House Bank Highs and Lows

Here are some of the more notable numbers and alibis in the House bank scandal, which focuses on bank activities over a 39-month period. Congress is disclosing only the name, number of checks and months overdrawn, but not a dollar figure. Many House members have come forward on their own.

Background: A House Ethics committee investigation found that in a 39-month period 20,000 checks were written on insufficient funds at the how-defunct House bank. The bank permitted House members to write overdrafts and often did not notify them as long as the amount was covered by the next paycheck. On April 1, the committee released the names of 17 current and five former House members listed as “worst abusers.” Their accounts were overdrawn by more than their following month’s pay deposit for at least eight of the 39 months. The longer list, released Thursday, covers any member who had written at least one bad check.

Highest number of overdrafts: 996. Former Rep. Tommy Robinson (D-Ark.) He has since changed party affiliation and is now a Republican.

Runner-up: 920. Rep. Robert Mrazek (D-N.Y.), who disputes the accuracy of the count.

Most months overdrawn: 35. Charles Hatcher (D-Ga.)

Runner-up: 31. Harold E. Ford (D-Tenn.)

Highest negative balance: $92,158 by an unknown member of Congress who wrote only three overdrafts totaling $100,967.

Second-highest negative balance: $80,068 by an unidentified member.

Bank’s personnel costs: $723,420 a year, paid by taxpayers, according to General Accounting Office. House member’s salary: $125,000 a year.

Typical monthly paycheck, depending on deductions: About $7,000.

Ethics Committee members on Thursday’s list: 6 (out of 14).

Democrats on Thursday’s list: 187

Republicans on Thursday’s list: 115

Average number of overdrafts: Democrats 85, Republicans 55 Number of House members who have quit this year: 45 (Record: 49).

Most common alibi: “My monthly statement never showed a negative balance,” which was true because the bank routinely held checks until the following payday so they would not actually bounce.

First casualty of bank scandal: Rep. Charles A. Hayes (D-Ill.), who had 716 overdrafts and had a negative balance larger than next paycheck in 15 of the 39 months under scrutiny. “I overdrew in small amounts,” said Hayes, who was defeated in the Illinois primary shortly after his name appeared on a leaked list of bank abusers.

Smallest overdraft: Rep. Jolene Unsoeld (D-Wash.) overdrew her account once by 38 cents.

Gesture of Atonement: Like several other members, Rep. Stephen J. Solarz (D-N.Y.) sent a check for $2,349.97 to the Treasury, a sum that his accountant said he would have paid to a conventional bank with overdraft protection at a 20% interest rate.

Best Reason for Not Using House Bank: Rep. Tom Coleman (R-Mo.), who said: “I didn’t think it was a good idea to put my checking account in a bank run by a bunch of politicians.”