WASHINGTON INSIGHT

STAMP COLLECTOR: Demoralized House Democrats have a new worry: the legal cloud over Rep. Dan Rostenkowski (D-Ill.), the House Ways and Means Committee chairman. . . . Rostenkowski has denied allegations that he swapped stamp vouchers for cash at the House post office. His records show that he bought more than $24,000 worth of stamps in a five-year period. Even some of his close friends are baffled because House franking privileges allow most congressional mail to be sent without postage. One Midwestern Democrat says the incident brings back memories of the 1989 resignation under fire of former Speaker Jim Wright.