regarding Murtha’s voting record: --Those who follow Murtha’s lead are rewarded with funding for their “pet spending projects,” otherwise known as earmarks. --The practice has spurred gripes from some Democrats, especially after Murtha earlier this year announced his intentions to seek a leadership position if his party wins control of the House, the Times reported. --Murtha has resisted attempts at implementing ethics reform or instituting new disclosure requirements in Congress. For his part, the congressman told the Times that he and his staff attempt to make sure that earmarks are “worthwhile not only to your district but to the country.” But Irey contends that her opponent has fallen out of touch with his constituents. And with two veterans’ rallies held last weekend in Johnstown – one supporting Murtha, and one calling for his ouster – Irey seized on allegations that the congressman has deliberately voted against some measures offering support for past members of the military. “I guess helping veterans – even those who had lost limbs in the service of their country – isn’t quite as important as Jack Murtha wants us to think he thinks it is,” Irey said.