Defense industry executives and their lobbyists are Murtha's biggest campaign donors. DRS Technologies, which has given Murtha more than $29,000 this campaign cycle, has received $30 million in earmarks in fiscal 2008 from the defense subcommittee. Of those, Murtha accounted for $8 million himself, according to Taxpayers for Common Sense. The company is based in New Jersey, but its biggest facility is in Murtha's southwestern Pennsylvania district. Within days of a fundraiser in his honor earlier this year, Murtha also received $8,500 from executives of Van Scoyoc Associates, a lobbying firm that represents DRS.

Rules forbid lawmakers from raising campaign funds from congressional offices, but members and their aides sometimes find ways to skirt them. ....