European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - April 18, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Saturday april 18, 1992 the stars and stripes Page 7 252 More incumbents Brace for Check scandal backlash by William j. Eaton and Michael Ross los Angeles times Washington a the release by the House ethics committee thursday of the Complete list of 303 current and former members of Congress who together wrote More than 24,000 overdrafts at the now defunct House Bank heightened the sense of political peril that now pervades the Halls of Congress. The 252 incumbents on the roster along with 17 others on an earlier list of the worst abusers fear they May face a voter backlash Over the Issue in november despite efforts by the ethics panel and speaker Thomas s. Foley d-wash., to control the damage. Many on the list have already decided to retire. Rep. Matthew f. Mchugh d-n.y., who headed the ethics committee investigation and himself had one overdraft released the list with what amounted to a plea for mercy in the court of Public opinion. A the individuals on today a list did not abuse their banking privileges a Mchugh said in a preamble to the list. A fall checks were covered and no Public funds were used or  Foley who had two overdrafts also tried to minimize the political fallout by declaring that no Laws were broken and no tax funds were lost in the debacle. But other members acknowledged voters anger Over the House Bank a practice of granting unlimited free overdrafts. Rep. Dennis m. Hertel d-mich., who was fourth on the list with 547 overdrafts said a it Wasny to a Bank. It was a  and republicans signalled that they would try to capitalize on the disclosures at the polls. On april 1, the ethics panel branded 17 current and five former members As abusers of the Bank for repeatedly Over drawing their accounts by an amount exceeding their next months take Home pay which averaged $7,000 per member. The House however decided to disclose the names of All of its members who wrote even a single bad Check despite warnings that the Bank a Slipshod record keeping might result in inaccuracies and unfairness. The controversy Over the Bank has touched off a political explosion in the Capitol at times reflected by partisan name calling. Some members said that legislation was at a standstill and that Public Confidence in the institution had been eroded by the uproar Over the overdrafts. The most severe political repercussions May be Felt by the 31 lawmakers now in office who wrote 100 or More bad checks during a 39-month period ending last oct. 3. K 6 in addition a special counsel has been named by the department of Justice to investigate the Bank to determine if any criminal Laws were violated in its operations that have provided the free overdraft Protection for House members for the last half Century. Among the incumbents on the list there were 170 democrats 83 republicans and Independent Bernard Sanders of Vermont. House minority whip Newt Gingrich r-ga., who faces a primary election Challenge acknowledged 22 overdrafts with a face value of $26,890. Neither House Republican Leader Robert h. Michel of Illinois nor Republican conference chairman Jerry Lewis of California had any overdrafts. In addition to speaker Foley a two overdrafts Worth $1,017, House majority Leader Richard a. Gephardt d-mo., had 28 overdrafts and House majority whip David e. Bonior d-mich., had 76. The list also included four of president Bush a Cabinet officers who Are former House members defense Secretary Dick Cheney with 25 overdrafts agriculture Secretary Edward Madigan with 49 labor Secretary Lynn Martin 16 and Secretary of housing and Urban development Jack Kemp 1. Five Republican senators also were on the list for writing bad checks while serving in the House. They were James m. Jeffords of Vermont 1 Robert c. Smith of new Hampshire 5 Dan Coats of Indiana 3 Hank Brown of Colorado 18, and Larry e. Craig of Idaho 9. One other Republican Surprise on the list was rep. Bob Mcewen or Ohio one of the most conservative members of the House who had 166 overdrafts. Publication of the list appeared Likely to do More camera Crews gather around a lectern on Capitol Hill on thursday to tape the House ethics committees list of 303 past and present lawmakers with overdrafts at the members Only Bank. Damage to democrats in View of their greater numbers. For example rep. Michael a. Andrews a Texas regarded As an up and coming member was listed with 121 overdrafts with a face value of $103,046. Another promising newcomer rep. Chester g. Atkins d-mass., had 127 overdrafts. There was no estimate of the value of his checks. On the other Side of the aisle rep. Duncan Hunter r-Calif., was listed with 399 overdrafts a compared with the 407 he acknowledged a with a total value of $129,255.Media has to hum response to hot Check list by Howard Kurtz