Nation in brief: Murtha accused of making threat

Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Mich., called on his House colleagues Friday to reprimand one of its most prominent and senior members, Rep. John Murtha, D-Pa., who Rogers said threatened to retaliate against him for opposing a federal facility in Murtha’s district.

Rogers said Murtha threatened him in an exchange on the floor of the House chamber Thursday evening, promising to cut off funding for special projects in Rogers’ district.

Rogers said Murtha, in the presence of several other members, said: “You will not get any earmarks now and forever.” Rogers called it a “flagrant abuse” of the House code of conduct.

Murtha is chairman of the House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee. His office declined to discuss the incident specifically, but released a statement Friday afternoon saying Democrats and Republicans are treated fairly and equally by his committee.

Austin, Texas

Sex offender bill OKs death penalty

Texas sex offenders who are twice convicted of raping children under 14 could get the death penalty under a bill state lawmakers approved Friday.

The state House passed Texas’ version of “Jessica’s Law,” a crackdown on sex offenders who prey on children, a day after the Senate approved it.

The bill is named for Jessica Lunsford, a Florida girl who was abducted and killed. More than a dozen states have passed versions of Jessica’s Law.

A spokeswoman for Gov. Rick Perry said he will wait to read the final version of the bill before deciding whether to sign it into law.