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Dan Rostenkowski

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U.S. Congressman

The Resume

    (January 2, 1928-August 11, 2010)
    Born in Chicago, Illinois
    US Representative from Illinois (1959-95)
    Chair of the House Ways and Means Committee (1981-94)
    Democrat

Why he might be annoying:

    His bulk and Chicago accent made him a stereotype of a Daley-machine Democrat.
    His license was suspended for a year after he was busted for DWI in Wisconsin (1986).
    His proposal for a national health insurance plan resulted in a mob of angry senior citizens swarming over his car, forcing him to sprint through a gas station to escape (1989).
    He was indicted on corruption charges, including placing 'ghost' employees on his payroll, using Congressional funds to buy gifts and abusing Congressional postal perks by selling stamps for cash (1994).
    He eventually pled guilty to mail fraud (1996) and served 15 months in federal prison.

Why he might not be annoying:

    He served in the Army during the Korean War.
    He was married to his wife Laverne for 59 years until his death.
    Economist Charles Wheelan wrote, 'We Chicagoans can drive around the city and literally point to things that Rosty built.'
    He played a key role in passing the 1986 Tax Reform Act, which lowered rates and eliminated a large number of loopholes.
    Columnist Mike Royko, one of his frequent critics, said, 'Rostenkowski was a big political fish-the kind of trophy that an ambitious federal prosecutor loves to stuff and hang on his wall…That’s what did Rostenkowski in – a federal prosecutor’s personal ambitions.'

Credit: C. Fishel


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 39 Votes: 69.23% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 16 Votes: 68.75% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 4 Votes: 75.00% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 18 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 10 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 13 Votes: 61.54% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 14 Votes: 57.14% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 21 Votes: 52.38% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 27 Votes: 55.56% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 71 Votes: 67.61% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 33 Votes: 72.73% Annoying
    In 2010, Out of 122 Votes: 66.39% Annoying