Murtha dies at 77

Rep. John Murtha, D-Pennsylvania, has died. The Pennsylvania congressman wielded power the old-fashioned way at the Capitol, often with accusations of ethical lapses.

But he became a household name because of a particularly raucous session of the House in 2005 when Rep. Jean Schmidt of Ohio singled him out when saying “cowards cut and run.”

Murtha was a decorated soldier and long-time automatic vote for defense spending.