murtha

So here I was, ready to dutifully report on Pentagon spending priorities at the rollout for the Center for American Progress’ new military-strategy paper. Then Jack Murtha had to talk about Afghanistan.
Murtha, of course, is the powerful Democratic Pennsylvania congressman who chairs the House Appropriations subcommittee on defense, as well as being the first Vietnam [...]

Erie, Pa. — Two of Sen. Barack Obama’s top surrogates, Bill and Hillary Clinton, barnstormed through western Pennsylvania Monday appealing for support in the only “blue” state that remains competitive.
Sen. John McCain also made an appearance in the state. Republicans strategists believe that capturing Pennsylvania’s 21 electoral votes is McCain’s only path to the White [...]

The $488-billion for defense was just tacked on to a larger spending bill at the last minute, with no separate vetting by appropriations committees. The lack of oversight leads to increased funding for programs repeatedly criticized by Defense Sec. Robert Gates.