WASHINGTON INSIGHT

EXPLETIVE DENIED: In the sacred and the profane department, the war of words between archconservative Rep. Robert K. Dornan (R-Garden Grove) and liberal North Carolina Democrat W. G. (Bill) Hefner escalated last week after Hefner accused Dornan of cursing on the House floor. . . . To deny it, Dornan made an unusual trip to the House press gallery, where he collared several reporters who claimed to have overheard the offending remarks. Reporters present said Dornan “read them the riot act.” Later, Dornan’s office fired off a four-paragraph fax from fellow California Republican David Dreier of La Verne. Dreier insisted that “neither Dornan nor Hefner used profanity.” . . . Accompanying the Dreier testimonial was a handwritten note from a House page, backing up Dreier. Just in case reporters didn’t believe him, either.