ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Monday, November 25, 1996 TAG: 9611250152
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-5 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: WASHINGTON
SOURCE: Associated Press
If Sen. Alfonse D'Amato seemed like a relentless prober of President Clinton's Whitewater problems, try Rep. Dan Burton on for size.
Burton, R-Ind., was chosen Friday by Republicans to chair the House Committee on Government Reform and Oversight in the next Congress. The panel oversees the executive branch and is a natural to investigate Democratic fund-raising practices, Whitewater and other ethical accusations involving the White House.
Burton, 58, has long been one of Clinton's most snarling critics. He took to the House floor in July 1994 to suggest that White House aide Vincent Foster had been murdered and was not a suicide as investigators had concluded. He also has accused the Clinton administration of covering up political murders in Haiti and requested data on the costs of responding to mail for Socks, the Clintons' cat.
Concerned that the seven-term veteran and former real estate agent might not be perceived as a credible, fair interrogator, House leaders have discussed creating a separate committee to handle the Clinton investigations, say Republicans speaking on condition of anonymity.
But Burton insists he will be even-handed.
``I will be fair but thorough,'' he said in a written statement Friday. ``I will not go on any witch hunts. I will handle the chairmanship with a spirit of civility and bipartisanship that might surprise some people around here.''
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All but four of the 17 committee chairmen selected Friday are holdovers from the last Congress.
Rep. Thomas Bliley, R-Va., will continue as chairman of the Commerce Committee.
New chairmen include Rep. Bob Smith, R-Ore., returning to Congress after a four-year absence. Smith was awarded the Agriculture Committee chairmanship after agreeing to run for the seat vacated by Rep. Wes Cooley, R-Ore., who retired amid accusations that his wife improperly received veterans benefits.
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When the House convenes Jan. 7, Republicans will seek approval of rule banning a legal but unseemly practice that embarrassed members of both parties last spring - handing out campaign contributions in the House chamber.
In May, it was disclosed that Rep. John Boehner, R-Ohio - the fourth-ranking House Republican - had distributed checks from a tobacco group to lawmakers on the House floor. Democratic leaders denounced the legal act, then conceded that members of their party probably had done the same thing.
Under the new rule, which is certain to be approved, the practice would be prohibited in the House chamber, cloakroom and lobby.
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Rep. Joseph McDade, R-Pa., has lost his effort to chair the House Appropriations Committee and will instead head its energy and water subcommittee.
McDade, the panel's senior Republican, was acquitted in August of bribery and racketeering charges and hoped to take over the panel. But GOP leaders decided to stay with Rep. Bob Livingston, R-La., who headed the panel last year.
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