Lawmaker Offers to Return Half of His Take-Home Pay

WASHINGTON — Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-Coronado), after four days of hearing constituents berate him over his 407 overdrafts at the House bank, now says he is ready to pay for his political sins--literally.

In a rare show of contrition by an elected official, Hunter is vowing to turn back to the U.S. Treasury half his congressional take-home pay until the unemployment rate in his district drops 2 percentage points.

Cynics may chortle that the promise is merely a costly ploy--costing $3,934 a month--to divert attention from his check writing problems--and Hunter partly agrees.

“I’m trying to get beyond the check business and emphasize the partnership I have with the families in my district, a lot of whom are going through tough times,” Hunter said Wednesday. “If someone wants to call this a diversionary tactic, it’s sure an expensive one.”

Last week, as the House neared its dramatic vote on disclosing the members who ran up overdrafts in their House bank accounts, Hunter confessed to having made more than 400, totaling $129,000, so far the second highest of any current or former California House representative.

Hunter said he assumed he was operating with overdraft protection at the now-closed House bank, which simply waited until funds were deposited to cover the excessive payouts.

Since the weekend, Hunter has been traveling throughout his district, setting up a card table, spreading out his canceled checks and absorbing the voters’ vitriol.

“They would ask about the checks at first, and then talk about jobs. There are parts of Imperial County where the unemployment rate is 21%,” Hunter said.

Hunter also announced that he would begin paying for his congressional “perks,” including doctor’s visits, health club use and discount meals, at commercial rates.

He also plans to introduce legislation that would ask the Government Accounting Office to establish the fair market value of congressional perquisites so that other members could do the same.

Surprised aides said Hunter’s notion of turning the money over to the Treasury was spontaneous and unrehearsed.