Is It Time for Rangel to Resign?

House Ways and Means Chairman Charles B. Rangel has had a pretty good run.

First elected in 1971, the Democratic representative from New York rose from being a high school dropout to leading one of the most influential committees in Congress. He is one of a handful of members of the Congressional Black Caucus who have amassed power and influence that resulted last year in seeing one of its own catapulted to the White House.

As Ways and Means Chairman, Rangel is one of the highest ranking black members — and one of the most powerful members, period — in Congress. Ways and Means is the chief tax-writing committee in the House, and is in charge of all taxation, tariffs and other revenue-raising measures, as well as a number of other programs including Social Security, unemployment benefits and Medicare.

Rangel has been a role model and confidant for congressional staffers and members alike. But lately he has come under increasing pressure to resign.

For a second time, The Washington Post is calling for Rangel to step aside as Ways and Means chairman. Earlier, The Buffalo, N.Y. News called for Rangel to step down. Both editorials came on the heels of a recent disclosure that the chairman massively underreported
his assets.

It’s not the first time.

Last year, a House ethics panel looked into allegations Rangel paid below-market rents for four apartments in a Harlem high-rise as well as his use of congressional letterhead to contact potential donors to an educational center that bears his name. He also failed to report income from a Florida condominium, and failed to pay taxes on a house in the Dominican Republic.

Conservatives, of course, have been calling for Rangel’s head for a while now.

“The arrogant elitist Rep. Charlie Rangel ... has proven to epitome [sic] of a scumbag politician. This arrogant New York politician should be made the poster child for corrupt politicians and Americans need to demand he made a [sic] example of,” writes Gregory Dail in the Washington Examiner, who went on to label Rangel “Crooked Charlie.”

That might come off as more than a little harsh. But even some Democrats are quietly questioning whether Rangel, who has trouble paying his own taxes, should be in charge of overseeing tax laws for the rest of us.

Continued Here.