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GOP Lawmakers Float Ethics Probe of Murtha
Friday, Nov. 18, 2005
By John Bresnahan,ROLL CALL staff
Republican lawmakers say that ties between Rep. John Murtha (D-Pa.) and his brother's lobbying firm, KSA Consulting, may warrant investigation by the House ethics committee. The calls come as Murtha, a former Marine and pro-military Democrat, has made headlines this week by coming out in support of a rapid withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq.
According to a June 13 article in The Los Angeles Times, the fiscal 2005 defense appropriations bill included more than $20 million in funding for at least 10 companies for whom KSA lobbied. Carmen Scialabba, a longtime Murtha aide, works at KSA as well. KSA directly lobbied Murtha's office on behalf of seven companies, and a Murtha aide told a defense contractor that it should retain KSA to represent it, according to the LA Times.
In early 2004, Murtha reportedly leaned on U.S. Navy officials to sign a contract to transfer the Hunters Point Shipyard to the city of San Francisco, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. A company called Lennar Inc. had right to the land, and Laurence Pelosi, nephew to House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), was an executive with the firm at that time.
Murtha also inserted earmarks in defense bills that steered millions of dollars in federal research funds toward companies owned by children of fellow Pennsylvania Rep. Paul Kanjorski (D).
Murtha and KSA have denied engaging in any improper or unethical behavior. Murtha's offices in Pennsylvania and Washington, D.C., could not be reached for comment at press time.But with GOP leaders infuriated by Murtha's declaration this week that the United States should pull all its military forces out of Iraq in six months, renewed attention is being focused on Murtha's dealings with KSA.
"I have read the articles about these appropriations projects that benefited his brother's lobbying firm," said Rep. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.). "If there is a potential pattern where Congressman Murtha has helped other Democrats secure appropriations that also benefited relatives of those Members, I believe this would be something that merits further review by the ethics committee."
Another GOP lawmaker, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said Murtha "is playing footsie with his brother's lobbying firm using taxpayer money."
Friday, Nov. 18, 2005
By John Bresnahan,ROLL CALL staff
Republican lawmakers say that ties between Rep. John Murtha (D-Pa.) and his brother's lobbying firm, KSA Consulting, may warrant investigation by the House ethics committee. The calls come as Murtha, a former Marine and pro-military Democrat, has made headlines this week by coming out in support of a rapid withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq.
According to a June 13 article in The Los Angeles Times, the fiscal 2005 defense appropriations bill included more than $20 million in funding for at least 10 companies for whom KSA lobbied. Carmen Scialabba, a longtime Murtha aide, works at KSA as well. KSA directly lobbied Murtha's office on behalf of seven companies, and a Murtha aide told a defense contractor that it should retain KSA to represent it, according to the LA Times.
In early 2004, Murtha reportedly leaned on U.S. Navy officials to sign a contract to transfer the Hunters Point Shipyard to the city of San Francisco, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. A company called Lennar Inc. had right to the land, and Laurence Pelosi, nephew to House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), was an executive with the firm at that time.
Murtha also inserted earmarks in defense bills that steered millions of dollars in federal research funds toward companies owned by children of fellow Pennsylvania Rep. Paul Kanjorski (D).
Murtha and KSA have denied engaging in any improper or unethical behavior. Murtha's offices in Pennsylvania and Washington, D.C., could not be reached for comment at press time.But with GOP leaders infuriated by Murtha's declaration this week that the United States should pull all its military forces out of Iraq in six months, renewed attention is being focused on Murtha's dealings with KSA.
"I have read the articles about these appropriations projects that benefited his brother's lobbying firm," said Rep. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.). "If there is a potential pattern where Congressman Murtha has helped other Democrats secure appropriations that also benefited relatives of those Members, I believe this would be something that merits further review by the ethics committee."
Another GOP lawmaker, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said Murtha "is playing footsie with his brother's lobbying firm using taxpayer money."
