WJAC Uncovers Financial Relationship Between Kucheras, Congressman Murtha

by Scott MacFarlane

WASHINGTON -- The raid on the Kuchera companies, the Windber defense contractors, has placed a spotlight on a long, financial relationship between the company and Johnstown Democrat Rep. John Murtha.

Campaign donation forms, obtained Friday by WJACTV.com, indicate the Kuchera family has donated $60,700 to Murtha's congressional campaigns between 2002 and 2008. The donations, often in $2000 increments, are listed under the names of multiple members of the Kuchera family.

Murtha has simultaneously directed federal money to the Kucheras. Reports compiled in recent weeks indicate the Congressman, chairman of the House Subcommittee on Defense Appropriations, funneled $8.2 million in federal earmarks to the Kucheras' businesses in 2008.

The earmarks directed to the Kucheras include: $1 million for the federal purchase of "cold spray wear coating", $2.4 for development of "life cycle support center for unmanned systems" and $4.8 million for "roll-on, roll-off pallet improvment".

Murtha's office declined requests to comment on the relationship between the Congressman and the defense contractor. Regarding the raid, Murtha spokesman Matthew Mazonkey told WJACTV.com, "We know nothing more than what we’ve read in the press."

Phone calls to Bill Kuchera were not returned.

Ethics watchdogs in Washington have questioned the relationship between Murtha and some of his campaign donors, including Kuchera.

Steve Ellis, spokesman for Taxpayers for Common Sense, told WJACTV.com, "It makes you scratch your head and wonder if this is appropriate and whether (donors) would be going to him if he wasn't delivering the bacon."