In all honesty, I must say Congressman John Murtha has grown too big for his pants since the last election.

Murtha is known for his fondness of earmarks, particularly in his district.

When, during a meeting of the powerful appropriations subcommittee on military spending, which Mr. Murtha chairs, Republican Congressman Mike Rogers of Michigan tried unsuccessfully to strike an earmark (pork) from an intelligence bill, Congressman Murtha didn’t take too kindly to it.

In fact, he walked over to the Republican side of the House of Representatives and this exchange occurred:

During a series of House votes Thursday, Murtha walked to the chamber’s Republican side to confront Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Mich., a 43-year-old former FBI agent. Earlier this month, Rogers had tried unsuccessfully to strike a Murtha earmark from an intelligence spending bill. The item would restore $23 million for the National Drug Intelligence Center, a facility in Murtha’s Pennsylvania district that some Republicans say is unneeded.

According to Rogers’ account, which Murtha did not dispute, the Democrat angrily told Rogers he should never seek earmarks of his own because “you’re not going to get any, now or forever.”

“This was clearly designed to try to intimidate me,” Rogers said in an interview Friday. “He said it loud enough for other people to hear.”

House rules prohibit lawmakers from placing conditions on earmarks or targeted tax benefits that are based on another member’s votes. [Rules are made to be broken or changed. ED]

Murtha’s office, asked for response Friday, issued a three-sentence statement: “The committee and staff give every Democrat and Republican the same consideration. We have extensive hearings and every request is given careful consideration. We will continue to do just that.”

I’ll make a bet with anyone that Murtha will not be reprimanded by the House and another one that Congressman Rogers’ requests for earmarks will be given consideration and then voted down.

That’s just an educated guess based on how acrimonious this Congress has become.

Written by ~J~

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