Congressional Republicans are again demanding that Congressman Charles Rangel step down as chairman of the House tax writing committee, saying his ethics problems make him the poster boy for institutional arrogance.
Democratic support for embattled Rangel will get another test this week. Republicans will introduce a resolution calling for the Harlem Democrat to step down as chairman of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee until ethics probes — which keep on growing — are complete.
“These are all violations of the rules of the House,” Rep. John Carter (R-Texas) told CBS 2 HD. “Some of them seem to be violations of the rules of the IRS and I don’t think the top tax guy ought to be having those kinds of problems.”
Of course, they also plan on urging Governor Paterson to run for the position…
And here’s a new twist. Highly placed Democratic sources told CBS 2 HD they have discussed the possibility of using one damaged New York politician to get rid of another.
It centers on having Rangel resign, and giving Gov. David Paterson a dignified way to leave Albany by running for Rangel’s congressional seat.
Rangel never saw that one coming…
…Then again, neither did Paterson.