John Murtha Democratic Congressman from Pennsylvania Died February 8, 2010

John Murtha, Pennsylvania congressman died February 8, 2010 at Virginia Hospital Center following last month's gull bladder surgery. The 77-year-old Democrat Murtha had represented the 12th ward of Pennsylvania in the US House of Representatives since 1974. He was considered one of the most influential lawmakers in Congress and was said in some accounts to have been Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi's right-hand man. John Murtha was also a former Marine and a veteran of the Vietnam War. He was the recipient of a bronze star and two purple hearts.

In Congress, John Murtha was the chairman of the Defense Appropriations Committee, the committee that controlled Pentagon spending. Murtha's fans praise his loyalty to the Johnstown area in southwestern Pennsylvania that he represented, while his critics complained about the funds that he earmarked for his hometown. Murtha's accomplishments include co-authorizing legislation allowing children to have Roth IRAs to allow family members to save for their college education. He co-founded the Congressional Steel Caucus in 1979 to help fight against subsidies for steel imports. The area of southwestern Pennsylvania that he represented was hit hard by the closing of the steel mills in the 1970s.

Murtha also aided Representative Charlie Wilson's efforts to covertly supply the Afghan Mujahedeen with stinger missiles in their fight against the Soviet army. Murtha was a strong supporter of the historical sights in his home state and succeeded in obtaining funding to preserve historical sites such as Frank Lloyd Wright's architectural masterpiece, Falling Waters, as well as the famous civil war battlefield Gettysburg.

Pelosi's health care reform bill has lost one of its staunchest supporters with the death of Murtha, which is the aspect of Murtha's death that affects me the most. I do not live in the part of Pennsylvania that Murtha represents, I am in the 4th congressional district and Murtha represents the 12th district which means that I have not had the opportunity to vote for Murtha in past elections nor will I have the opportunity to participate in the special election.

So far, there has been no mention in the press of possible Democrats to replace Murtha, though I imagine that someone will step forward soon since the 12th district is a staunchly Democratic region of Pennsylvania. There are two Republicans who have been mentioned they include Bill Russell, who was the Republican representative who ran against Murtha in the 2008 election and Tim Burns a businessman from Southwest Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell is said to be getting ready to announce when the special election for Murtha's now vacant congressional seat will take place. If a Republican wins the seat, with judging from what happened in the recent Massachusetts senate election, is not out of the question, Obama's health care reform will be dealt another blow. I truly hope that that is not what happens. Economically devastated areas like the Johnstown, Penn., area which makes up the 12th district are the areas that have the most to gain from health care reform. I remain hopeful that a strong pro health care representative will be found to replace former representative John Murtha.

Sources:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/08/AR2010020802352_2.html?hpid=topnews&sid=ST2010020802390

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/regional/s_664943.h

http://www.murtha.house.gov/index.html?option=com_content&task=view&id=878&Itemid=1tml