Corrupt or Incompetent?

Congressman Charles Rangel (D-NY) is Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee. As such, he has as much, if not more, influence over our tax laws than anyone else.

Rep. Rangel, in spite of being a tax expert, has neglected to declare, and pay taxes on, income received from twenty years of renting out his Dominican Republic vacation home. On top of that insult to the taxpayers, his vacation home was financed by a no-interest loan from the developer.

Further, his required financial disclosure reports have been shown to be more than a little inaccurate. That the value of some relatively inexpensive Florida property was reported inaccurately is not a major matter. Failure, however, to properly disclose records of privately sponsored overseas trips is more serious.

Of twenty (20) trips listed on his annual disclosure forms, he reported only seven (7) on the separate travel disclosure forms that members must file to provide a more detailed accounting of the cost and purpose of the trips. Destinations included Taiwan, Singapore and the Caribbean Islands.

Were these barely disguised vacations? Or was there significant legislative business conducted on these trips?

The real scandal is that legislators may accept private funds to travel around the world. If a trip is official business, the government should pay: if it is a vacation, the Congressman should have paid. Private sponsorship just reeks of corruption.

Rep. Rangel has stated that, once all of the records are straightened out, he will refer the matter to the House Ethics Committee. That is the right thing to do. On the other hand, he declines to step down as Chairman and, in that, he is supported by Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi. They are both wrong!

While it is too early to decide whether the Congressman is corrupt or merely incompetent, he should not be the principal person responsible for shaping our tax law. Resignation - sooner rather than later - is the only correct course of action.

Sadly, it is increasingly rare for politicians to accept responsibility for their actions. Doing the right thing, however, should not be an old fashioned curiosity.

Congressman, your duty is to resign.