Pennsylvania Congressional Representative John Murtha Dies at Age 77

Pennsylvanians were shocked to hear of the death of congressional representative John Murtha yesterday, the longest serving Pennsylvania congressman. Murtha had been in the Virginia Hospital Center in Arlington, Virginia, suffering complications after gall bladder surgery since January 28th. He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Joyce, twin sons John and Patrick, his daughter Donna and three grandchildren.

Murtha represented the 12th Congressional Pennsylvania district, a distressed and flood-prone area. He first came to prominence in 1977 when floods ravaged Johnstown. He travelled the area via helicopter, appraising the situation, working with recovery workers and local leaders, and successfully lobbying Congress to pass legislation to bring in federal money for the disaster. He frequently stirred controversy, and was described as the "King of Pork," an "old-line power broker" who unashamedly and unapologetically procured billions for Pennsylvania and his distressed southeastern Pennsylvania district. He is credited with revitalizing his district after the decline of steel and coal industries devastated the economy. In a March, 2009, interview, Murtha declared, "If I am corrupt, it is because I take care of my district." Murtha never failed to pull in less than 55% of the vote.

A decorated former Marine, Murtha was was awarded Two Purple Hearts, a Bronze Star and the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry. Known as a hawk, the political world was surprised by Murtha's vocal opposition to the Iraqi war in 2005, which drew him accolades from liberals, but was decried by George Bush and congressional republicans. Murtha stated that, "The U.S. cannot accomplish anything else militarily in Iraq. It is time to bring the troops home." Murtha accused the Bush administration of failing to brief Congress and refusing to answer questions. The political right immediately targeted him and tried to discredit him with false allegations of of a criminal probe regarding a lobbying firm.

Murtha was born in West Virginia and raised in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. He attended Washington and Jefferson College in Washington, Pennsylvania, joining the ROTC and making the football team. In his second year of college, during the Korean War, he reportedly walked off the football field and joined the Marines after deciding it was not right that he have a deferment because of his ROTC status. He was not sent to Korea, but served as a drill Sergeant. Ten years later as a reservist, he successfully fought to be sent to Viet Nam. When he returned from the war, he mounted an unsuccessful bid for congress against long-time incumbent republican Rep. John Saylor, but was later elected to the General Assembly. When Saylor died in 1973, Murtha won a special election against Saylor's chief of staff by 122 votes. He subsequently earned a degree in economics from the University of Pittsburgh.

Murtha was one of the politicians targeted in 1980 in the Abscam scandal, when FBI agents posed as representatives of a fictional Arab sheik trying to get an immigration bill passed that would enable him to remain in the country. While there was a tape of Murtha discussing how to get the sheik to invest in his district, he refused to take the bait when offered $50,000 in cash and was not among the congressmen indicted.

Funeral arrangements are incomplete, but the family requests that, in lieu of flowers, contributions be sent to UPMC John P. Murtha Cancer Pavilion in Johnston, Pennsylvania, or to the Joyce Murtha Breast Care Center in Windber, Pennsylvania.

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