GOP Wants Embattled Rangel Off Tax Panel

House Republicans Demand N.Y. Dem Leave Committee Post While His Finances Are Scrutinized

(AP)  House Republican leaders demanded Tuesday that embattled Rep. Charles Rangel be removed from his post as chairman of a tax-writing committee while an ethics panel reviews his personal finances.

The GOP's latest thrust against Rangel came as his advisers acknowledged he will pay back federal, state, and city taxes for unreported rent collected on a vacation home. The episode is particuarly embarassing for a legislator with oversight of the nation's tax code, and one who has been in Congress for nearly four decades.

Rangel, D-N.Y., has been besieged for months by reports raising questions about his finances and living arrangements. In his home district of Harlem, he had four rent-regulated apartments in the same building, including one that was used for campaign work.

That arrangement was already under investigation by the House ethics committee last week when new revelations surfaced that he had an unusual financial deal for his beach vacation home in the Dominican Republic.

"Given Chairman Rangel's continuing ethical lapses, he cannot effectively carry out his duties as chairman of the Ways and Means Committee," top House Republicans wrote House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Tuesday.

"You, as the speaker of the House, must insist that Rep. Rangel step down from his Ways and Means chairmanship pending an investigation of his ethical lapses," said the letter signed by Minority Leader John Boehner and his top deputies, and laced with criticism of the Democratic-led Congress.

Rangel lawyer Lanny Davis said he will not give up the chairmanship.

"Mr. Boehner's hyper-partisan attack on an honorable man, Charles Rangel, is completely contrary to the spirit of bipartisanship," said Davis.

"Of course Mr. Rangel will not step down from his chairmanship even temporarily, but trusts the bipartisan ethics committee to look into the facts, as opposed to the innuendo that apparently Mr. Boehner prefers," the lawyer said.

Rangel's lawyer has already acknowledged he had not reported some $75,000 in rental income on the property over two decades, and that for more than a decade he paid no interest on his mortgage for the property. His lawyer insists that any tax mistakes were minor and accidental.

The congressman will soon file amended tax returns paying "modest" back taxes owed for the last several years, said Davis. Initially, the lawyer said the amount could be thousands of dollars in each category but hours later backed off those figures, saying it was unclear what the amounts of taxes owed would be.

Rangel has scheduled a news conference Wednesday to discuss the controversy.

Republicans had already unsuccessfully sought to censure the congressman. Two years ago, Pelosi asked Louisiana Rep. Bill Jefferson to leave his seat on Ways and Means due to a federal criminal probe that resulted in an indictment.

[chimpyout]

What makes Cheney particularly despicable is that this pudgy draft dodger pins decorations on our wounded hero serviceman.
He''s a real dikhead.

[ioweign]

Palin should step down until Troopergate and her Abuse of Power is resolved...

[rickstas]

Isn''t it interesting that Cheney is so disgusting this site automatically deletes his first name!!!!

[rickstas]

*** Cheney steals more money in a day than Rangel has ever seen.

[tommancuso]

This is not a big deal and pales in comparison to the antics of Republicans. Allowing lobbyists and oil barons to determine US energy policy (ala Cheney) has implications for the entire world - not just the US. Charlie Rangel allegedly neglecting to report a few dollars in rental income has zero implications for the nation and is something probably milllions of Americans do - some deliberately some unknowingly.

Posted by cdfoxtrot3 at 12:10 PM : Sep 10, 2008

====================================================

Well said. It is incomprehensible how offended the offenders are. The unconscionable malfeazences of the Republicans over the past decade bring shame to the nation. Rewarding the oil, phamaceutical and insurance companies while whittling away the middle class; attempting to destroy the Bill of Rights and dismantle the Constitution, rushing to a stupid war that will cost future generations thousands of times what Rep. Rangel will earn in his lifetime, etc., ad nauseum. Shame.

[tylenol6]

Rangel = SCUM
Why is anyone surprised? Rangel is CORRUPT just like
ALL the other politicians.

[superdem]

If Charlie Wrangle has done something wrong, he''ll put it right. If his constituents don''t like it, they will take care of the problem. As far as you right wing fanatics trying to smear the entire Democratic Party and elevate McCain, I''d say at least Mr. Wrangle knows how many houses he owns. Let''s put Mr. "Keating 5" McCain''s finances through the wringer, and see what washes out. Oh, that''s right, Cindy won''t make her taxes public, and she has all the money. No Democrat supports corruption - if you can nail Charlie Wrangle, I say, bring it on !! We want corrupt Democrats out as much as corrupt Republicans.

[gramto8]

"acknowledged he had not reported some $75,000 in rental income on the property over two decades"

Hmmm... HELLO IRS, gettem boys! My stepson owes the IRS $8,000+ in taxes & penalties for 1 year making less than $30,000. Plus the IRS has ruined his credit so he can''''t even qualify to rent an apartment while he works 2 jobs to pay his "blunder". And Rangel evades paying taxes for 20 years and nothing is done. Give me a break.

You Democraps want fairness in the tax system. Try starting with Rangel and set an example with him.

Posted by far_point200 at 12:40 PM : Sep 10, 2008

Just asking here... $75000 over 20 years would be what -- about $3750 a year? What is Rangel''s income
each year for those years, anyone know? Considering this was rental property, one of several, it was more than likely taken care of by an accountant.

I am NOT saying the man doesn''t owe the taxes!! He definitely does. I am just saying that things should be kept in perspective here. It isn''t like he scammed the IRS for $75000 in one lump sum.

[sspunout]

That's right. I called the IRS and they said it's perfectly alright to falsify your tax return, as long as you do it over a number of decades and not in one big chunk.

See ya in the BIG house!

[far_point200]

"acknowledged he had not reported some $75,000 in rental income on the property over two decades"

Hmmm... HELLO IRS, gettem boys! My stepson owes the IRS $8,000+ in taxes & penalties for 1 year making less than $30,000. Plus the IRS has ruined his credit so he can''t even qualify to rent an apartment while he works 2 jobs to pay his "blunder". And Rangel evades paying taxes for 20 years and nothing is done. Give me a break.

You Democraps want fairness in the tax system. Try starting with Rangel and set an example with him.

If Rangel should be removed from his position while he is investigated, perhaps Palin should be removed from hers as well?

[dibellal]

More CBS BIAS. This story is buried on page 6 (so to speak) and when it''s finally found, it''s all "GOP attacks poor Rangle"...You have to read 5 paragraphs before it''s mentioned "....oh and BTW, the man is a CROOK!"

[rillifane]

Can anyone think of a single important big city Black democrat politician who isn''t corrupt?

He works in Washington. Doesn''t matter what they have by their name (D, R, I) they''re all crooked.

[cdfoxtrot3]

This is not a big deal and pales in comparison to the antics of Republicans. Allowing lobbyists and oil barons to determine US energy policy (ala Cheney) has implications for the entire world - not just the US. Charlie Rangel allegedly neglecting to report a few dollars in rental income has zero implications for the nation and is something probably milllions of Americans do - some deliberately some unknowingly.

[slim1h2o]

Man!

Got the fox guarding chicken coop again!

[thevicar1]

Gee, he sits on the tax-writing committee and doesnt pay his own taxes?

Democrat = Do as I say...ignore as I do!