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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2009
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NEWS ABOUT: John Murtha

John Murtha stories: 19 news summaries


 US Pays $400 a Gallon 
 for Gas in Afghanistan 

Figure to become major talking point in Congress

Oct 16, 09 11:06 AM CDT
(Newser) - As debate over the Afghan war heats up, expect Congress to heavily quote a new statistic from the Pentagon: $400. That’s how much the US pays, on average, for every gallon of fuel put into its planes and combat vehicles in Afghanistan, military officials recently told the House Defense... More »

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Afghanistan • John Murtha • fuel • gas prices • Afghanistan war • logistics

Murtha Institute Hands Money to Murtha Friends

Funds to beef up security are showered on connected firms

Sep 21, 09 12:08 PM CDT
(Newser) - The John P. Murtha Institute for Homeland Security may look like a mostly deserted basement below an Indiana University of Pennsylvania dormitory, but over the years it’s overseen $50 million in federal funds—almost all of it going to Murtha’s friends and industry allies, a Washington Post ... More »

MORE ABOUT:
John Murtha • earmarks • pork barrel spending • defense spending

(Newser) - House leaders are slashing their $550 million order for eight new executive jets for use by senior government officials, caving to pressure from fellow lawmakers and the Pentagon, Politico reports. John Murtha’s Defense Appropriations Subcommittee had more than doubled the Pentagon’s original request for $220 million to buy... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Nancy Pelosi • Pentagon • House Appropriations Committee • John Murtha • planes • defense spending

Murtha Aide Threatened Me: GOP Opponent

Army vet says staffer warned about a possible court-martial

May 13, 09 10:46 AM CDT
(Newser) - John Murtha's 2008 Republican challenger has accused an aide to the Pennsylvania congressman of threatening to recall him to active military service so the Army could court-martial him, Politico reports. Participating in elective politics while on active duty is against military policy. Russell, who retired from the Army Reserves during... More »

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ethics • John Murtha • Pennsylvania • threats • court martial • Election 2008 • Bill Russell • John Hugya

Pentagon Gives $4M in No-Bid Contracts to  Murtha Nephew

Looks bad, even if no evidence of meddling

May 5, 09 8:35 AM CDT
(Newser) - It can be hard for a defense contractor to be related to a powerful legislator with hands on the military’s purse strings. Just ask Robert Murtha, nephew of Democrat John Murtha, and chief of Murtech—everyone assumes that his success is his uncle’s work. Today, the Washington Post... More »

MORE ABOUT:
John Murtha • earmarks • appropriations • defense contractors • Robert Murtha

Navy Award for Murtha Sparks Marine Furor

40K sign petition against rep who cried murder in Haditha

Mar 27, 09 5:20 PM CDT
(Newser) - Sailors and Marines are up in arms over a Navy commendation to Rep. John Murtha, who has accused servicemen of murdering Iraqi civilians, the Navy Times reports. Outgoing Navy Secretary Donald Winter awarded Murtha the Distinguished Public Service Award earlier this month for his work on a House subcommittee. The... More »

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Iraq • Congress • Iraq appropriations • John Murtha • US military • House of Representatives • Haditha • US Navy • Marines • Donald Winter

Feds Raid Contractors
With Ties to Murtha

Veteran Dem has steered $100M to probed company

Jan 23, 09 9:16 AM CST
(Newser) - Federal agents yesterday raided the offices and homes of two Pennsylvania defense contractors with strong ties to powerful Congressman John Murtha, Politico reports. The lawmaker has steered more than $100 million in federal contracts to the companies, and their employees have given more than $65,000 in contributions to Murtha.... More »

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John Murtha • earmarks • corruption • Pennsylvania • political scandal • defense contractors

 'Redneck' 
 Constituents 
 Cool on Murtha 

Longtime congressman has to fight for his seat after repeatedly insulting his district

Oct 27, 08 10:06 AM CDT
(Newser) - Democratic stalwart John Murtha just can’t give himself a break. The 17-term congressman first insulted his constituents by saying, “There’s no question Western Pennsylvania is a racist area,” in a newspaper interview, Politico recalls. Then, as his opponent gained traction in polls, Murtha apologized, but added,... More »

MORE ABOUT:
John Murtha • Election 2008

Pentagon Will Keep Extending Soldiers' Tours

Military will deny exit to some 12K a month through 2009

Oct 27, 08 8:30 AM CDT
(Newser) - Soldiers are likely to face involuntary extensions of combat duty throughout 2009, USA Today reports, despite repeated Pentagon promises to rely less on the practice. Roughly 12,000 soldiers are hit with “stop loss”—which forces them to stay in the Army after their commitment has expired—each... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Pentagon • Robert Gates • John Murtha • US military • Department of Defense • Iraq war • Afghanistan war • Stop-Loss

Lobbyists Lavish Gifts on Lawmakers' Fave Charities

More than $13M donated to charities and nonprofits in name of House, Senate members

Oct 19, 08 1:08 PM CDT
(Newser) - New congressional ethics rules are showing the public for the first time how much money lobbyists and companies are donating to charities and nonprofits to woo lawmakers, the New York Times reports. Companies and interest groups donated more than $13 million to such groups associated with more than 200 House... More »

