Ex-Ill. Rep. Dan Rostenkowski, former Ways and Means Committee chairman, dies at age 82
By APWednesday, August 11, 2010
Former Illinois Rep. Dan Rostenkowski dies at 82
CHICAGO — Former Illinois Rep. Dan Rostenkowski (rah-sten-KOW’-skee), a powerful Democrat who shaped tax policy in the 1980s but later went to prison, has died.
Family friend Ellen Tully says Rostenkowski died Wednesday at his home in Wisconsin. He was 82.
In all, Rostenkowski served 18 terms in the House. As chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, he helped push through a sweeping 1986 overhaul of the nation’s tax system.
But he was indicted in 1992 and charged with misusing government and campaign funds. He lost his bid for re-election in 1994 and wound up pleading guilty in 1996 two counts of mail fraud.
Rostenkowski served 17 months in prison. Then-President Bill Clinton pardoned him in 2000.
