The Conservative Cave

Current Events => Breaking News => Topic started by: TheSarge on July 16, 2008, 06:26:14 AM

Title: Rangel's Pet Cause Bears His Own Name
Post by: TheSarge on July 16, 2008, 06:26:14 AM

Firms With Business Before Panel Solicited
By Christopher Lee
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, July 15, 2008; A01

House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Charles B. Rangel is soliciting donations from corporations with business interests before his panel, hoping to raise $30 million for a new academic center that will house his papers when he retires.

The New York Democrat has penned letters on congressional stationery and has sought meetings to ask for corporate and foundation contributions for the Charles B. Rangel Center for Public Service at the City College of New York, a project that caused controversy last year when he won a $1.9 million congressional earmark to help start it. Republican critics dubbed the project Rangel's "Monument to Me."

The congressman has corralled more federal money as well, securing two Department of Housing and Urban Development grants totaling $690,500 to help renovate the college-owned Harlem brownstone that will house the center, according to HUD and school officials.

"It is a personal dream of mine to see this Center at City College, which resides in my congressional district and where so many talented young men and women from the community have gotten an excellent education," Rangel wrote in a March 7, 2007, letter to real estate mogul Donald Trump, one of the business leaders the congressman has solicited.

Ethics experts and government watchdogs say it is troubling that one of the nation's most powerful lawmakers would seek money from businesses that have interests before the committee he leads. Rangel's panel has broad jurisdiction over tax policy, trade, Social Security and Medicare.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/07/14/AR2008071402546_pf.html

Title: Re: Rangel's Pet Cause Bears His Own Name
Post by: JohnnyReb on July 16, 2008, 06:40:09 AM

Quote from: TheSarge on July 16, 2008, 06:26:14 AM

Firms With Business Before Panel Solicited
By Christopher Lee
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, July 15, 2008; A01


"......experts and government watchdogs say it is troubling that one of the nation's most powerful lawmakers would seek extort money from businesses that have interests before the committee he leads.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/07/14/AR2008071402546_pf.html

Jesse, Al, Charlie.......they good thing going.

Title: Re: Rangel's Pet Cause Bears His Own Name
Post by: Thor on July 16, 2008, 05:47:05 PM

Can anybody say, "Conflict of interest"??

Title: Re: Rangel's Pet Cause Bears His Own Name
Post by: TheSarge on July 16, 2008, 07:09:27 PM

Quote from: Thor on July 16, 2008, 05:47:05 PM

Can anybody say, "Conflict of interest"??

I was thinking of a saying with a little more old school Latin flare to it...like "quid pro quo"

Title: Re: Rangel's Pet Cause Bears His Own Name
Post by: TheSarge on July 17, 2008, 09:15:20 AM

Rangel is holding a press conference on TV right now trying to explain how he is not misusing his office for personal gain.
 

:whatever: