Rep. Charles Rangel, a New York Democrat, said Wednesday he will not step down as chairman of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee in the face of a call from the Republican leader in the House for him to do so.
Rangel has been under fire for failing to report income from a rental property he owns in the Dominican Republic.
He admitted Tuesday he had not paid tax on the income, but said it was a mistake and he will pay whatever back taxes he owes. He said the income had gone directly toward paying down the mortgage on the property and he had rarely if ever received income statements related to it.
"I really didn't pay any attention to it. I wasn't getting any money from it," he said, calling his failure to pay taxes "an omission that's irresponsible, and that's it."
"I don't believe that making mistakes means you have to give up your career," he said.
He also admitted that he had not been charged interest on the mortgage for the past 18 years, but said he had "no clue" that the mortgage lender had made that decision. He denied having been singled out for preferential treatment.
Rangel's Ways and Means Committee writes tax law, among other responsibilities.
I totally agree that making a simple mistake shouldn't cost you your job, but this guy has been making "mistake" after "mistake" for a while now.
He's leasing expensive cars on your dime. He's abused office rents and paid less then normal market rates. He's had an interest free mortgage, and really, who the FUCK doesn't notice that??
And we're supposed to believe that this guy didn't have something shady going on? The guy writes tax laws for Christ's sake!
None of you get an interest free loan on any mortgage you'll ever have. We're to believe that a tax man is able to get one, WITHOUT ASKING FOR IT, and not notice it?? Is anyone out there really that stupid?
What's worse, is that if Nancy Pelosi was actually doing her job, she'd ask for Rangel's temporary resignation from the Ways and Means Committee, until this is all resolved. But she isn't. She's looking the other way when there's clear evidence of ethical violations.
Why does this seem so familiar?
Oh that's right, because it's HAPPENED BEFORE!
Go ahead and try to blame Bush for this one Nancy.
Travis
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