Former House Ways and Means Committee chair Rostenkowski dies

Another giant of Congress who ended up on the wrong side of the law has died. Longtime Illinois Congressman Dan Rostenkowski of Chicago, the son of a Chicago alderman, passed away today at his Wisconsin summer home.

"Rosty," who served as Democratic committeeman of Chicago's 32nd Ward for much of his career, was a force in Washington, ending up as chairman of its most powerful committee, Ways and Means.

But his political career concluded with a thud in 1994. He was indicted for fraud that year and was defeated by Republican novice Michael Patrick Flanagan, who in turn was voted out of office by Rod Blagojevich two years later.

Rosty was later found guilty of two counts of mail fraud, he was the biggest name caught in the Congressional Post Office Scandal. He served 17 months in prison. After his release, he was an election night analyst for Fox 32 Chicago. He performed ably, overcoming his handicap of a gravelly and sometimes wandering voice.

In 2000 President Bill Clinton granted Rostenkowski a full pardon.

The next Democrat to serve as chairman of Ways and Means was embattled Charlie Rangel.

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