Weed out political corruption
Mr. Rangel also possesses a residence in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, which he frequently rents out. However, he fails to report this money on his income tax returns. Rangel has admitted to failing to declare $75,000 in rental income derived from this property and is now being forced to pay the pertinent back taxes.
The issues don't stop with residences. Mr. Rangel, until recently, kept a Mercedes-Benz in a Congressional parking space for which he did not have a permit and which was valued at $290 per month. It was also recently revealed that Mr. Rangel keeps a small extra office in the Capitol Building for use as an exercise room. This is inexcusable considering that most Congressmen have insufficient office space that they use for official business. Additionally, Rangel has had the audacity to solicit donations for a school of public service at City College of New York that is named in his honor on his Congressional stationary.
Such actions are not acceptable from any citizen. If an average worker were to illegally claim any one of the above advantages, he would be severely punished. Yet, Mr. Rangel has so far escaped even censure for his actions, thanks to votes along party lines. As recently as this week, Rangel happily boasted to reporters that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi "told me I am her chairman of the Ways and Means Committee as long as I want to be." Speaker Pelosi's refusal to remove Rangel from power is as much an indictment of her as of him.
President-elect Obama has promised America "change we can believe in." Is this it? How dare Rangel abuse his power this way and how dare Pelosi permit it? Corruption should be tolerated by neither party, and censure for unethical action should be supported by both sides, regardless of party affiliation. When Senator Ted Stevens (R-AK) was convicted of making false statements (related to corruption accusations), both parties promptly called for his resignation, as was completely appropriate. Now is the Democrats' turn to weed out the corrupt in the highest levels of their ranks. Sadly, it appears that they will embrace, rather than denounce, Rangel.
The issues don't stop with residences. Mr. Rangel, until recently, kept a Mercedes-Benz in a Congressional parking space for which he did not have a permit and which was valued at $290 per month. It was also recently revealed that Mr. Rangel keeps a small extra office in the Capitol Building for use as an exercise room. This is inexcusable considering that most Congressmen have insufficient office space that they use for official business. Additionally, Rangel has had the audacity to solicit donations for a school of public service at City College of New York that is named in his honor on his Congressional stationary.
Such actions are not acceptable from any citizen. If an average worker were to illegally claim any one of the above advantages, he would be severely punished. Yet, Mr. Rangel has so far escaped even censure for his actions, thanks to votes along party lines. As recently as this week, Rangel happily boasted to reporters that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi "told me I am her chairman of the Ways and Means Committee as long as I want to be." Speaker Pelosi's refusal to remove Rangel from power is as much an indictment of her as of him.
President-elect Obama has promised America "change we can believe in." Is this it? How dare Rangel abuse his power this way and how dare Pelosi permit it? Corruption should be tolerated by neither party, and censure for unethical action should be supported by both sides, regardless of party affiliation. When Senator Ted Stevens (R-AK) was convicted of making false statements (related to corruption accusations), both parties promptly called for his resignation, as was completely appropriate. Now is the Democrats' turn to weed out the corrupt in the highest levels of their ranks. Sadly, it appears that they will embrace, rather than denounce, Rangel.
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