BY: NCVIKING

There is a potentially huge scandal brewing on Capitol Hill.

Queen Nancy Pelosi vowed to make the incoming US Congress “the most honest and open in history” when she was sworn in a few years ago. I guess that message didn’t reach John Murtha and 104 other members of congress who porked up a bill with $300 million in earmarks for Murtha-linked lobbying firm (and contributor) PMA Group. The firm has been under investigation by the FBI and it’s recent collapse could spell trouble for many members of congress.

From HotAir:

The sudden exposure and collapse of lobbying group PMA may create a huge problem for Democrats — much bigger than the Jack Abramoff scandal. PMA, most closely tied to John Murtha, has raised funds for scores of Democrats in the House, including Speaker Nancy Pelosi. In turn, more than 100 members of the House, mostly Democrats, inserted earmarks into bills in 2008 alone for PMA clients:

More than 100 House members secured earmarks in a major spending bill for clients of a single lobbying firm — The PMA Group — known for its close ties to John P. Murtha , the congressman in charge of Pentagon appropriations.

“It shows you how good they were,” said Keith Ashdown, chief investigator at the watchdog group Taxpayers for Common Sense. “The sheer coordination of that would take an army to finish.” …

In the spending bill managed by Murtha, the fiscal 2008 Defense appropriation, 104 House members got earmarks for projects sought by PMA clients, according to Congressional Quarterly’s analysis of a database constructed by Ashdown’s group.

Those House members, plus a handful of senators, combined to route nearly $300 million in public money to clients of PMA through that one law (PL 110-116).

And when the lawmakers were in need — as they all are to finance their campaigns — PMA came through for them.

More from The Hill:

PMA, one of the top defense lobbying firms in Washington, has disintegrated in recent weeks as it has come under a federal investigation probing its campaign contributions. Magliocchetti, PMA’s founder, was a long-time aide on the House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee who worked closely with several key appropriators, including Rep. John Murtha (D-Pa.), the defense panel chairman, and Rep. Jim Moran (D-Va.).

Murtha has not indicated whether he will return any PMA money. He has received $105,000 from PMA employees from 2001 through 2008.

Conservative columnists and bloggers are seething over the apparent involvement of 42 Republicans out of the 104 implicated, me included. I am sick and tired of members of this party claiming to represent conservatism, while being foot soldiers for lobbyists and special interests – ethics and fiscal responsibility be damned! Republicans in congress have spent like drunken sailors, been caught in ethics scandals, and chose to destroy all of the good The Contract with America created for this party and the country.

Michelle Malkin:

I’d like to see that list of 42 Republicans. Which lobbying firm? Which bill? The GOP members will have some explaining to do.

Republicans need to step up and gain back the moral, fiscal and idea high ground … even if it means wearing a little bling bling to get their message across.

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