MORE ABOUT:
ethics • Congress • John Murtha • Tom DeLay • charity • Charles Rangel • lobbyists • James Clyburn

 Murtha 
 Backtracks on 
 Pa. Racism Jab 

Democratic Rep. apologizes for dissing state's west

Oct 16, 08 2:05 PM CDT
(Newser) - Rep. John Murtha apologized for saying yesterday that “racist” western Pennsylvanians wouldn’t vote for Barack Obama, CNN reports. “While we cannot deny that race is a factor in this election, I believe we've been able to look beyond race these past few months,” the Democrat said... More »

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Barack Obama • Hillary Clinton • race • John Murtha • Pennsylvania • Obama 2008 • Election 2008

Lawmakers
Seek $6.6B
in Earmarks

Biden requests
$51.5M; Ted Stevens leads way with $238M

Sep 26, 08 1:00 PM CDT
(Newser) - Despite campaign rhetoric against earmarks, a hefty $6.6 billion will be set aside for lawmakers’ pet projects in a $630 billion spending bill nearing approval, USA Today reports. The amount is down 11% from last year. Of note: Though both presidential candidates didn't request any earmarks this year, Joe... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Congress • Joe Biden • John Murtha • earmarks • Ted Stevens

 No Country for 
 Old McCain: 
 Murtha 

Presidency too tall an order for 71-year-old GOP candidate, says rep, 75

Apr 16, 08 3:18 PM CDT
(Newser) - John Murtha says John McCain, at 71, might be too old to be commander-in-chief. “This one guy running is about as old as me,” the 75-year-old Democratic congressman said in introducing Hillary Clinton. “Let me tell you something, it’s no old man’s job.” Of... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Hillary Clinton • John McCain • age • John Murtha • negative campaigning

John Murtha, War Critic,
Backs Clinton

Congressman says
Hillary has 'similar position' on Iraq

Mar 19, 08 3:30 AM CDT
(Newser) - John Murtha, the Pennsylvania congressman who has become a leading critic of the Iraq war, is endorsing Hillary Clinton for president, CQ Politics reports. “I know that Senator Clinton has a similar position that I have in regards to the war in Iraq,” Murtha said. While both he... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Hillary Clinton • John Murtha • Pennsylvania • troop withdrawal • Vietnam veteran • war authorization • endorsement • defense spending • superdelegates • Pennsylvania primary • Iraq war

Cheney: Iraq Self-Governing in 1 Year

Veep talks war,
blasts Democrats
in rare interview

Dec 6, 07 12:24 PM CST
(Newser) - Politico sits down for a rare interview with Dick Cheney, where the vice president once again predicts that Iraq will be fully self-governing—this time, he says, by January 2009. Cheney also cautions against an early withdrawal of American forces from Iraq, which for him sends the message that "... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Nancy Pelosi • Dick Cheney • John Murtha • John Dingell

Showdown Looms on War Funds

Pentagon warns of 200,000 layoffs without bucks

Nov 21, 07 3:45 AM CST
(Newser) - A showdown is rapidly approaching between Congress and the White House over funding for the Iraq war. The Pentagon has warned that up to 200,000 contractors and civilian employees may be laid off by Christmas unless Congress acts on a $196 billion request for war funds, reports the Washington ... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Iraq • Congress • White House • John Murtha • Department of Defense • Dana Perino • war funding • Iraq war

Clinton, Pelosi May Divide Dems

One is genuine hawk, the other authentic dove

Oct 25, 07 11:16 AM CDT
(Newser) - They may have a lot in common on the surface, but Hillary Clinton and Nancy Pelosi differ vastly when it comes to foreign policy, Politico says. With votes to authorize the Iraq war and designate Iran’s Revolutionary Guard as terrorists, Clinton is an honest-to-goodness, unapologetic hawk, while Pelosi is... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Iran • Hillary Clinton • John Murtha • Clinton 2008 • Iranian Revolutionary Guard • Armenian Resolution • Iraq war

House Demands Iraq Exit Plan in 60 Days

Bipartisan vote for Iraqi withdrawal plan

Oct 3, 07 3:30 AM CDT
(Newser) - The House of Representatives has voted overwhelmingly to give the White House 60 days to come up with an exit plan for withdrawing significant numbers of troops from Iraq. The 377-46 vote is the first salvo of a new Democratic strategy but does not require a withdrawal timeline or  a... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Iraq • Harry Reid • John Murtha • House of Representatives • withdrawal planning bill • Phil English • Steny H. Hoyer • Jim McGovern • Iraq exit strategy

Earmarks Are Weapons in House Spat

Murtha accused of rules violation after threat to deny future funding

May 18, 07 6:38 AM CDT
(Newser) - Rep. John Murtha, the pugnacious Democratic chairman of the House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, is accused of breaking House rules by  threatening to withhold future spending from a GOP member with whom he had a disagreement. Politico reports that Rep. Mike Rogers is calling for a House vote to reprimand Murtha. More »

MORE ABOUT:
politics • John Murtha • earmarks • House of Representatives • House Appropriations • Mike Rogers • appropriations

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