When Rogan’s on, TV Host Could Use a Punchline-Item Veto

A gag writer is not among the many perks that come with a seat in Congress.

But in the case of Rep. James Rogan (R-Glendale), perhaps it should.

Rogan has recently become somewhat of a regular on “Politically Incorrect,” the ABC-TV show hosted by Bill Maher that throws a group of celebrities and politicos together to talk about the day’s hot topics. He appeared on the show in October and again last week.

Rogan’s staff say they try to write a few zingers that he can use on the air, but the congressman likes to wing it most of the time.

In his most recent appearance, his attempt at humor went over like a tax hike in a recession.

Rogan was on the show with actor Hector Elizondo of “Chicago Hope,” comedian Sarah Silverman and entertainer Steve Lawrence. The topic was a man who recently jumped on the Concorde jet to Europe, leaving his fiancee at the altar in New York. In a display of great chutzpah, the woman decided to host the wedding reception anyway.

During the discussion, Maher asked the panelists what they thought the woman was thinking after being abandoned.

Quipped Rogan: “She probably thought: ‘I’m glad he jumped on the Concorde and not on me.’ ”

Stunned silence followed until Elizondo finally broke in, asking: “You are a congressman in what district?”

Made in L.A.

Politicians are constantly being told to get their own houses in order.

So it was that Mayor Richard Riordan decided to remind his own household at City Hall to practice what he has been preaching this holiday season: Buy L.A.

“Make your holiday purchases in Los Angeles,” read a message from the mayor printed on the paycheck stubs of all 40,000 city employees this week.

In issuing the reminder, Riordan was making use of a medium available for free to any city department wishing to advertise events or services. Other recent one-liners on paychecks have encouraged staffers to make use of the city’s toll-free El Nino hotline and to donate money to a charitable campaign.

The mayor’s economic development team came up with its own message to reinforce the point of Riordan’s downtown shopping spree last week to promote gift-buying in Los Angeles.

“This is a captive market--40,000 city employees,” said Noelia Rodriguez, the mayor’s press secretary.

But the “Buy L.A.” message is a pocketbook issue for city employees in more ways than one. As workers on the public payroll, they themselves stand to gain--by holding on to their jobs--if city coffers swell with sales tax revenues.

“To support and foster economic development in the city of L.A. is good not just for employees,” Rodriguez said, “but for all Angelenos.”

Holiday Tripping

With the flick of a switch Tuesday evening, Riordan and his special guest, Dodgers sportscaster Vin Scully, illuminated City Hall, swathing it in thousands of lights to celebrate the holidays. It was supposed to be a show of civic pride, but only two council members, neither of them from the San Fernando Valley, attended.

Where was everyone? As it turned out, all but one of the seven council members who represent parts of the Valley were attending to city business elsewhere, half of them on the other side of the country.

Three Valley-based councilmen have journeyed to Philadelphia to represent Los Angeles at a conference sponsored by the National League of Cities. Council President John Ferraro is there, as is Richard Alarcon, who is accepting an “urban enrichment” award on behalf of the city. Joel Wachs also made it to the City of Brotherly Love, but only after first sneaking in a quick side trip to New York, where the avid art collector attended a meeting of an arts organization board he sits on.

Laura Chick headed east as well, first stopping in Baltimore to meet with city officials, then visiting relatives. Chick, the chairwoman of the City Council’s Public Safety Committee, has made similar trips to glean ideas on promoting public safety and community improvement. A matching-grant program she recently instituted in the West Valley has its roots in a visit to Seattle.

And two other council members, Mike Feuer and Cindy Miscikowski, also dealt with matters of public safety Tuesday evening, showing up for meetings with community police advisory boards, which preempted their attendance at the City Hall ceremony.

That leaves Councilman Hal Bernson, who was the only Valley member who missed the event for purely personal reasons.

“He’s on vacation,” an aide said.

Nobody’s Fool

When Rep. Howard Berman (D-Panorama City) spoke at the San Fernando Chamber of Commerce luncheon this week, he was given a glowing introduction.

The head of the chamber, Paul Hefner, quoted the Almanac of American Politics, which described Berman as “one of the most aggressive and creative members of the House--and one of the most clear-sighted operators in American politics.”

Later, after Berman’s speech on the fast-track trade bill, a guest tried to persuade him to announce whom he will support as the next Democratic candidate for president.

“Who are you guys putting up?” the guest asked.

Berman said that Vice President Al Gore, House Minority Leader Richard Gephardt of Missouri and former Sen. Bill Bradley have all expressed interest in the job.

“Which one do you like?” the guest asked.

“They are all my friends,” Berman responded. “Do you want me to commit?”

“Yes, I want you to commit,” said the persistent guest.

“Hey, I was described as aggressive, not foolish,” Berman said, and changed the subject.

Taxing Promises

Americans for Tax Reform handed out their Friend of the Taxpayer award last month and included local lawmaker Rep. Howard “Buck” McKeon (R-Santa Clarita) among the recipients.

The award was given by Grover Norquist, president of the conservative, grass-roots group and a close friend of House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.).

Although the certificate was given to 132 members of Congress, recipients had to meet some tough criteria.

First of all, they had to pledge to oppose all tax increases and vote to reduce tax rates even further if Congress adopts new deductions and credits.

In addition, award winners must have a voting record that matched the position of Americans for Tax Reform at least 90% of the time.

McKeon met the criteria and then some. He scored 90% but got extra credit because he also signed a pledge to work to adopt “a new, simple and fair system that applies a single, low rate to all Americans and requires a supermajority of both chambers of Congress to raise taxes.”

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QUOTABLE: “I think it is going to take more work and more effort to raise less money.”

--Assembly GOP leader Bill Leonard of Rancho Cucamonga on the impact of campaign limits imposed by Proposition 208