U.S. Rep. John Murtha dies

ARLINGTON, Va., Feb. 9 (UPI) -- John Murtha, a long-time U.S. representative from southwestern Pennsylvania known for pork-barrel earmarks and opposition to the Iraq war, has died. He was 77.

Murtha died Monday at an Arlington, Va., hospital where he had undergone surgery for a gallbladder ailment.

On Saturday, he became the longest serving congressman to represent Pennsylvania, having served since 1974. He was the first Vietnam-era combat veteran elected to Congress and was often known for a hawkish viewpoint. That changed, however, in 2005 when he pointedly turned against the war in Iraq and said U.S. troops should be immediately withdrawn.

While that public stance made him a national figure, Murtha was best at returning funds to the district that sent him to Congress. That region, centered on Johnstown, Pa., was greatly affected by the downturn in the coal and steel industries and Murtha's ability to win support for projects to benefit his district became legendary.

His position on important military-related committees allowed him to steer defense contracts toward southwestern Pennsylvania. Murtha had no issues with that practice, saying that was why the voters sent him to Washington.