WASHINGTON INSIGHT

MEAN, BUT STYLISH: Capitol Hill staff members had plenty to say about the California congressional delegation as they granted Golden State lawmakers an impressive array of awards--welcome and unwelcome--in the annual Washingtonian magazine “best and worst” ratings. House members from California swept the best-dressed category, led by natty Rep. Ronald V. Dellums (D-Oakland), a landslide winner, the magazine said in its July issue. Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco) took second, and Rep. David Dreier (R-San Dimas) tied for third. Democratic Sen. Barbara Boxer nailed down the third best-dressed spot in the upper chamber. And nine-term Rep. Vic Fazio (D-West Sacramento) came in second in the “workhorse” category. But, please, hold your applause. Less flattering were Garden Grove Republican Rep. Robert K. Dornan’s two citations for “biggest windbag” (first place) and “show horse” (second place). Bakersfield Republican Rep. Bill Thomas walked off with first-place honors in the “meanest” category. And Rep. Sonny Bono (R-Palm Springs) was lauded with the first-place award for “no rocket scientist.” He also won in a landslide.

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SCIENCE OR PORK: Buried deeper than the La Brea tar pits in a bill before the House this week was a $13-million grant for science education at the American Museum of Natural History in New York. It was there thanks mostly to the support of House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.), a great fan of dinosaurs, space exploration and other things housed by the venerable institution. Tony Blankley, Gingrich’s press secretary, said the speaker decided to support the grant after visiting the museum earlier this year. “He thought it was an extraordinarily worthwhile project,” Blankley said. But a letter circulated by House Democratic critics dubbed the grant “Jurassic Pork.” They argued that it was inserted through “a blatant abuse of the appropriations process”--echoing charges that Gingrich and fellow Republicans often leveled at Democratic leaders before the 1994 GOP revolution. Supporters signaled retreat and agreed to withdraw the grant at least until it is reviewed by congressional science committees.

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MILITARY AID: Congressional Democrats are peeved at the Pentagon over reports that military officers on loan from the Defense Department are helping Gingrich assess strategy for maintaining party unity. After stories in Business Week and the Wall Street Journal, Rep. Patricia Schroeder (D-Colo.), a member of the House National Security Committee, zipped off a series of letters to Defense Secretary William J. Perry demanding to know if the assignments constitute “a legitimate use of taxpayer funds” for “what is clearly a partisan objective.” So far, no reply. Pentagon officials confirm the officers are assigned to Gingrich’s office as part of a yearlong congressional fellowship program, but deny they have done any work that might be construed as political. About 40 middle-level officers from the various services take part in the program each year. Gingrich’s office also has denied the military aides are doing anything improper.

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ROCK AND DOLE: In his citizen-candidate quest for the White House, Republican challenger Bob Dole has made a number of unusual (for him) stops along the way, including a NASCAR race in North Carolina and the NBA playoff games. Tuesday night, after dancing the polka briefly at a Slovenia independence festival, Dole attended a private GOP reception at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in Cleveland. Later, a reporter asked what Dole’s favorite rock group is, drawing a momentary blank look from the 72-year-old candidate. After a pause, Dole replied: “Oh, we didn’t visit that part.”