White House Aids Rostenkowski by Heralding Chicago Job Center

The Clinton Administration gave an eleventh-hour boost Thursday to Rep. Dan Rostenkowski (D-Ill.), the embattled chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, by announcing that a federal Job Corps center will be built in his hometown of Chicago.

Labor Secretary Robert B. Reich came to Rostenkowski’s Capitol Hill office with the announcement.

The 38-year House veteran is at the center of a two-year federal grand jury investigation into his financial affairs, including an allegation that he improperly traded $22,000 worth of postage stamps for cash. A federal prosecutor here has said the inquiry is in its final stages but no grand jury action is expected before Tuesday’s primary.

Perceived as politically weakened by the controversy, he has found himself in a tough, five-way race in which his leading opponents are Chicago Alderman Dick Simpson and state Sen. John Cullerton.

Although the Job Corps facility will not be in Rostenkowski’s congressional district, he was portrayed as its major sponsor. The center is expected to provide job skills for 500 young people annually. Construction costs are expected to range from $20 million to $30 million, and annual operating costs have been projected at $6 million a year.

“I think this is a giant step forward,” Rostenkowski said, as Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley listened on a speaker phone.

Reich said the event was not staged to help Rostenkowski’s reelection and noted that Chicago was among nine cities chosen as Job Corps sites. The other eight locations were announced without the same fanfare, however.

“The chairman and the chairman’s office were very helpful in providing technical assistance for the application,” Reich said without smiling.

And a beaming Rostenkowski seemed glad to claim whatever credit might come his way.

“I’m a congressman and this is what I do and I’m glad to bring home the bacon,” he said. Asked whether he thought the announcement would help his campaign, he replied: “I hope so. I hope so.”

President Clinton virtually endorsed Rostenkowski in a visit to Chicago last week, terming him indispensable for passage of health care legislation and the Administration’s other high-priority measures.

Reich’s announcement fit neatly into the theme of the Chicago Democrat’s reelection effort: that he can do more for Chicago because of his seniority and his chairmanship of one of the most powerful committees in Congress.

Illinois Democratic Sens. Paul Simon and Carol Moseley-Braun attended the ceremony in Rostenkowski’s office as a show of support for their colleague. Although they stopped short of formal endorsements, both had kind words for the struggling candidate.

“Danny Rostenkowski has provided real leadership--a willingness to do gutsy things,” Simon said at a news conference.

“I’m just delighted to be part of this group,” Moseley-Braun said.