September 21, 2009
WaPo: Murtha Institute protecting America from terrorists? Nah, just giving tax dollars to friends.

Posted at 2:44 pm, in: Corruption
Tags: Haditha, John Murtha

Pennsylvania, is this really what you want from your elected officials?

The buzzer is broken at the John P. Murtha Institute for Homeland Security, and a paper note invites visitors, “Please knock.” On a summer afternoon, a lone intern answers the door of the mostly empty basement offices that over the years have overseen $50 million in federal funds awarded to projects designed to make the nation safer.

Named for the chairman of the powerful Appropriations subcommittee on defense, who has shepherded most of its funding, the Murtha Institute was supposed to embark on projects to protect America from terrorists and clean up environmental dangers. Much of the work went to companies and friends close to the congressman, and few of the projects met their goals, a Washington Post investigation shows.

But its spotty performance and internal turmoil have not deterred the congressman or his alma mater, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, which houses the center, from seeking more funds or dreaming big about the future.

Plans are underway to move the Murtha Institute from its current dormitory basement suite to a $53 million IUP athletic arena and conference center now under construction. Murtha (D-Pa.) secured a $3 million federal earmark for the building two years ago, and he sought another earmark this year before abruptly changing course as investigations of his defense appropriations and lobbying ties heated up. Murtha redirected some of that request to IUP research.

In a district that also boasts a regional airport named for Murtha and nearly a dozen other facilities bearing his name, the institute is another example of how the congressman has used federal funds to revitalize this economically depressed former coal-mining region. In doing so, he has raised questions among watchdog groups and outside critics about the use of taxpayer money for projects that appear to mostly benefit Murtha loyalists.

“He who pays the most homage to Murtha is the one who gets the money,” said Cathy Wentzel, a former manager of a research group linked to the Murtha Institute, who left when her boss was fired.

Nearly a dozen facilities bearing his name? It should be illegal for our representatives to use our tax dollars to build things and then slap their own name onto it. It’s disgusting. Not that I expect much better from a man who falsley accused our marines of a massacre in Haditha and then refused to apologize when all of the charges were dismissed. Just another example of political corruption, brought to the 12th district of Pennsylvania courtesy of their very own Rep. John Murtha.

Here’s the challenge 12th disctrict voters: vote this man out! Seriously, is he representing you and your values? Not unless your values are political corruption and the use of tax dollars to reward his political cronies. Oh wait, maybe that is what voters want. We did elect Obama. Honestly, though, doesn’t practically anybody have to be better than this? He is currently serving his 19th term. If people want change so much, why don’t they change this? Vote this guy out as soon as possible! Give the rest of America a break. Don’t give him another chance just because he has a D after his name and you do, too.