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Document 175 of 195.

June 06, 1999, Sunday

SECTION: News; Pg. 26

LENGTH: 738 words

HEADLINE: IMPEACH MANAGERS ENJOYING NEW CLOUT

BYLINE: By TIMOTHY J. BURGER Daily News Washington Bureau

BODY:

WASHINGTON So what if they lost the trial of the century? They're making speeches to packed houses. They're hot on the fund-raising circuit. And have they got juice with the House GOP leadership.

In the 114 days since President Clinton beat the Monica Lewinsky sex scandal rap in the Senate, the 13 House impeachment managers have thrown themselves back into their day jobs. And some are finding that carrying the GOP torch in that battle left them with valuable new friends and political muscle.

"Like any other thing in life, if you're a team member and you seem to have your stuff together," said Rep. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), "people take care of you."

Graham and Rep. Asa Hutchinson (R-Ark.) have hundreds of invitations pouring in from all over the country to speak at GOP fund-raisers.

Graham recently helped Hutchinson draw 1,100 avid Republicans to a Lincoln Day Dinner in Fayetteville "the largest Republican Party gathering in the history of Arkansas," he said.

Impeachment ringleader Rep. Henry Hyde (R-Ill.) wants all of his fellow managers to have fat war chests. So he's visiting each of their districts for thank-you fund-raisers.

Graham says the impeachment saga also is having some unpredicted consequences like forging ties to former foes. Graham struck up friendships with Sen. Robert Torricelli (D-N.J.) and Rep. Robert Wexler (D-Fla.) as they drank bad coffee together waiting in network "green rooms" to argue on the air about impeachment.

After carrying the House GOP's water through the six-month impeachment battle, managers also have added leverage with their leadership.

When he asks colleagues for help, Hutchinson acknowledged, "They know who I am this time around."

Sidebar: HOUSE POLS' LIFE OUTSIDE THE SPOTLIGHT

Here's what life after impeachment is like for the 13 House managers:

Bob Barr (R-Ga.): Working closely with former nemesis Barney Frank (D-Mass.) to reform laws that let the government seize property involved in crimes.

Ed Bryant (R-Tenn.): Got a special waiver from the GOP leadership to join the Commerce Committee so he could write patent-extension legislation that means billions for the pharmaceutical industry.

Steve Buyer (R-Ind.): Left the Judiciary Committee when the Senate trial ended in February.Working on key local issues a bill imposing quotas on imported steel and calling for investigation of a pork price plunge.

Charles Canady (R-Fla.): Pushing a bill to abolish a three-year limit on Medicare coverage of drugs that help prevent transplant patients' bodies from rejecting their new organs.

Chris Cannon (R-Utah): Has kicked off the House Managers Political Action Committee to raise money to ensure they are as well-funded as possible when Democrats try to defeat the vulnerable among them.

Steve Chabot (R-Ohio): With Rep. William Delahunt (D-Mass.), an impeachment foe, backs a bill to open federal courtrooms to TV coverage.

George Gekas (R-Pa.): Drafted a bankruptcy reform bill that passed the House on May 5. Leading hearings on whether to reauthorize the independent counsel act when it expires June 30.

Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.): Drawing big crowds on the GOP lecture circuit. Pushing a tax-cut package with Rep. Robert Wexler (D-Fla.), one of President Clinton's loudest defenders on Judiciary.

Asa Hutchinson (R-Ark.): Touting a bill to make bail bondsmen liable for damages when they hire bounty hunters who are then sued for improper collection tactics. Also backing a campaign finance reform bill that would ban soft-money contributions.

Henry Hyde (R-Ill.): Hauling in hundreds of thousands of dollars for his impeachment brothers by keynoting fund-raisers in their districts. He's joined Rep. Jose Serrano (D-Bronx) on a new commission to study police brutality.

Bill McCollum (R-Fla.): Plans to harness newfound fame in a run for the Senate. But some Republicans think McCollum, whom colleagues privately nicknamed "genitalia" for his repeated use of that word during hearings, hurts GOP chances of holding onto seat vacated by Connie Mack.

Jim Rogan (R-Calif.): Briefly considered challenging Sen. Dianne Feinstein in 2000 instead of seeking reelection in a district he barely won last year. Introduced a bill to provide $ 1 billion to test teens for drugs.

Jim Sensenbrenner (R-Wis.): Pushing bankruptcy reform and a bill to protect businesses from Y2K liability.

LOAD-DATE: June 07, 1999

Document 175 of 195.


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