Students take lesson from congressman

8 Nov 2007 // The familiar scene included familiar rhetoric: Rep. John Murtha in his congressional office, answering questions about Iraq, budget earmarks and local jobs.

But instead of national news reporters, the questions were coming from Pitt-Johnstown students 180 miles away.

“It’s a great opportunity for the congressman to hear from local college students and answer questions they have on a variety of issues and current events,” Murtha spokesman Matthew Mazonkey said after the video conference class.

Murtha has “guest hosted” Ray Wrabley’s U.S. Congress class for several years, said Wrabley, an assistant professor of political science.

“We talk about congressional procedures and history – what does Congress do, and how does it do it,” Wrabley said. “I think it’s useful to hear from their congressman, and Mr. Murtha has been very generous with his time.”

Murtha opened the class with a video tour of his Rayburn Building office in Washington, describing the memorabilia as it was enlarged on one of three large video screens in the Biddle Hall advanced distance learning classroom.

Stressing the importance of college students’ participation, Murtha noted he was first elected to Congress by a margin of only 122 votes. That 1974 campaign included a big push on college campuses, Murtha said, where he out-polled Republican Harry Fox by 1,500 votes.

When the floor opened to questions, student Tom Belli asked about the Democratic-controlled House’s failed attempt to attach withdrawal timelines to the war in Iraq.

“Why don’t they heed the American people and send the same bill back through Congress,” Belli asked.

The Senate has not supported any timelines, Murtha said.

Ben Gajewski asked Murtha to respond to Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics’ report naming him the most corrupt congressman, based on the number of federal earmarks awarded to contractors in his district.

Murtha continued to defend the spending.

“My job in Congress is to represent the district,” Murtha said.

“Earmarks are absolutely essential to the prosperity of the district.”