Former Republic of Than Rostenkowski died

Dan Rostenkowski, working under the direction of the powerful House ways and means Committee in the 1980s, has died at the age of 82. STORY first entered Congress in HIGHLIGHTSRostenkowski 1959He became President of the tax-writing ways and means of the Republican landslide 1994RELATED TOPICSIllinoisDan RostenkowskiU. S 1981Rostenkowsi Commission was rejected. CongressPolitical corruption (CNN)--Illinois former Congressman Than Rostenkowski, which through the ranks of Chicago's rough-and-tumble political scene to one of the most powerful men on Capitol Hill, has died, according to the Office of Chicago Alderman Richard Mell. He was 82. He died in Wisconsin after a long illness, Mell of Office said. Rostenkowski entered first Congress in 1959, in the second half of the Eisenhower administration. Known for his booming voice and a reputation as a power broker, he became President of the tax-writing Ways and means in 1981. During his tenure as the powerful democratic President played a key role in passing the major reforms of social security and the tax code, among other things. In 1988, helped Rostenkowski give a controversial extension of Medicare to protect seniors against catastrophic medical expenses. Seniors was raving about the monthly premiums and surtax associated with the Bill. The measure was withdrawn a year later. Rostenkowski was rejected in the 1994 Republican landslide, but after becoming stuck in a scandal. Among other things, prosecutors claimed that he public funds used for personal affairs and reward employees who have little actual work. Rostenkowski pleaded guilty to corruption charges in april 1996, and eventually served more than a year in federal prison. In 2000, he was pardoned by president Bill Clinton. Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan, "Dan Rostenkowski dedicated his life to his community, Chicago and the State," said Wednesday. "His efforts for the ordinary people who invite a friend to wade through the maze of Government are second to none."CNN'S Charles Riley contributed to this report

View the Original article