Weed out political corruption
The United States Constitution mandates that all taxation bills originate in the House of Representatives. Within the House of Representatives, the Ways and Means Committee is responsible for many of the financial matters raised in the House. The Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee is considered one of the most prestigious and important positions a Representative can hold. The current occupant of this office is Charles B. Rangel (D-N.Y.).
Rangel has been a member of the House of Representatives since 1971. He is the fourth-longest tenured Representative. He is a decorated war veteran. Sadly, Mr. Rangel seems to be under the impression that the law does not apply to him. Especially not the aspects of law he is professionally entrusted with: taxation. Recent investigations have shown that he has been, at least, negligent or at worst, criminally fraudulent in his tax returns, in addition to claiming other illegal, illegitimate perks.
As of July 11, 2008 Mr. Rangel rented four rent-stabilized apartments in "Harlem's Most Prestigious Address," Lennox Terrace, owned by the Olnick Organization, headed by Sylvia Olnick, a donor to Mr. Rangel's campaign (one of which he has used as a campaign office). In light of the fact that New York landlords are constantly trying to minimize the number of rent-stabilized apartments, and the fact that a rent-stabilized apartment may be destabilized if the apartment is not being used as a primary residence, the break on rent Mr. Rangel receives begins to look like a gift. The House defines a gift as any "gratuity, favor, discount, entertainment, hospitality, loan, forbearance or other item having monetary value." Members of the House of Representatives are forbidden from accepting gifts worth over $100.
Furthermore, Mr. Rangel has claimed a tax break on his Washington, D.C. residence, also as his primary residence. This is in contradiction to D.C. law, which states that "by maintaining a residence in his home state and actively voting there, [a member of Congress] is demonstrating that he continues to be a part of the body politic of his home state . . . The Member is a domiciliary of his home state. Because he is not domiciled in the District, the Member cannot claim the District's homestead deduction."
Rangel has been a member of the House of Representatives since 1971. He is the fourth-longest tenured Representative. He is a decorated war veteran. Sadly, Mr. Rangel seems to be under the impression that the law does not apply to him. Especially not the aspects of law he is professionally entrusted with: taxation. Recent investigations have shown that he has been, at least, negligent or at worst, criminally fraudulent in his tax returns, in addition to claiming other illegal, illegitimate perks.
As of July 11, 2008 Mr. Rangel rented four rent-stabilized apartments in "Harlem's Most Prestigious Address," Lennox Terrace, owned by the Olnick Organization, headed by Sylvia Olnick, a donor to Mr. Rangel's campaign (one of which he has used as a campaign office). In light of the fact that New York landlords are constantly trying to minimize the number of rent-stabilized apartments, and the fact that a rent-stabilized apartment may be destabilized if the apartment is not being used as a primary residence, the break on rent Mr. Rangel receives begins to look like a gift. The House defines a gift as any "gratuity, favor, discount, entertainment, hospitality, loan, forbearance or other item having monetary value." Members of the House of Representatives are forbidden from accepting gifts worth over $100.
Furthermore, Mr. Rangel has claimed a tax break on his Washington, D.C. residence, also as his primary residence. This is in contradiction to D.C. law, which states that "by maintaining a residence in his home state and actively voting there, [a member of Congress] is demonstrating that he continues to be a part of the body politic of his home state . . . The Member is a domiciliary of his home state. Because he is not domiciled in the District, the Member cannot claim the District's homestead deduction."
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