Murtha's Defense Earmarks Draw Questions

CBS Evening News: FBI Investigates Those Close To Powerful Lawmaker

(CBS)  CBS News investigative correspondent Sharyl Attkisson and investigative producer Laura Strickler reported this story for CBSNews.com.

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."

[ACRScout]

John Murtha is currently on CSPAN stampeding with scare tactics. He says that if earmarks aren't given to specific companies (quite probably in his district) because they know how to meet the needs of the military, that the job of serving our soldiers needs will go to companies overseas. Apparently Mr. Murtha needs to take a refresher course in U.S. History. In World War II General Motors under emergency conditions on a short schedule, retooled its factories and made fighters and torpedo planes for the Navy. Now the current debate is over "TENTS". If there is no other company in this country that can make tents for the Marines other than the one picked by Murtha, I think this country has far more troubles than tentage. It has a massive abundance of sloth. I feel that this entire debate is truely less about tents and more about Murtha trying to kiss up to his voters and cash suppliers.

[LongIslandJoe]

"We" did not elect Murtha, the voters in his district did. They will continue to vote for him as long as he keeps creating jobs and improving the local economy by coercing businesses to move there. Unethical - yes, immoral - probably, illegal - well that's a gray area, however it is a very effective way for him to secure his job. Same holds true for Pelosi. As long as she appeals to her ultra-liberal majority in her district she will stay in power regardless of what the other 49 states think of her and her politics. If the census bureau is allowed to use politics to redraw the districting maps, we are all in trouble. My advise for anybody who voted for Murtha, Pelosi, Obama, and the like, read the book Atlas Shrugged and get a glimpse of where our great nation will be headed.

[okmaguey]

Just go check out John Murtha Airport in his hometown in Johnston, PA. See the ABC Newscast by Charles Gibson that was just on, April 23, 2009...
This 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.

[valh1]

This guy should have lost the last election. What is up with you people in PA? Just couldn't give the new guy a chance, huh? You probably will hold on to Arlen Specter too.

[tincup356]

TWO WORDS: Term Limits!!!!!!!
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.

[scoobydob]

I see that Carl Rove's and Dick Chaney's vendata which began when John Murtha had the courage to speak out against the way in Iraq is still spinning around. I live in Congressman Murtha's district, I support Congress Murthas as does the Navy, they awarded him the "Distinguished Public Service Award" recently. He is also a receipient of the Kennedy Profiles in Courage award. Ask veterans who has spoken out and supported them and they will tell you the same. Ask the woman in Westmoreland county PA whose daughter was murdered by her husband who helped her when no one else could. There's a story, it was John Murtha who was able to stop illegal flow of funds to the now convicted murderer's as he was incarcerated. Act a multitude of people who John Murtha has helped over the years - dig a little and you will find alot of people but CBS is taking the low road as did the "high ranking" people from the Bush administration did.
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.

[cmarpa]

I see that Carl Rove's and Dick Chaney's vendata which began when John Murtha had the courage to speak out against the way in Iraq is still spinning around. I live in Congressman Murtha's district, I support Congress Murthas as does the Navy, they awarded him the "Distinguished Public Service Award" recently. He is also a receipient of the Kennedy Profiles in Courage award. Ask veterans who has spoken out and supported them and they will tell you the same. Ask the woman in Westmoreland county PA whose daughter was murdered by her husband who helped her when no one else could. There's a story, it was John Murtha who was able to stop illegal flow of funds to the now convicted murderer's as he was incarcerated. Act a multitude of people who John Murtha has helped over the years - dig a little and you will find alot of people but CBS is taking the low road as did the "high ranking" people from the Bush administration did.

[philabias]

I have faith that the good people of Pa will not re-elect this trash again. He deserves prison. the only reason he isnt there already is that polosy blocked the investagation. And as for polosy the people of Galifornia are so liberal that they prefer crimanls in charge

[philabias]

I have faith that the good people of Pa will not re-elect this trash again. He deserves prison. the only reason he isnt there already is that polosy blocked the investagation. And as for polosy the people of Galifornia are so liberal that they prefer crimanls in charge

[apprxam]

Term limits will only cause them to steal faster. Military Industrial Complex, Wall Fleece, deregulation, non of which is probable without the tragic "Iron Triangle" of presumable oversight over industry regulators and industry. All of these thangz lay squarely at the feet of the United States Congress, and Murtha and other congressperson's BS about bringing bacon home to their district needs to end. District demands are good and all, but to the detriment of the nation is foolishness at a provincial extreme.

The only way to deal with is to change the U.S. Constitution and permit oversight over congress.

[clayer1]

TWO WORDS: Term Limits!!!!!!!

[platteman]

The next election will mean the republicans won't win much. Everyone will be so broke they won't be able to dive to the poles. So the Dems will win again. They will have ACORN dive all the dems to the pols, they will challenge all the republican ballots and of course the challenged ballots will be thrown out.
Murtha is a disgrace to our service men and women.

[monalisa59]

Imagine that......another crooked politician!!!!!!!

[pinnie99]

MOST OF OUR REPRESENTATIVES COULDNT WORK IN MCDONALDS. THEY ARE TO DISHONEST TO TOUCH MONEY. WE HAVE GOT TO GET A GRIP ON OUR GOVT. BEFORE ITS TO LATE. THEY HAVE A REAL GOOD GRIP ON THEMSELVES THOUGH. NOT ONLY ARE PENNSYLVANIANS DUMB BUT THE Y ARE MASOCHISTIC. WE KEEP VOTING AND BEING WHIPPED BY ACORN. OUR LAWS HAVE NOW CRIPPLED US SO WE CANNOT FIX THIS PROBLEM . THEY JUST GOT TONS OF MONEY AND ARE HANDLING THE CENSUS. GOOD BYE USA .WE ARE BEING RUN OVER BY A TOTALLY IGNORANT GIMMEE GIMMEE GIMMEE GROUP AND NO ONE IS DOING ANYTHING ABOUT IT. W E NEED A BUNCH OF FRIGGIN GOOD LAWYERS TO GET RID OF THIS SCUM. IF YOU VOTED FOR THE DON THEN SIT BACK AND LOSE EVERYTHING YOU EVER HAD . YOUR LIFE YOUR LIBERTY AND YOUR HAPPINESS. HE HAD PHYCOLOGISTS TELLING HIM HOW TO SWOON YOU ALL AND HE PLAYED YOU LIKE A FIDDLE. HE IS JUST WHAT HE ALWAYS SAID HE WAS . A CHANGER AND HE IS GIVING HOPE TO THE GIMMEES. MURTHA IS JUST PART OF IT ALL. HES SMART... WE ARE THE DOPES.

[pinnie99]

THIS SLUG IS IN A LONG LINE OF LOSERS IN PENNSYLVANIA. ITS REALLY A ASHAME ISNT IT. NO WORRY THE FAT POLICE ARE COMING FOR HIM AND MOST OF THE CONGRESS. LYING SACKS OF CRAP IF YOU ASK ME.

[rebel4change]

This public trough feeding swine Murtha, is part of the reason we the people need to regain control of our government!

[assets2ashes]

Murtha said, "If I'm corrupt, ... it's because I take care of my district."

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."

[wqmr]

hey i'm one of those lousy republicans. i love murtha for his honest. it is what it is.

[phoolish1]

"That's my business," Murtha said. "I've been in it for 35 years."

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.

[speakinup]

Nancy Pellosi IS the swamp. Talk about making it impossible to get full representation from the House of representatives.

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.