European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - March 16, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Monday March 16, 1992 the stars and stripes a Page 3most of top 24 abusers reveal Eden Arkansas lawmaker Heads list with 996 bad checks Washington apr former rep. Tommy Robinson of Arkansas and rep. Robert j. Mrazek of new York wrote the most bad checks among 355 current and former lawmakers ensnared in a rubber Check scandal at the House Bank the associated press Learned saturday. Rep. Robert w. Davis r-mich., appeared to be third according to information provided by his press Secretary William Blaul. Robinson wrote 996 bad checks and his overdrafts exceeded his next paycheck for 16 of the 39 months under investigation congressional sources told the a. He denied the allegation. Mrazek wrote 972 bad checks with a negative balance that exceeded his next paycheck for 23 of the 39 months that were reviewed by the House ethics committee the a Learned. An aide to the new York lawmaker who is seeking the democratic nomination for the Senate disputed the number of checks. Blaul confirmed that general accounting office information showed that Davis wrote 878 overdrafts. He said that figure and the aggregate amount matched information obtained by the a that showed Davis deficiencies exceeded his next paycheck for 13 months. Davis who pronounced himself a absolutely astounded a admitted that he overdraw his account More than 800 times but did not provide an exact number. A nearly Complete list of the 24 a a abusers of their checking privileges surfaced As members of Congress struggled at Home to Blunt any political damage from one of the most embarrassing jurors to hit Congress in years. The House voted 426-0 Early Friday to disclose the names of 296 current and 59 former members who wrote bad checks at their special Bank during the 39 months that ended oct. 3. The Bank has since been closed. A the list of abusers is to be released first. The associated press Learned the identities of 21 of the 24 names on the abusers list a All of them current or former democratic lawmakers. Davis was the 22nd name and first gop disclosure. The identities of the other two abusers could not immediately be Learned. The ethics committee criteria identified the abusers As account holders whose overdrafts exceeded their next paycheck 20 percent of the time during the 39 months under review. For those who were in the House the entire 39 months the 20 percent figure came to eight months of paychecks. Other names of the abusers list included a rep. Charles Hatcher d-ga., 819 checks 35 months a former rep. Doug Walgren d-pa., 858 checks 16 months a rep. Stephen j. Solarz d-n.y., 743 checks 30 months a rep. Charles a. Hayes d-ill., 716 checks 15 months a rep. Ronald d. Colemand Texas 673 checks 23 months a rep. Carl c. Perkins d-ky., 514 checks 14 months a rep. Bill Alexander d-ark., 499 checks 20 months a rep. Edolphus towns d-n.y., 408 checks 18 months a rep. Harold e. Ford d-tenn., 388 checks 31 months a rep. Edward f. Feighan a Ohio 397 checks eight months a former House democratic whip Tony Coelho d-calif., 316 checks 12 months a rep. William Clay d-mo., 329 checks 10 months a rep. John Conyers d-mich., 273 checks 9 months a rep. Mary Rose Oakar a Ohio 217 checks 21 months a rep. James h. Schuer d-n.y., 169 checks eight months a rep. Joseph d. Early d-mass., 140 checks 15 months a former rep. Doug Bosco d-calif., 124 checks 13 months a former rep. Jim Bates d-calif., 89 checks nine months a rep. Charles Wilson a Texas 81 checks eight months the same congressional sources who supplied names of some of those on the list said former speaker Jim Wright who was not on the list wrote 139 bad checks with a face amount of $37,000. It was not known How Many months he exceeded his next paycheck. Robinson switched from the democratic to the Republican party in 1989, then in 1990 ran for the Republican gubernatorial nomination in Arkansas but was Defeated in the primary. He denied writing any bad checks. A i would dispute that to the end of time Quot he said in a Telephone interview. Quot i done to have any idea Why my name would even be on there. Id like to see How they audited it. I be never been notified of anything about  Thomas Barry Mrazek a administrative assistant said a based on preliminary analysis there is no Way the number 972 is True. There is no Way that can possibly be True. I done to care what produced that  Hayes at a news conference called the Check scandal a non Issue commenting a if it had Cost the government Money or the taxpayer Money it would be an Issue. I covered any overdrafts and i owe no Money to  a i was stunned and obviously quite embarrassed to be on any list a Feighan told the Plain dealer in Cleveland. A i knew i had written checks with the knowledge of overdraft Protection but i did not know the exact number of checks Over that  Oakar told the Plain dealer