A priest conducting funeral services for the late Pennsylvania Rep. John Murtha on Tuesday said in his remarks that there is "a time to make law and a time to change laws, and, yes, a time to earmark."
Father William George's variation on a passage from the Book of Ecclesiastes was a pointed reference to Murtha's well-known ability to channel federal money to the southwestern Pennsylvania congressional district he represented for decades.
Family, friends, colleagues and various political dignitaries came to Pennsylvania to pay respects to Murtha on Tuesday, and some flew through the airport named after him.
The Pittsburgh Gazette has more details on the services and eulogy for Murtha:
Father William George, a Jesuit priest and president of Georgetown Preparatory School, read from the Book of Ecclesiastes, the portion about how for everything there is a season and time."The writer of Ecclesiastes could also have written 'a time to make law and a time to change laws,' " Father George said, adding, wryly, "and, yes, a time to earmark."
Just two examples: Murtha provided money for the district to build the John P. Murtha Airport in Johnstown, Pa. and the local Allegheny County Bus service purchased new buses thanks to the late congressman.