Campbell checked

A website this week labeled Newport Beach Rep. John Campbell practically powerless among his congressional colleagues, but that opinion wasn’t shared by protesters who stopped by his district office May 10 to complain about Campbell’s stance on the new Medicare prescription drug program.

Local attorney Steve Young, Campbell’s Democratic opponent in upcoming elections, was one of the protesters at the congressman’s Newport Center Drive office, where they offered a giant check to represent $22,300 they allege he took from drug companies.

Protesters also opposed a May 15 deadline to join the drug program and the late fees that could follow for those who miss it.

Campbell was not at the protest because he was in Washington, D.C., last week.

There was more bad news for Campbell this week: As the newest member of congress, he’s also considered the least powerful ? at least according to www.congress.org. The website on Tuesday released power rankings that placed Campbell at No. 438 of 438 members of the House, with a score of 0.64 out of a possible 100.

According to the site, the most powerful member of congress is Illinois Rep. Dennis Hastert, and three California members made the top 10.

REPRESENTATIVE WILL GIVE BACK MONEY

Rohrabacher said this week he will give back $23,000 paid to him by Hollywood producer Joseph Medawar, who pleaded guilty to fraud and tax evasion charges in federal court Tuesday. Medawar was accused of scamming investors, who gave money to his company for a nonexistent TV series about the Department of Homeland Security, according to news reports.

Rohrabacher received the $23,000 as an option for a screenplay he wrote, which Medawar apparently considered producing. But after Medawar was indicted, the congressman said he’d return the money if Medawar was found guilty, Rohrabacher spokeswoman Rebecca Rudman said Wednesday.

When he was paid for the screenplay, “Dana did everything aboveboard,” Rudman said. “He disclosed it on his financial disclosure, he went through the ethics [committee] to get approval, so everything was on the up-and-up.”

She added that Rohrabacher was not involved in the TV show scheme.

“At no time did Dana ever suggest or tell anyone they should invest,” she said.

Rudman said it’s not certain how the screenplay money will be returned, but it will likely go into a fund to benefit those who lost money to Medawar.

A STUDY FOR THE 55

Like a car inching its way through a traffic jam, plans to fix congestion at the end of the Costa Mesa Freeway (55) rolled forward a bit last week when city officials heard that the Orange County Transportation Authority could fund a study of the problem.

Transportation staff members put $275,000 for the study into the agency’s 2006-07 budget, which the OCTA board will vote on June 12. Possible solutions could include putting the freeway underground from its current terminus to 17th Street. A comprehensive study will likely cost more than the suggested amount, city transportation manager Peter Naghavi said, so further funding may be needed.

SUPERVISOR TO MAKE LOCAL APPEARANCE

The West Newport Beach Assn. will host Orange County Supervisor Jim Silva at its meeting Monday. Silva represents a district that includes Newport Beach, Costa Mesa and parts of eight other cities.

Although Silva is running for a state Assembly seat, he won’t be campaigning at this meeting ? he’ll give a presentation and take questions about Newport and county issues, association president Paul Watkins said.

The meeting begins at 7 p.m. in the Newport Beach City Council chambers, 3300 Newport Blvd.PHOTOS BY KENT TREPTOW / DAILY PILOT (LA)Above, Dean Inada holds a check representing the $23,000 that some say Rep. John Campbell took from drug companies. Below, Lou Penrose, second from left, the district director for Campbell, listens May 11 as a member of the protesters states the group’s opinion. dpt.18-landscape-1-CPhotoInfo881R2ANU20060518izfgpgncPHOTOS BY KENT TREPTOW / DAILY PILOT (LA)Above, Dean Inada holds a check representing the $23,000 that some say Rep. John Campbell took from drug companies. Below, Lou Penrose, second from left, the district director for Campbell, listens May 11 as a member of the protesters states the group’s opinion. dpt.18-landscape-2-CPhotoInfo881R2B5E20060518izfgq8nc(LA)Below, Lou Penrose, second from left, the district director for Rep. John Campbell, listens as Roslyn Manley, right, states the position of a group opposed to Campbell’s stance on the Medicare prescription drug benefit. They say he received money from drug companies. Steve Young, second from right, the Democratic candidate for the 48th Congressional District, listens as Manley speaks.