Despite Murtha's Ethical Woes, John Hall Sticks by His Man

Hall Votes to Block Investigation into Murtha, Inc. Earmark Scandal

Washington- Rep. John Hall (D-NY) apparently has no intention of heeding the calls of the American people and ethical watchdog groups alike to look into the shady earmark dealings of corrupt Congressman Jack Murtha. Today, once again, Hall voted to protect Murtha from a long overdue investigation by the House Ethics Committee (House Roll Call 243). Was he ever sincere about wanting to be a part of the most honest, most open and most ethical Congress in history?

“…a string of federal criminal investigations of contractors or lobbyists close to Mr. Murtha, the top Democrat on the defense appropriations subcommittee, are threatening to undermine his backroom clout…. In the weeks since the news that prosecutors had raided the offices of the PMA Group — a lobbying firm founded by a former Murtha associate that became a gateway to his office and his biggest source of campaign money — about two dozen rank-and-file Democrats have risked his wrath by calling for a House ethics investigation of the matter. One Democrat has even foresworn seeking earmarks for the military contractors in his district because of ethical concerns about the process.” (David D. Kirkpatrick, “House Heavyweight Feels Threat to Power,” New York Times, 4/25/09)


“Yet again, John Hall has stood by John Murtha and protected him from a House Ethics investigation instead of standing with the American people to clean up the pay-to-play political process,” said NRCC Communications Director Ken Spain. “Hall appears to show no remorse for turning a blind-eye to one of the most corrupt politicians in Washington at the expense of his constituents in New York.”

How much longer will John Hall hold out, as pressure continues to mount against Murtha?

“Democratic leaders have remained in a defensive crouch in the wake of reports that federal investigators are probing the earmark empire of Rep. John Murtha (D-Pa.), the defense-spending chief in the House and a close confidant of Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.).

“But that position is becoming increasingly difficult to maintain. Since news broke in February that federal agents raided the offices of the PMA Group and the home of its founder, former House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense aide Paul Magliocchetti, Rep. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) has kept the issue front and center by calling votes on whether to force an ethics probe. His first attempt gathered 17 votes from the majority party, but Democratic defections on subsequent votes have mounted, reaching 27 on his seventh and latest attempt before the spring recess.

“Those numbers reflect growing anxiety among rank-and-file House Democrats about the ongoing federal probe and the political risk associated with failing to confront it. At a closed-door meeting before the break, Pelosi enlisted Rep. Howard Berman (Calif.), formerly the top Democrat on the ethics committee, to brief lawmakers on why they should continue to resist Flake’s efforts to force a probe. And Berman is expected to reprise the briefing at a longer session, though no date for that has been set yet.” (Tory Newmyer, “Watchdog Groups Want Ethics Panel Probe of PMA Ties,” Roll Call, 4/25/09)