The LuLac Edition #278, August 5th, 2007
PHOTO INDEX: WILKES BARRE MAYOR TOM LEIGHTON AND CONGRESSMAN JOHN MURTHA.
MURTHA TOPS IN PORK
As a possible reward for his stepping aside and not causing a fuss in the post for House Majority Leader earlier this year, Congressman John Murtha has reaped huge benefits when it came to Congressional earmarks.
A government watchdog group says U.S. Rep. John Murtha, D-Pa., is the king of congressional earmarks.
According to Taxpayers for Common Sense, Murtha has about $150.5 million earmarked for 48 pet projects in a proposed House defense spending bill.
Other lawmakers received fewer earmarks in the $459.6 billion piece of legislation, which includes 1,337 earmarks worth about $3 billion, said Steve Ellis, a vice president of the group.
Murtha's spending influence grew this year even as Democrats pledged to cut earmarks by 50 percent in the wake of complaints about runaway spending and a scandal involving ex-Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham of California, now in prison.
Murtha, of Johnstown, is a 35-year House veteran who heads the appropriations subcommittee on military spending. He received earmarks of $80 million to $100 million last year.
Murtha and his staff have defended his record of bringing spending to his district, saying projects are vetted to make sure they are worthwhile. Murtha's office planned to detail the spending after the House approved the bill.
U.S. Rep. Bill Young, R-Fla. the ranking Republican on the defense spending committee, has the second-highest earmark total in the bill - more than $117 million, the group said.
According to Taxpayers for Common Sense, Murtha has about $150.5 million earmarked for 48 pet projects in a proposed House defense spending bill.
Other lawmakers received fewer earmarks in the $459.6 billion piece of legislation, which includes 1,337 earmarks worth about $3 billion, said Steve Ellis, a vice president of the group.
Murtha's spending influence grew this year even as Democrats pledged to cut earmarks by 50 percent in the wake of complaints about runaway spending and a scandal involving ex-Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham of California, now in prison.
Murtha, of Johnstown, is a 35-year House veteran who heads the appropriations subcommittee on military spending. He received earmarks of $80 million to $100 million last year.
Murtha and his staff have defended his record of bringing spending to his district, saying projects are vetted to make sure they are worthwhile. Murtha's office planned to detail the spending after the House approved the bill.
U.S. Rep. Bill Young, R-Fla. the ranking Republican on the defense spending committee, has the second-highest earmark total in the bill - more than $117 million, the group said.
LEIGHTON'S VISION
We have a link to a YOU TUBE spot on Mayor Tom Leighton's vision for the city of Wilkes Barre. Leighton is seeking a second term as Mayor of the city. Here's the short message that appears to be the cornerstone of his media message for the fall campaign.
posted by David Yonki @ 1:42 PM
5 comments
5 Comments:
Dave,
I was at a Wilkes-Barre picnic last week and saw Mike Savokinas, Democratic candidate for Luzerne County Sheriff doing some campaigning with former Sheriff Carl Zawatski and his friend John Hyder. All were wearing "Savokinas for Sheriff" shirts and were working the crowd. If Savokinas can get Zawatski's supporters behind him, he'll have a good chance to topple Stankus in November. By the way, there was no sight of "Nipper". What do you think, Dave?
Many years ago the iconic Mike Wallace was in Scranton. He was doing a piece on pork and Steamtown was one of his targets.
If I recall correctly, Wallace interviewed some diners at Cooper's Seafood, mostly because then-President Clinton liked Cooper's the handful of times he and Hillary were here.
Someone, and I don't know who it was, said on camera, "When the money is spent somewhere else, we call it pork. When it's spent here in our backyard, we call it progress."
Amen.
Do you realize how much federal money was spent in other areas of this country over the last 50 years? It's likely uncountable, unfathomable. Instead of seeing Murtha's money as pork, I see it as more like Pennsylvania's turn, a long overdue turn.
IN RESPONSE
Dave,
I was at a Wilkes-Barre picnic last week and saw Mike Savokinas, Democratic candidate for Luzerne County Sheriff doing some campaigning with former Sheriff Carl Zawatski and his friend John Hyder. All were wearing "Savokinas for Sheriff" shirts and were working the crowd
SAVOKINAS DID A SMART THING BY ENLISTING THE AID OF A JOHNNY HYDER. TOO MANY NEW CANDIDATES NEVER GET THE OLD GUARD OR THE POLITICALLY ACTIVE PEOPLE WHO LIVE AND BREATH THIS STUFF BEHIND THEM. IT SENDS A SIGNAL. I THINK NIPPER'S BOOMLET BURST. NOW SAVOKINAS HAS TO WORRY ABOUT ANY BEHIND THE SCENES MISCHIEF THE DEMS ARE SO FOND OF.
IN RESPONSE
Someone, and I don't know who it was, said on camera, "When the money is spent somewhere else, we call it pork. When it's spent here in our backyard, we call it progress."
I"M JUST POINTING OUT THE POWER MURTHA WIELDS. HEY, IF CONGRESMAN KANJORSKI WANTS TO ADOPT ME AS A NEPHEW, GIVE ME FEDERAL MONEY, FORM A CORPRATION, GO BANKRUPT AND THEN SLAP MY FOREHEAD IN FRONT OF THE SANITARY BAKERY IN NANTICOKE, THEN I SAY TWO THINGS, 1. PAUL CALL ME NOW and 2. OINK, OINK!
Hey Dave, Why are you so quite about the Sheriff's election. The election is just a month away. I know Savokinas is working very hard throughout the county and he even has a very good website: www.savokinasforsheriff.com.
Post a Comment
<< Home