a a in a face up to it if i thought it was True. Its difficult to believe its accurate. In a not denying it but i am taking Steps to get an Independent  according to account information prepared by the ethics committee Robinsons face amount of bad checks totalled $251,609, and Mrazek a totalled $351,608. Other figures were $273,360 for Hatcher and $226,160 for Walgren. Until the investigation began it was common practice for members to treat overdrafts As advances on their next months salary. The committee therefore set the Standard of repeatedly exceeding the next months salary in determining the worst  Calls Dod insensitive on health Issue Washington a a tearful Terry Cox described for Congress How the defense department took away her quadriplegic husbands military health insurance forcing her to sell her Home and declare bankruptcy. To make matters worse the Pentagon is trying to recover $200,000 it paid Terry and Andrew Cox a retired army sergeant no suffered serious head injuries in a fall from a ladder. A a in a forced to live with my Mother who has heart problems. In a dependent on volunteers for Andy a necessary medical care. How much worse can the defense health care system make my life a Terry Cox said. The Well publicized Case of Terry and Andrew Cox of St. Petersburg fla., prompted Congress last year to change a provision in military health care insurance that affects 9,100 disabled veterans. The insurance is civilian health and medical program of the uniformed services or champs. If a totally disabled patient requires medical care for More than two years coverage switches from champs to medicare. For some including the 54-year-old Cox who is unable to speak or Swallow that meant less coverage. Last december president Bush signed the fiscal 1992 defense Bill and its accompanying spending plan which removed the extended disability exclusion from champs coverage. Meanwhile the defense department is trying to recover about $200,000 in Benefit payments that Andrew Cox received in 1988. Terry Cox Nas an Appeal pending. That prompted an angry reaction from members of the House appropriations defense subcommittee. A a it a impossible for me to believe what folks like mrs. Cox have to go through. I cannot believe that the defense department is so insensitive Quot said rep. John Murtha d-pa., who is the chairman of the panel. Murtha noted that the defense department recently acknowledged that it overpaid those who served in the persian Gulf War by $79 million but that debt has been forgiven. The lawmaker could Noi understand Why the department was intent on recouping $200,000. A that does not make any sense. Somebody besides a comptroller should look at this Damn thing. I can hardly contain myself a Murtha said. Musically diverse farm Aid v shows publicity is the key Irving Texas up a Paul Simon Willie Nelson and other stars played inside a football stadium saturday at farm Aid a a Daylong concert held to help financially strapped farm families. Thousands of fans streamed into Texas stadium which seats More than 65,000 people for the concert to Benefit families about to lose their farms. A we need everybody a help to educate the people on the importance of keeping the Farmer on the land a said Nelson who organized farm Aid v. A publicity is the key because the Farmers done to have lobbies to compete with the highly paid lobbies the conglomerates damage the Farmers  Nelson teamed with Neil Young and John Mellencamp to present farm Aid i in 1985 in Champaign 111. Subsequent concerts were staged in Austin Texas Lincoln neb., and Indianapolis. Other artists performing saturday included Way Lon Jennings Tracy Chapman Ray Wiley Hubbard Little Village and the Texas tornadoes. Also on the play list were Kris Kristofferson Ricky Van Shelton the Kentucky headhunters Arlo Guthrie Kinky Friedman and Merle Haggard. A the farm Aid shows we need to get around to helping one another because no one will help you alone a Kristofferson said. A the system Isnit working so we must make attempts like this show to change  musical diversity was the key with rap alternatives country and blues represented in the shows first 90 minutes. The crowd appeared highest for a Texas Rock group the arc Angels. Unexpectedly straying from country music Nelson played with As Many As a dozen musicians Early in the show including strumming his guitar to accompany a rap band. Use of the huge Arena owned by the City of Irving was donated by Dallas cowboys owner Jerry Jones. A the crowd Here is just a fraction of the interest building around the country a Jones said a and when the show gets televised tonight the support it Willie Nelson opens farm Aid v on saturday morning at Texas stadium. The 12-hour Benefit concert featured 47 artists. Can generate for the Farmers will be the real measure of  the shows last half was televised nationally on a Cable to network. Also in attendance was the Rev. Jesse Jackson