Defense firms like Murtha's district

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Defense firms like Murtha's district
Sunday, July 15, 2007



Tim Sloan, Agence France-Presse, Getty Images
Rep. John Murtha -- He uses his power to deliver federal money to his congressional district as well as to his political allies across the country.



By Jerome L. Sherman
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
WASHINGTON -- Once again, U.S. Rep. John Murtha was the man who "made it happen."

Leaders of a dozen groups -- including the Johnstown Redevelopment Authority, state and local government, and the Conemaugh Health System -- came together July 3 to break ground on the Greater Johnstown Technology Park, a $20 million development on the grounds of a defunct dairy plant.






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But only Mr. Murtha received two standing ovations.

As chairman of the House Defense Appropriations subcommittee, the 17-term Democrat is one of the most powerful politicians in Washington, and he uses that power to deliver federal money to his congressional district as well as to his political allies across the country.

It was Mr. Murtha who secured $4 million for a joint venture by Conemaugh and Northrop Grumman, a major defense company, to study the development of advanced electronic records for both military and civilian health care systems. The joint venture will be a park tenant.

Also moving in will be Virginia-based MTS Technologies, which performs millions of dollars in technology and management consulting for the Defense Department. MTS is run by Daniel T. Perkins, who, more than four decades ago, worked in Mr. Murtha's Johnstown car wash. The company already has a 50-person operation in Johnstown and plans to expand.

Johnstown locals, not surprisingly, appreciate his efforts. Critics say Mr. Murtha is too quick to use the federal purse as a development tool for the Johnstown economy, sometimes backing wasteful ventures. And not all projects deliver the promised jobs.

"When the companies are not committed to the district, but to the member who represents the district, all they're doing is paying lip service to Johnstown to get a bigger pot of money," said Steve Ellis, vice president of Taxpayers for Common Sense, a watchdog group that opposes such projects.

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07196/801835-84.stm