Posted by
Mr. D. on Sunday, November 30, 2008 9:03:25 AM
Rarely am I in agreement with the editors of the New York Times or Washington Post. Today is one of those rare occasions when I agree with both. The Post has joined the Times in calling for the removal of Charlie Rangel from the House Ways and Means Committee, the tax writing body of Congress. In a post today, The Hill reported:
"The Times reported Tuesday that Rangel helped preserve a valuable tax loophole for an oil and gas drilling company while the company’s chief executive, Eugene Isenberg, was pledging $1 million to the Charles B. Rangel School of Public Service at City College of New York."
"The revelation is the latest in a series of allegations that have surfaced in the past five months. Rangel also has been accused of paying below-market rents on four apartments, including one that he illegally used as a campaign office. He has since given that office up. In addition, Rangel failed to pay tens of thousands of tax dollars on rental income on a vacation home in the Dominican Republic. He has since hired a forensic accountant to determine exactly how much he owes for the past 17 years. He failed to report the value of a condominium in Florida and did not report a privately sponsored trip on his House travel disclosure forms. He also used congressional letterhead to request meetings to promote donations to the City College education center bearing his name."
In an earlier article, The Hill reported that Nancy Pelosi was reluctant to ask Rangel, now serving his 19th term in office, to step down citing his long service and experience as Charman of the House Ways and Means Committee. Pelosi, by virture of her position as Speaker of the House, has the power to appoint committee members. Pelosi's reluctance is, of course, politically driven and not in consideration of the best interests of the American people.
Only in the United States Congress would a 17 year memory lapse regarding taxes owed on a resort property frequently visited by a congressman who writes the tax laws for all Americans fail to meet a standrd requiring resignation or dismissal. One can only assume that without a staff, Rangle would forget that he is Chariman of Ways and Means.
With an aging population, a lot of Americans will develop memory problems. My own "senior moments" seem to be increasing in frequencey. Perhaps before his removal, Rangle could simplify the tax code enabling others who have similar memory problems to unravel their tax obligations without hiring a "forensic accountant"?
So, maybe Charlie should get some slack. Can you see yourself pacing back an forth mumbling, "What island is that again?" Or, maybe driving around aimlessly in Orlando trying to remember the address of your condo or even wondering if Orlando is the right city? On top of that, Charlie has four rent-controlled apartment address in New York to remember.
The people of the 19th District of New York elected Rangel to Congress. They elected him 19 times. Almost half that time he didn't remember his tax obligations. The people of the 19th District of New York deserve Charles B. Rangel. You and I don't deserve to have Rangel write the tax laws we have to live under.
Call, write and email your Congressman and Nancy Pelosi to tell them you agree with the New York Times and Washington Post and urge them to remove Charlie Rangel from the House Ways and Means Committee.
The "Change We Need" is a change in Congress. We can do it one member at a time if necessary.
"Suppose you were an idiot. And suppose you were a Congressman. But, I repeat myself". -Mark Twain