
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, July 20, 1993                   TAG: 9307200076
SECTION: NATL/INTL                    PAGE: A-1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: The Washington Post
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

ROSTENKOWSKI LINKED TO SCANDAL IN HOUSE

Former House Postmaster Robert V. Rota pleaded guilty Monday to helping several congressmen embezzle money from the House Post Office. He indicated in court papers that powerful House Ways and Means Chairman Dan Rostenkowski, D-Ill., was one of those who allegedly received thousands of dollars in the scheme.

Rota's guilty plea and agreement to cooperate with federal prosecutors was a major breakthrough in the House Post Office investigation, which on Capitol Hill was widely assumed to have stalled after two years of focusing on the misdeeds of House employees. Rota was forced to resign in March 1992 amid the scandal.

The former postmaster's admissions were especially damaging because they at least partly corroborated statements that a top assistant, James C. Smith, made to federal prosecutors a year ago. Based on Smith's allegations, prosecutors in May 1992 subpoenaed the official expense records of Rostenkowski, Rep. Joe Kolter, D-Pa., and Rep. Austin Murphy, D-Pa.

Rostenkowski, at center stage as the House leader in negotiations on President Clinton's budget package, also is expected to be a key player in the debate over Clinton's proposed health-care reforms. If indicted, Rostenkowski would have to step down from his Ways and Means chairmanship.

Rota said in court documents that he directly gave more than $30,000 in cash to two House members in 19 specific transactions from May 1985 to April 1991. Rota said he provided the money either in exchange for official expense vouchers made out for postage or for stamps previously obtained with a voucher from the House Post Office, which operates under a contract with the U.S. Postal Service.

The documents refer to the two representatives only as "Congressman A" and "Congressman B." But the dates, amounts and descriptions of the goods bought by "Congressman A" correspond - except for one with an incomplete date and "unknown" description - to postage purchases that were made by Rostenkowski and itemized in published quarterly reports of the House Clerk's office. They total $21,300.

The $9,300 in purchases attributed to "Congressman B" correlate with those of Kolter, who was defeated in last year's primary.

by CNB