Burton, who already faces an FBI investigation into his alleged "shakedown" of contributions from a lobbyist for the government of Pakistan, said he will return small donations he received in 1992 and 1993 from two Sikh temples. Religious groups are forbidden by law from donating to political campaigns.
Burton aides called the $646 in returned contributions insignificant - not in the same league with the roughly $3 million that the Democratic National Committee has been forced to return in the growing scandal over foreign-linked money in the 1996 presidential campaign.
"This is less than minuscule," Burton's attorney, Joseph DiGenova, said of the returned checks. "In comparison with the kinds of problems (President Clinton) has, this is not even on the radar screen."
Nonetheless, some Democrats said the questions swirling around Burton's money-raising practices make him the wrong person to lead the House inquiry.
Aides said Gingrich wanted to put the controversial issue behind him within a day or two at most. Officials suggested he might formally announce his intentions in a speech on the House floor - scene of last winter's historic vote to reprimand him.
Several Republicans said Gingrich appeared to be leaning in favor of paying the entire $300,000 himself, with the help of a loan. These officials added, though, that a second option under consideration included soliciting supporters for donations to a legal defense fund to cover part of the costs.
Several sources said Gingrich also was contemplating establishment of an account akin to a legal defense fund that his personal funds would flow into. The fund would then make the payment to the House. These sources said this arrangement was under discussion because Gingrich, prodded by some lawmakers, wanted to avoid establishment of a precedent under which individual members of Congress are put in a position of directly paying the House.
Local police, firefighters, medics and other emergency workers will learn to identify such deadly weapons, deal with victims and carry out any decontamination that might be required, officials said yesterday at a Pentagon briefing.