Tonight, Rep. John Murtha (D-PA) will be hosting a gala dinner tonight at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Pentagon City for defense industry lobbyists who have received and who hope to receive millions of dollars worth of earmarks in FY 2009 appropriations bills.

Mr. Murtha will be joined by Reps. James Moran (D-VA) and Peter Visclosky (D-IN).  All are well known for their “Earmark for a Contribution” prowess.  Last year Roll Call found that these three members funneled millions of earmarked tax dollars to firms whose executives subsequently contributed hundreds of thousands of dollars to their campaign funds. 

This event has not gone unnoticed, RedState.com called initial attention to the soire, and they have now teamed up with the National Taxpayers Union, Americans for Prosperity, and Citizens Against Government Waste to hold a rally outside the event in defense of the taxpayer.

I would not be surprised if this is the first of many protests by the public who is fed up with the pork barrel politics of Washington.