WASHINGTON, April 20, 2009
Murtha's Defense Earmarks Draw Questions
CBS Evening News: FBI Investigates Those Close To Powerful Lawmaker
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Play CBS Video Video FBI Investigates Rep. Murtha As the FBI continues its investigation into campaign contributions to Rep. John Murtha, the powerful lawmaker continues making new earmark requests. Sharyl Attkisson investigates.
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Congressman John Murtha (CBS)
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Interactive 111th Congress With Democrats in control in both chambers AND the White House, latest session convenes.
Investigative correspondent Sharyl Attkisson keeps watch on how the government is spending your tax dollars
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• Student Loan Charity Under Fire
• Bailout Money To Tax Havens
• Big Bank's Bailout Spending Spree
• The Impossible-To-Track Bailout
• Where Did The Bailout Billions Really Go?
• Pension System A Runaway Train
• Parking Garage To Nowhere
• Did D.C. Bribery Cost Troop Lives?
• Teach For America Gets Schooled
• USDA Jobs A Day At The Beach?
• From Lawmaker To Lobbyist
• Flying The Empty Skies
• Fishing For Tax $$
• Millions In Pills, Flushed
• Murtha's Defense Earmarks Questioned
• Bailout Banks Hike Up Charges
• Student Loan Charity Under Fire
• Bailout Money To Tax Havens
• Big Bank's Bailout Spending Spree
• The Impossible-To-Track Bailout
• Where Did The Bailout Billions Really Go?
• Pension System A Runaway Train
• Parking Garage To Nowhere
• Did D.C. Bribery Cost Troop Lives?
• Teach For America Gets Schooled
• USDA Jobs A Day At The Beach?
• From Lawmaker To Lobbyist
• Flying The Empty Skies
• Fishing For Tax $$
• Millions In Pills, Flushed
Spring in Washington is "earmark season" - a busy time for Congressman John Murtha.
"That's my business," Murtha said. "I've been in it for 35 years."
As head of a powerful Defense committee, Murtha controls hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars, reports CBS News investigative correspondent Sharyl Attkisson. And he's not shy about directing money to those who give generously to his election campaigns.
CBS News has learned that this month, Murtha is steering new earmarks toward 10 companies that recently donated to his campaign.
Murtha wants $8 million for Argon ST, a defense contractor whose CEO gave Murtha the maximum allowed by law - $2,400 by an individual. He's directing a $5 million earmark toward Advanced Acoustic Concepts, which also gave the max - $5,000 for a political action committee - to his campaign. In all, 10 recent Murtha donors are slated to receive $31 million in Murtha earmarks for 2010.
Taxpayer watchdogs may not like how it looks, but it's not against the law unless donations were required in order to receive the earmarks. Looking for evidence of wrongdoing, the FBI has recently raided offices of two other companies linked to Murtha.
"The sooner it gets to a bright line that's a direct connection of 'you give me money, you're going to get taxpayer dollars,' that's when you really cross the line," said Steve Ellis, with Taxpayers for Common Sense.
That line was crossed in one case, according to a defense contractor who spoke to us on condition of anonymity for fear of losing government contracts.
The contractor was set to receive $1 million tax dollars. He said the military told him the money would come through a company called Commonwealth Research Institute, whose parent company, Concurrent Technologies, ranked among the largest earmark recipients. Both were set up with Murtha's help in his own hometown. The defense contractor said Commonwealth officials told him to get the money, he should "consider opening an office" in Johnstown, Murtha's hometown, and chided his company for not giving "enough campaign contributions to Murtha," and not making "a showing at Murtha's annual defense contractor fair."
The contractor told CBS News: "I wouldn't do it. We're just not going to play." He didn't get the funds.
"You called this a 'shakedown?'" Attkisson asked Ellis.
"If you want the money then you've got to do these things, and that's being shaken down," Ellis said.
"Is there anything illegal about that?" Attkisson asked.
"It's hard to tell until you have all the details," Ellis said. "Illegality is a tricky thing on this. It's very hard to prove a quid pro quo because most of these things aren't written down."
Commonwealth, subpoenaed in a separate federal probe, would only say it's always encouraged companies to relocate to Johnstown, and attend Murtha's fair to promote growth - but does "not encourage anyone to make campaign contributions."
Murtha wouldn't comment for our report. He did recently tell a home state newspaper that he's only trying to bring home the bacon.
"If I'm corrupt," said the congressman, "It's because I take care of my district."
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Michelle Obama tells how her role as the First Lady has changed her perspective.
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See all 86 CommentsThis is "LA CORRUPCION A LA U.S.A"= Corruption USA Style.... Have always been amazed how US calls other countries corrupt, the only difference being the corruption is "LEGAL" , just labeled as loopholes, earmarks or whatever sounds legal. The truth of the matter is that John Murtha and most all politicians, regardless of party, are simply licensed corrupt thieves.
Posted by clayer1 at 9:29 PM : Apr 21, 2009 ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
One word ,,,Revolution.....It is the ONLY way to get real change,,,that is fair to the people.
Posted by cmarpa at 7:52 AM : Apr 22, 2009
I'm sure there are many stories of abusive priests who do good deeds but that doesn't excuse bad actions. What he does is morally and ethicly wrong if not illegal. This should be dealt with by outlawing all donations from those that do 'business' with our government leaders.
The only way to deal with is to change the U.S. Constitution and permit oversight over congress.
Murtha is a disgrace to our service men and women.
OK! That sounds like a good enough excuse -- except when you use similar excuses on other occasions.
Such as:
"If I'm corrupt [because I sell dope], it's because I take care of my customers."
"If I'm corrupt [because I rob banks], it's because I take care of my family."
"If I'm corrupt [because I use stupid excuses], it's because I take care of myself -- and I'm stupid."
Thats right, and we are all sick to our stomaches at that buisness. Murtha, and a lot more like him, believe it is still buisness as usual in Washington. It is up to us to show them the door.
She decided to reintroduce the major party freezing the minority party out of any bill participation in the way of creation or amendment. The Republicans had stopped this long standing process when them came to power in the House of Representatives.
The hag needs to go - and she will - after the next election the Dems will become the minority party - thanks to Barry & Pelosi's - then the B|TCH will be muzzled.
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See all 86 Comments