By Emelie Rutherford
Rep. John Murtha (D-Pa.), the all-powerful chairman of the House Appropriations Defense subcommittee (HAC-D) who swayed much of the Pentagon’s spending, died yesterday in Arlington, Va., from complications following recent gallbladder surgery. He was 77.
The 19-term lawmaker, a Vietnam War veteran, supported sizable defense budgets while chiding Pentagon brass to provide equipment for troops and fix troubled weapon-systems programs. He was known as a master of pork-barrel spending and for his ties to defense contractors, including those that set up shop in his once-economically-beleaguered hometown of Johnstown, Pa.
The loss of Murtha from the powerful HAC-D could propel Rep. Norm Dicks (D-Wash.), the vice chairman, to the chairmanship.
Murtha’s family was by his side when he passed away yesterday at 1:18 p.m. at Virginia Hospital Center, his spokesman said.
When Murtha won his first House election in 1974 he was the first Vietnam War combat Veteran elected to Congress. He served 37 years in the Marine Corps, and retired from the service as a colonel in 1990.
A strong ally of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), Murtha was the 8th-most-senior House member, according to a biography provided by his office.
Murtha left Washington and Jefferson College in 1952 to join the Marines during the Korean War.
Throughout his congressional career Murtha was dogged by scandals, including investigations into his direction of military funding and ties to defense lobbyists, and an uproar from Marines over comments he made critical of Marines who killed Iraqi civilians in Iraq.
He garnered significant press coverage in 2005 when he called for redeploying U.S. troops out of Iraq.
Murtha spoke to Defense Daily on Capitol Hill just two weeks ago, and discussed his belief that U.S. citizens beyond those in the military should share in sacrificing for the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Murtha supported legislation to create a surtax to pay war costs, yet acknowledged the economy was too weak for such a bill to pass now (Defense Daily, Jan. 28).
President Barack Obama in a statement yesterday said he was “deeply saddened” by Murtha’s death, noting the congressman’s “passion for service” in the military.
“Jack’s tough-as-nails reputation carried over to Congress, where he became a respected voice on issues of national security,” Obama said.
House Appropriations Committee (HAC) Chairman David Obey (D-Wis.) said Murtha “was incredibly effective in his service in the House.”
“He understood the misery of war,” Obey said. “Every person who serves in the military has lost an advocate and a good friend today.”
HAC Ranking Member Jerry Lewis (R-Calif.), who often sparred with Murtha in spending debates, said he had “never seen a more valiant defender of the men and women of our armed forces, nor a more steadfast advocate for our country’s unequaled national defense” than Murtha.
House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) said “our nation has lost a decorated veteran and the House of Representatives has lost one of its own.”
Other House members issued statements calling Murtha a mentor to them on military matters.
Dicks said Murtha “was a strong leader and an exceptionally fair chairman” of the HAC-D, with whom he served on the panel for 31 years.
Dicks, who accompanied Murtha and other HAC-D members to Afghanistan last November, called Murtha a “hands-on” chairman who routinely travelled to conflict areas to visit where U.S. troops were deployed.
“The country has lost a real patriot; the Congress has lost a real workhorse; and I have lost a great friend,” Dicks said.
Dicks is an outspoken advocate for Boeing [BA], a major employer in his state. Dicks did not always agree with Murtha on matters impacting Boeing; for example, Dicks opposed a proposal of Murtha’s to compel the Pentagon to award contracts for the next Air Force tanker to both Boeing and competitor Northrop Grumman [NOC]-European Aeronautic Defence and Space Co. (EADS). Dicks wants Boeing to receive the contract.
Dicks will succeed Murtha if the full HAC and the House Democratic Caucus agree.