CONGRESS WATCH : Check Mates

Members of the U. S. House of Representatives are taking deficit financing a little too personally. During the first half of this year, 134 members bounced 4,325 checks off the House bank without penalty, according to a General Accounting Office audit. That’s the equivalent of free money at government expense.

Nearly 600 of the checks written on overdrawn accounts were for $1,000. Some lawmakers took up to a month to make good on the checks. Though this is hardly the most unspeakable crime, it does indicate that some politicians may be more than a little out of touch with the increasing number of American families that are struggling to make do. They, too, certainly might wish to write a check without having the money to cover it and without penalty when the check bounces.

An occasional overdraft is understandable. Some Congress members must juggle to cover the expense of maintaining a house back home and in pricey Washington too. Also, every family has emergencies and unexpected bills. Yet, at least two dozen members make a habit of bouncing at least one check of $1,000 or more every month.

When the House bank, which is restricted to members, covers checks drawn on insufficient funds, the government pays for what amounts to no-interest, no-fee loans. The GAO audit has already prompted proposals for changes. The supervisor of the bank plans to arrange overdraft protection loans and even to suspend check-cashing privileges for frequent violators. Just like at the neighborhood bank.