Nancy Pelosi bitched for a decade about how unethical the Republicans were.  The Democrats were all puritanical and could do no wrong.  On a weekly basis since Nancy was put in charge of ethics of Congress, we’ve had to deal with one flap after another.  William Jefferson got the ball rolling, and it’s rolled since.  This week we’ve had to deal with Charlie Rangel getting convicted of ethics violations which prompted him to be kicked otu as Chairman of the House Ways and Means.  And, oddly enough, it wasn’t because he was charged with not paying taxes to the IRS, which, of course, is overseen by the House Ways and Means Committee.  Nancy Pelosi of course could never have seen that one coming even though the rest of the world did.

So, Charlie Rangel stepped aside, temporarily.  Of course, “temporarily” in DC almost always means forever.  So, Nancy is faced with the daunting task of replacing someone of the cailber of Charlie Rangel.  Given her record, it would have to be the most illogical choice a person could imagine.  It would have to be someone who’s values totally contradict the intent of the organization.  A tax cheat in charge of the IRS was a perfect example.  I’m not sure she has any more tax cheats with the tenure of Rangel tho.  She’ll have to look for other qualifications.

First of all, her list is made easier because there seems to be one criteria, she is simply replacing a member from this group:

• The Speaker of the House
• The Chairman of the Committee on Education and Labor
• The Chairman of the Committee on Energy and Commerce
• The Chairman of the Committee on Financial Services
• The Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security
• The Chairman of the Committee on the Judiciary
• The Chairman of the House Small Business Committee
• The Chairman of the House Veterans Affairs Committee
• The Chairman of the Committee on Ways and Means

OK, that narrows it down a lot.  That group has a very specific political agenda:

(1) Promoting Decent Work:

• Target government assistance to increase employment for disadvantaged youth and former prisoners.
• Promote unionization, expanding the childcare tax credit, and expanding the earned income tax credit.  These steps taken together will ensure that all workers earn enough to meet their basic human needs. 

(2) Providing Opportunity for All:

• Pass legislation that will increase class mobility by making sure that all individuals have access to class-advancement opportunity. This includes access to quality education and job training programs. 
• Comprehensive immigration reform legislation which would include a path to citizenship in its provisions. 

(3) Ensuring Economic Security:

• Ensure that all people have opportunities to gain quality employment, and that they are paid a living wage. 
• Establish an unemployment insurance system that would allow individuals to live decently as they prepared to reenter the workforce.

(4) Helping People Build Wealth:

• Help Americans accumulate wealth and build assets. Encourage asset-building as a necessary and effective strategy to reduce and prevent poverty, as well as to protect families from potential bankruptcy due to medical emergencies or layoffs.
• Focus on asset-building as a key to upward mobility, making it possible for families to send their children to college, or put a down payment on a home.

That group, of course, is the Congressional Progressive Caucus.  That is the spin-off of the Democratic Socialists of America.  One of the publicly stated members of the members of the Democratic Socialists of America is Charlie Rangel.  Nancy Pelosi is rumored to be receommending he be replaced by Pete Stark.  You guessed it, another member of the Democratic Socialists of America.

And people crucified Spencer Bachus for even hinting there might be Socialists in Congress.  But, of course, the bottom line has to be the standard set by Rangel in being squeaky clean ethically:

 A House ethics panel found Thursday that Rep. Pete Stark did not violate the law or standards of conduct when he applied last year for a Maryland property tax credit..

Stark, D-Calif., saved about $3,800 in 2007 and 2008 through a tax break reserved for those whose primary residence is in Maryland. He received the credit even though he took no affirmative action to get it.

Following passage of a 2007 law, Maryland sent Stark an application to determine eligibility, and he initially indicated he was registered to vote at his Maryland address. That would help make him eligible to continue getting the tax break

The panel cleared the California Congressman for filing for a tax break in Maryland by stating the California Congressman was a registered voter in Maryland.  That part he definitely did do.  They couldn’t find intent to defraud.

He’s an avowed Socialist and he’s got questions about his taxes.  He’s in.

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Quickie update, no sooner than I clicked publish, Nancy did a head-fake and with Sander Levin. He’s not been investigated for trax fraud as far as I can tell and the Socialist Equality Party hates him. That’s a couple of pro’s for the guy. I’m sure there’s some scandal he’s involved in sometime, somewhere. I just haven’t found it yet.

Tags: charlie-rangel, fortney, internal revenue service, IRS, nancy pelosi, pete, redistribution, socialism, socialist, spencer bachus, stark, unionization, ways-and-means, wealth