Charles Rangel
Sad to see Representative Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.) step down today as chairman of the House Ways & Means Committee. The move, in the wake of a series of alleged personal financial scandals, was announced as temporary, but there is little question that Rangel has given up the chair for good.
Rangel had to do this: He could not continue to lead the House tax-writing committee in the face of charges that he had failed to fully pay his own taxes and properly report in his House disclosure forms a significant amount of investment income.
In many ways, Rangel has reminded me of one of his predecessors, Dan Rostenkowski. Both were highly skilled legislative mechanics who delighted in getting bills passed. And, sadly, neither quite understood that the rules had changed, and that what was “regular order” in the old days was no longer acceptable.
Unlike, say, former Ways & Means chairman Bill Thomas, Rangel (like Rosty) never was, nor ever pretended to be, an expert on the Internal Revenue Code. But Rangel could count votes, work across the aisle as well as anyone in today’s highly-partisan atmosphere, and build relationships with Main Street and Wall Street. It was remarkable to me that when Rangel first became committee chairman, some business groups worried that he’d be hostile to their interests. There may have been more than a tinge of racism in that view, but in truth Rangel was always open to their legitimate concerns. Indeed, just a couple of years ago, he proposed a major reform that would have slashed the corporate tax rate.
Mostly, however, Rangel loved being in Congress. Some years ago, I had the opportunity to spend most of a day with him, following him from meeting to meeting on Capitol Hill and getting a sense of how he operated. I saw a man who reveled in the camaraderie of Congress. He could not walk around a corner without bumping into a lawmaker who would greet him with “Hey, Charlie.” Rangel’s gravelly-voiced reply was either “howareya” or, just as often, a slap on the back, a handshake, and one more request for support for whatever amendment he had on the floor that day.
In the days when Thomas was chairman and Rangel was the committee’s senior Democrat, the New Yorker seemed genuinely hurt and baffled that Thomas never made an effort to develop a relationship with him. Rangel liked to say that in Congress you can disagree without being disagreeable. And he seemed to mean it.
But, sadly, that world too has changed.
In recent years, the Ways & Means panel has lost much of its influence as first Republican leaders and, now, Democratic Speaker Nancy Pelosi have consolidated more legislative power in their own offices. But the committee still matters. It remains to be seen who will replace Rangel, although three leading candidates are representatives Pete Stark (D-CA), Sandy Levin (D-MI), and Richard Neal (D-MA). While Neal has less seniority than Stark and Levin, he’d probably be the most effective chairman.
Charles rangel?? i dont know man, ithink it goes well..
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I agree
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Don’t you publish some writings which critise you? You didn’t publish my critics upon your blog.
Man i cant believe this day finally came. Good Bye Charlie.
I agree with anonymous.
Means chairman Bill Thomas, Rangel (like Rosty) never was, nor ever pretended to be, an expert on the Internal Reven
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It’s about time.- hotels
I could never agree with this comment more – “Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men.”
By John Emerich Edward Dalberg Acton, first Baron Acton (1834–1902) – watch movies
In many ways, Rangel has reminded me of one of his predecessors, Dan Rostenkowski. Both were highly skilled legislative mechanics who delighted in getting bills passed.Cheap Electric Guitar
And, sadly, neither quite understood that the rules had changed, and that what was “regular order” in the old days was no longer acceptable.
According to the letter of the law, you MIGHT be right. But in the court of public opinion, he’s no more than a career politician who's as corrupt as they come, and sadly that is how he’ll be remembered by millions of Americans. Unfortunately, arrogant and elitist pricks like you are more concerned about pushing your ideology, instead of advocating for what is best for all citizens regardless of affiliation. And it's truly pathetic that, at times like this, the best you can do is point out that he hasn't been proven guilty of any ADDITIONAL charges …yet! Really? How sad.
Let's be clear about another thing: you're a douche bag for supporting Rangel, even when it's clear that he has done some very bad things – most importantly, betraying the sacred trust of his fellow countrymen.
Maybe some day you’ll trade in that glass of blind extremism for a nice big slice of humble pie. Lord knows you could certainly use a piece.
Be that as it may, the Fair Tax is still dead.
Whatever we think about Congressman Rangel, let's be clear about one thing: The House ethics committee has found only that he improperly took a corporate-funded trip. While some have alleged he failed to pay taxes on income, this claim is still being investigated and remains unproved. As far as we know, he has paid no fines or penalties to the IRS. I understand the low repute in which many hold members of Congress, but they do deserve the same presumption of innocence as the rest of us.
Michael,
Why are you diverting attention from the issue at hand.?. I actually took a minute to look up “Chuck's” history, and was surprised to see that he was awarded a Purple Heart and Bronze Star. But I wasn't surprised about the medals; I was disappointed to learn that a man who has shown such an amazing example of courage, selflessness and leadership has developed into what he is today – a crooked, and arrogant S.O.B. And he deserves exactly what he earned: a hefty tax fine for unpaid taxes, and to be fired from his job for lying and breaking the very laws that he helped write and swore to uphold. Sad to see a once proud American succumb to the lure of the “fools gold” that so many DC politicians can't seem to pass up.
Every day he remains in his office, he brings the DEM party down another peg, and gives the GOP more ammunition for the election season.
“Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men.”
By John Emerich Edward Dalberg Acton, first Baron Acton (1834–1902)
What's sad is that he was an effective legislator (unlike Thomas – who should have worked out a permanent fix on the Bush tax plan – his failure and Grassley's mean that Obama, Baucus, Reid, Pelosi and Levin will work this out instead – which is not a bad thing, actually).
BTW, from what I have heard, Levin will be acting Chair. The king is dead. Long live the king.
Oh, Rangel should not be referred to in the past tense when talking about his career as a legislator. He did not leave his seat, just his chairmanship. Indeed, he is likely still on the Committee.
One last thought, unless Levin is a math illiterate, the Fair Tax is still dead. Indeed, it never had a chance once 2006 happenned. Even if the impossible happens and Huckabee is elected, the best Huck can get is a deal with Levin for a VAT – which might not be a bad thing.
what is sad about a tax cheater who thinks he is above the law.
What's so sad about a corrupt, career politician obeying the law and living up to the morals and standards that all Americans, not just his constituants, expect from him?
Find him for back taxes, punish him for vioalating the house ethics and standards, then shine up that size 35, triple E, steel-toed boot and kick that jerk right out of DC.