ONE OF CREW'S MOST CORRUPT: MORE ON MURTHA'S TIES TO PA COMPANIES

2 Nov 2007 // Stories on Rep. John Murtha (D-PA) this week missed important facts - revealed by CREW's most corrupt report - on Rep. Murtha's questionable work for Concurrent Technologies Corporation and other Johnstown, PA companies.

On September 18, CREW included Rep. Murtha in Beyond Delay: The 22 Most Corrupt Members of Congress (and two to watch).

Read CREW's findings on Rep. Murtha here: http://www.beyonddelay.org/summaries/murtha.php

Facts that were missed this week:

* In 2007, Rep. Murtha inserted a $1 million earmark for a project to establish the Center for Instrumented Critical Infrastructure - a subsidary of Concurrent Technology (CTC). Rep. Murtha claimed that the earmark was supported by the Department of Energy, who denies supporting the project and has not changed its position.

* CTC has a building called the John P. Murtha Technology Center.

A number of other Johnstown companies also received earmarks in the Fiscal Year 2008 Defense Appropriations Bill: Conemaugh Health System, DRS Technologies, KDH Defense Systems, Kuchera Defense Systems, L. Robert Kimball and Associates, MTS Technologies, Northrop Grumman, St. Francis University’s Center for Excellence and Windber Research Institute. As it happens, all have contributed generously to Rep. Murtha’s campaign committee and his political action committee:

*Conemaugh Health System employees, board members and their family members have contributed $47,750 to Rep. Murtha’s campaign since 2002.

*Since 2003, KDH Defense system President David E. Herbener has donated $7,200 to Rep. Murtha’s campaign committee.

*Employees of L. Robert Kimball and Associates and their families have donated $33,700 to Rep. Murtha’s campaign since 2002. Employees of the firm have also donated $6,000 to Rep. Murtha’s political action committee since 2006.

*Employees of Kuchera Defense Industries and their family members have donated $61,400 to Rep. Murtha’s election committee since 2002 and have contributed an additional $6,000 to his political action committee since 2006.

*MTS Technologies’ employees, board members and their families have contributed $74,200 to Rep. Murtha’s campaign committee since 2001. In addition, since 2006, employees of MTS have contributed $9,000 to Rep. Murtha’s political action committee.

*Northrop Grumman’s PAC has contributed a total of $34,500 to Rep. Murtha since 2000.

*Employees of St. Francis University and their families have donated $15,500 to Rep. Murtha’s election campaign since 2000.

*Since 2000, Rep. Murtha has received $21,250 in donations from employees and board members of the Windber Research Institute and their families. Additionally, since 2006, employees of Windber Research Institute have also contributed $2,200 to Rep. Murtha’s political action committee.

*Download "Facts about Murtha" on the right to view citations and exhibits*

Today, the Harrisburg Patriot-News editorialized on Rep. Murtha's unethical earmarking. Read the editorial here: http://www.citizensforethics.org/node/30371