Posted on 12/07/2008 10:01:27 PM PST by george76
Speaker Nancy Pelosi took stewardship of the House two years ago with a pledge to "drain the swamp" and clean up ethical abuses in Congress. Now an investigation of one of her party's best-known members is putting her in an uncomfortable spot.
Rep. Charles B. Rangel of New York is the subject of an investigation by a House ethics panel over his ownership of several rent-controlled apartments in New York, his failure to pay taxes on an offshore rental property, and his use of office letterhead to solicit donations for a public-policy school that would bear his name.
Last month, a story in the New York Times pointed to another potential problem. It suggested that Rangel preserved a tax break for an oil-drilling company in exchange for a $1-million contribution to the planned public-policy school. Since then, calls have increased for Rangel to step back from chairing the powerful House Ways and Means Committee, at least while the investigation continues.
crucially for Rangel, the allegations in the New York Times regarding the tax break and the donation to the City College of New York have not been part of the investigation, so they could be the subject of a new or expanded inquiry.
Rangel met with Isenberg, who is chief executive of Nabors Industries, and Kenneth Kies, a company lobbyist, about a tax provision concerning companies that incorporate overseas to avoid paying U.S. taxes.
The same day in Washington, the paper said, Rangel crafted a bill that preserved the tax break for firms such as Nabors, ignoring a Senate-passed bill that eliminated it.
About the same time, Isenberg pledged $1 million to the public-policy school named for Rangel
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
Just another democrat.
/s
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Pelosi couldn’t drain the swamp because the swamp is her lifeline.
a new or expanded inquiry ?
*chuckle*
It’s so nice that the LA Times is worried about Pelosi’s comfort level as opposed to holding public officials (Rangel) accountable for their illegal actions. (obvious sarcasm)
Why all the hiding of impropriety? One of the biggest crooks was Eclair, and the majority voted for him. Who cares? Pelosi and Rangel should just come out and say they take what they want because they’re entitled and we aren’t. It’s not punishable if a Democrat does it, so why hide it? And the LA Times too! Just come out and say the Dems can do anything, it’s not wrong?
The word “Shame” isn’t in their vocabulary. Why start now?
Most ethical congress ever!
Why not just investigate PelaBelaGosi herself? No need to step on anyones toes there, she has more skeletons (like her real face LOL) and “other stuff” to keep truth mindid folk ocupied for at least two years.
Nancy Belalagosie, please go away. At least shut the you know what up.
Well, at least HRH Pelosi doesn’t have to be bothered by another Dims crooked congressman, Jefferson (D-La).
Since when did libs start believing things like “rules” and “ethics” applied to them?
“Rep. Charles Rangel’s ethics inquiry may put Pelosi in a bind”
Nah.
Maybe Rangel's and Pelosi's chickens are coming home to roost?
She isn't draining it. She is pouring in water and stirring.
If Pelosi were to be eaten by an alligator in the “swamp of corruption”, that poor animal would die of food poisoning.
Pelosi makes the mafia look like amateurs.
Rangel has “ethics?” I’m shocked and appalled.
Maybe Cool Cash Jefferson would like a cellmate?
I have always loved the brilliant Republican tabloid NY Post headlines, such as "Headless Man found in Topless Bar"Ha ha! One of my old bosses always joked about that one. Wasn't that in the World Weekly News, though?
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