He is one of the most powerful members of Congress, controlling $300 billion in Pentagon spending.

A Team 4 investigation finds Congressman John Murtha has used that influence to fatten his campaign war chest. It's all legal, but critics say it shows what's wrong with Washington.

Team 4's Paul Van Osdol delivered the following report Thursday on WTAE Action News at 11 p.m.

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In Johnstown, you can fly into the John Murtha Airport, drive on the Murtha Highway, go to school at Pitt's Murtha Center and go to work at the Murtha Technology Center -- all signs of a local congressman who's not shy about using his clout to deliver projects to his district.

Murtha: "I don't say it's political power. I say it's influence. It's influence because I've worked with these people for years."

Murtha's influence as ranking Democrat on the committee that approves Pentagon spending has helped dozens of companies get billions of dollars in Pentagon contracts -- some of them in his district.

Van Osdol: "Somebody wants a big defense-related project, they have to go through you, right?"

Murtha: "That's exactly right. And of course, they understand that."

DRS Laurel Technologies is one of those companies. It's just down the street from the Murtha airport.

Earlier this month, Murtha announced $40 million worth of new contracts for DRS. The company shows its appreciation for a Congressman with $56,000 in contributions to Murtha's campaign, which makes it the biggest contributor.

Team 4 found that defense contractors are delivering more than $800,000 in campaign contributions for Murtha this year -- nearly half his total.

Another top contributor is not a company that makes weapons. It's UPMC -- and yes, they also do business with the Pentagon, getting millions of military dollars for research. UPMC employees gave Murtha's campaign $55,000.

Van Osdol: "You get a lot of campaign contributions from these contractors. Why is that?"

Murtha: "They must think I'm doing a good job, and I appreciate that."

But the head of the Center for Public Integrity, a Washington think tank, says Murtha's ties to defense contractors are a prime example of what's wrong in Washington.

Charles Lewis, Center for Public Integrity: "There is a concern these defense contracts are being given not on merit, not because there's a fundamental need for our national security, but because some company got close to a member of Congress."

Boeing and Textron, two companies with no local ties that have been generous givers to Murtha, are also behind a controversial project -- the V-22 Osprey.

Boeing and Textron have given Murtha $86,000 since 1994. Murtha has been a leading backer of the Osprey, even after two crashes killed 23 Marines and a Pentagon investigation found some officers lied and falsified records to protect the project.

Murtha: "There is always a combination of problems when you are testing this stuff. I think the Osprey is so important, we have to keep working on it."

Lewis: "If you are supporting and getting money for a company that has a product that is killing our soldiers, then maybe it's time to think twice about getting them another contract."

Murtha says he does not let campaign contributions cloud his judgment, and he sees no need for further reform.

Murtha: "When I first went to Congress, that was real reform. They used to be able to give us cash."

Lewis: "The bottom line is, as long as the money still flows to campaign coffers from people that stand to benefit from the decisions these guys make, you are going to have a fundamental conflict of interest. You are going to have members of Congress doing favors for people that help them with checks."

In May, Murtha won a bitter Democratic primary election against fellow Congressman Frank Mascara. In November, Murtha faces Republican Bill Choby in the general election.

Choby has raised only $5,000 and is not considered a serious threat to Murtha.