Is the long reign of John Murtha (D-Extravagance) as the undisputed king of pork-barrel spending officially over?

Maybe.

Murtha is part of a group trying to spend a half-billion dollars next year on the VH-71 Presidential helicopter, even though Obama and Gates have already declared the program dead. With requirements for plush carpeting and a kitchen that would keep working after a nuclear holocaust, the copter program became a symbol for Pentagon pork - long-delayed, and double the original $6.5 billion cost.

“These helicopters currently have no mission equipment and would require in excess of $2 billion to complete and to operate as Presidential helicopters. Even with these funds, they would still not meet full operational; requirements for that mission… If the final bill were to include funds that continue the existing VH-71 program, or would prejudge the plan to re-compete the President helicopter program, I would recommend that the President veto the bill,” Gates wrote, underlining the last sentence.

In addition, Gates asked Murtha to fully fund Darpa’s budget, to comply the Pentagon’s request for more thickly-armored vehicles, and to please not bother with additional C-17 cargo aircraft and a second engine program for the Joint Strike Fighter.

That's the good news. The bad news is, Congress has outdone itself with this year's spending bill, diverting money from troops in the field to critical infrastructure projects like a memorial to the late Senator Edward Kennedy (D-Waterwings).

But they support the troops. And don't question their patriotism.