| I heard last week that more information about Mark Critz would be coming out and it would be bad. Critz was the District Office Chief of Staff for Jack Murtha and the late Congressman was up to his neck in inappropriate deals. The way it worked was Murtha, Chair of a powerful Defense committee, used his influence with The Pentagon to secure contracts for favored contractors. Those companies, as much as possible, brought jobs to the 12th Congressional District and poured contributions into Murtha's re-election campaign coffers. It was so simple even a fifth grader could connect the dots and CREW annually named Murtha as one of the top ten most corrupt Members of Congress as a result.
Of course the people in the 12th CD loved the jobs. So much so they turned blind eyes to the corruption. Now that Murtha is gone the gravy train of jobs ends. Regardless of who succeeds him that seniority, influence and power are gone. What remains are questions concerning Critz's involvement in the gravy train. Now CQ Politics reports a connection between Mark Critz and the corruption:
Mark Critz - the aide to the late Rep. John P. Murtha of Pennsylvania who was picked as the Democratic candidate to replace his boss - attended a 2005 meeting of defense contractors and lobbyists and offered the congressman's support for an earmark project that resulted in criminal convictions for three men last year.
Shawn Piatek said this defending Critz:
"Some may say Mr. Murtha fought too aggressively to bring economic development and jobs to western Pennsylvania. Mark disagrees, he will continue to fight for jobs and economic development in Congress. Families are really struggling right now and he's going to work hard to get folks back to work because that's exactly what western Pennsylvania needs."
So it's all about jobs to Critz as it was with Murtha. The end justifies the means. I'm sorry but the end never justifies the means.
CQPolitics further says "But it is clear that Critz was a point person for Murtha on earmarks." Isn't that called a bag man? Pennsylvania Democrats will rue the day they appointed Mark Critz to be their standard bearer for this seat. It's already been a bad year for Democrats and Mark Critz is continuing the downhill slide. This was simply a stupid decision and the arrogant attitude about the corruption is repugnant. |