the Washington Post Washington a thursday was the Day House members had dreaded for months. But if local television reports around the country Are any indication the House Bank scandal is not quite the National obsession it seemed a few Short weeks ago. In new York the release of the list of 303 current and former lawmakers with Check overdrafts did not even rate a Brief mention on the network affiliates. In Chicago the Story was washed away by the Battle to Stem the tide of water from underground tunnels that has flooded the downtown business District. It also got Short shrift in Denver Philadelphia Houston Little Rock Ark. And St. Petersburg Fla. In Austin Texas the House list was the eighth Story on the lbs affiliate following reports on severe weather a child drowning breast implants a recall of retried Beans new electronic food Stamps and the opening of the Austin convention Center. The Abc affiliate slipped in the news Between weather and sports. In los Angeles news was dominated by the appointment of Willie l. Williams As police commissioner. There Are several reasons Why the air May have gone out of this particular Story at least for now. Most House members with sizable overdrafts had already one Public with their rationales and taken their lumps rom the local news Media. Congress is out of session making it harder for local stations to track Down their representatives for reaction. S Bingo games without prizes allowed Lavonia a. Apr senior citizens May resume their Bingo games at fast food restaurants and department stores but May not offer prizes two officials said. The group from Northeast Georgia stopped its weekly Bingo games last month when the Georgia Bureau of investigation told the establishments that the games violated state Law. The state Constitution considers Bingo to be gambling. The state requires that Bingo games be run by a non profit organization with a Bingo License. State rep. Alan Powell and District attorney Lindsay Tise outlined the game requirements at a meeting tuesday in a local Mcdonald a restaurant. In addition they said the games May go on if players have permission from the restaurant or store Supply their own Call Phoenix apr Andy Russell the 1940s crooner who popularized such classics As became Mucho and what a difference a Day makes died thursday. He was 72. Russell died at St. Josephus Hospital of complications from a stroke he suffered in february said Leo Walker a longtime Friend. Russell bom Andres Rabago in East los Angeles reached stardom about the same time As Frank Sinatra and Perry Como. A drummer and Singer in a number of bands Russell hit it big with became Mucho. Ers and provide cards devoid of advertising. Powell said he plans to sponsor legislation next year to allow recreational Bingo. Despite the announcement some Bingo players were reluctant to resume playing. A it sounds to me like he has Given us permission to do something that a really against the Law a said Mary Gilbert of Lavonia president of the newly formed Golden Hope club. A a we re waiting on notification from Hardeep a and Mcdonald a to play but we Haven to heard anything yet a said Bertha Kinney of Lavonia also a member of the club. A we need a Little More guarantee than this. Wed like to see something in  the song was the first of a string of million Sellers for Russell. He followed with what a difference a Day makes laughing on the outside and magic is the Moonlight. Russell spent much of the 1950s and 1960s in latin America. He returned to the United states in the late 1960s and continued to sing but Wasny table to recapture the Fame he once enjoyed. He is survived by his wife Doris Brothers Eddie and Tommy a sister Vera Personett a son Andy or. And five stepchildren. Private services will be held in Sun City ariz., and los Angeles.  in King trial allows sex officer s past record from wire reports Simi Valley Calif. A a judge said thursday that lawyers can refer to the prior police experience of a now fired Rookie officer when they give closing arguments next week in the trial of four White defendants accused in the police beating of Black Motorist Rodney g. King. Superior court judge Stanley Weisberg had refused wednesday to allow prosecutors to present evidence that former officer Timothy e. Wind had seven years of experience on a Small town Force in Kansas before coming of California. Wind was fired after the beating. Weisberg discovered that winds experience was mentioned during a witness  sentenced for fraud Orlando Fla. A the president of a telemarketing company his father and a third employee have been sentenced to prison for defrauding $1.4 million from customers nationwide. Clint Riedeman 23, was sentenced wednesday to six years. Riedemann a father Larry 48, received two years and three months and Brian Johns 23, received two years and six months. Andy Russell hit Singer in 40s, Dies