Pay your taxes or step down — that’s the message House Republicans are sending to Rep. Charles Rangel, D-N.Y., chairman of the tax-writing Ways and Means Committee and subject of a major ethics probe into alleged tax evasion and other violations.
READ THE RESOLUTION TO REMOVE RANGEL
House Republicans on Wednesday attempted to pass a resolution to remove Rangel from his chairmanship following the reading of a long and stinging list of alleged wrongdoing. The measure stemmed from a major ethics probe into Rangel’s alleged failure to pay his taxes and disclose income on multiple properties — as much as $1.3 million.
But House Democrats were quick to strike down the measure to oust Rangel, who represents New York’s Harlem district. House Republicans refused to accept defeat of the resolution, and asked for a second recorded vote following the first. The reading of the resolution was interrupted several times, and at one point was challenged by Democrats before being put to a vote.
Wednesday’s vote came as reports emerge that Rangel funneled a $3 million earmark — included in the massive Defense Appropriations Bill — to City College of New York to fund research on materials used to protect Army vehicles from attack.
Critics charge that the powerful chairman of the tax-writing committee — arguably the most influential in Congress — should step down amid growing allegations and investigations into possible ethics violations.
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