See How Your Politicians Voted
Title: Removing Rep. Charles Rangel as Chairman of House Committee on Ways and Means
Vote Smart's Synopsis:
Vote on a motion to refer a resolution to the House Committee on Standards of Official Conduct that calls for the removal of Representative Charles Rangel as Chairman of the House Committee on Ways and Means.
Highlights:
- Specifies that the New York Times reported that Rep. Rangel earned more than $75,000 in rental income from a house he owns in the Dominican Republic since 1988 but failed to disclose such income on his federal or state tax returns and his annual congressional financial disclosure statement.
- Specifies that the New York Times reported that Rep. Rangel paid no interest on a mortgage extended to him to purchase the house in the Dominican Republic for more than 10 years after the interest on the loan was waived.
- Alleges that Rep. Rangel's failure to report both the income and interest forgiveness is a violation House rules and federal, state and local tax law.
- Alleges that Rep. Rangel's acceptance of interest forgiveness is a violation of the House gift ban.
- Specifies that Rep. Rangel has acknowledged having failed to publicly disclose cash assets, investment income, and his ownership of two pieces of property in New Jersey.
- Specifies that Rep. Rangel's financial disclosure statements filed on August 12, 2009 reveal that his net worth is almost twice as much as he previously reported.
- Specifies that the New York Times reported that Rep. Rangel failed to report at least $500,000 in assets on his 2007 Congressional disclosure form.
- Specifies that Rep. Rangel's position of Chairman of the House Committee on Ways and Means is a position of considerable political power and influence, has jurisdiction over the U.S. tax code, and permits him to participate in high level decisions on important issues.