WASHINGTON INSIGHT

PERK CHOP? Rep. Jill Long (D-Ind.) wants to do away with House Speaker Thomas S. Foley’s free lessons in the martial arts--not to mention numerous other gifts received by members of Congress. Some form of gift ban--whether Long’s total ban or a partial one sought by others--is expected to pass Congress in coming months. . . . Among other things, it would affect lessons worth $75 a month that are given free to senators and House members by Jhoon Rhee, a tae kwon do master who moved to the United States from Korea. In a recent performance, Foley (D-Wash.) and Rep. Robert A. Borski (D-Pa.) demonstrated their new skills by breaking boards in half with their bare hands. Six other congressional pupils danced a martial arts ballet, complete with dazzling chops. . . . Currently, lawmakers can accept gifts valued up to $250 from any one person in a year, but gifts of less than $100 are not counted against that limit and do not have to be disclosed. Long says she wants to remove the public perception that legislative favors are being exchanged for gifts--although she believes they aren’t. . . . In a related move, Common Cause aims to stop lawmakers from taking lobbyist-paid trips to resorts.