Congressman John Murtha dead at 77; competitive special election likely in Pennsylvania
Democratic Rep. John P. Murtha, who just Saturday became Pennsylvania’s longest serving member of Congress, died Monday at a Virginia hospital from an infection relating to a recent surgery.
Murtha, 77, the powerful chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, “passed away peacefully” at 1:18 p.m. Monday at Virginia Hospital Center in Arlington, according to spokesman Matthew Mazonkey.
Murtha had recently undergone gallbladder surgery at Bethesda Naval Hospital and had developed an infection.
Mazonkey said Murtha, who in 1974 became the first Vietnam War veteran elected to Congress, “dedicated his life to serving his country both in the military and in the halls of Congress.” In recent years, he was known for his ardent opposition to the Iraq War and his call for an immediate pullout of U.S. troops there.
Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell, also a Democrat, called Murtha an “uber-congressman” and ordered all Pennsylvania and U.S. flags across the commonwealth to be flown at half-staff.
“This is fitting because Jack Murtha was not just a wonderful congressman for his district, but for all of Pennsylvania,” Rendell said. “No matter what the issue was, Jack and Jack’s office was the first call we would make. No matter where you were in Pennsylvania, and certainly for anyone sitting in this chair, he was the go-to guy. He will be missed in countless ways.”
House Republican Leader John Boehner said in a statement that “our nation has lost a decorated veteran and the House of Representatives has lost one of its own.”
“I also want to express my condolences to Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who valued Congressman Murtha’s advice and friendship. He will be missed,” Boehner said.
The Washington Post’s Chris Cillizza noted that Murtha’s death will set off a competitive special election, likely to be held on May 18, the date already set for federal primaries around the state. Cillizza writes that “Murtha’s district is the only one in the country won by Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) in 2004 and by Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) in 2008, according to Republican sources, and that trend line coupled with the volatile national environment for Democrats ensures Republicans will heavily target the contest.”
And the Wall Street Journal noted Monday that Murtha’s death “marks the end of one of the U.S. House’s most enduring modern traditions.” That tradition is the Pennsylvania Corner, the area in the House chamber where Murtha would hold court with “lawmakers of both parties who regularly huddled around the powerful chairman and appropriator.”
(1 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)
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Shouldn’t we the people be thanking the doctors for doing us a favor.
GOD works in mysterious ways.
Oh and by the way if your a politician that wanted to screw doctors, I wouldn’t get sick and need one.
Actually, Murtha died at 75. He’s just been fakin’ it for the past coupla years.
Jack Murtha ~ Poster Child for term limits.
1 term in office.
1 term in PRISON!
Looks like old Jack escaped a jail sentence for corruption. And WHEN is The Nancy going to order investigations of the rest of the corrupt Dems?? Now we know the only way the swamp is going to be drained is when all the old crooks bite the dust! Is Charlie Rangel next?
Charlie Rangel?
Refer above.
So sad.
A lot less pork for western PA.
So sad. NOT!
man I hate what I am about to think “out loud”….(but he does it anyway)….I guess technically Benedict Arnold served his country too….I know, I know, its different but the thing is that serving your country in the military does not absolve you of future sins and transgressions…and transgress he did.
No it doesn’t absolve but do you not give any respect for his service during the Vietnam war. I disagree with his politics, and as a youth I don’t know if he joined as a liberal, but HE did defend our country, and I think he is worthy of that respect.
Now if you were to ask me about his congressional record, or his downward spiral towards our troops, I would say he acted shamefully, and I have said that but a person is many parts and on the day of his death I honor his service during the Vietnam War.
A few thoughts from a daughter of a military service member who died in service to our country. Ft. Leavenworth, KS.
First fat, womanizing, alcoholic ol’ Teddy K. bites it and now the grand piggy of ‘em all, John Murtha, croaks because he gets sh*t in his blood from a botched surgery. Gotta love it. Good riddance to them both. The world’s better off without them. The Dems are literally dieing to get away from Obama. I hear ol’ “Sheets” Byrd has about had it, too.
1) This citizen thanks the Marine for his service to his country.
2) “Murtha had recently undergone gallbladder surgery at Bethesda Naval Hospital and had developed an infection.”
Does not bode well for Government provided Healthcare.
thank you for your honorable military service and the most egregious pork barrel spending of the past century.