Pelosi, Rangel Scandal

A letter from Rep. John Boehner of Ohio, and Republican House leadership:

The Honorable Nancy Pelosi
Speaker of the House
H-232, U.S. Capitol
Washington, D.C. 20515

Madame Speaker,

For nearly two years this Democratic Congress has made many promises but little public policy. In fact, including your party's imposition of a five week paid Congressional vacation while 84,000 Americans lost their jobs due to soaring energy prices and their devastating effects upon our nation's economy, this Democratic Congress will only meet for a total of 15 days of policy work over the final five months of this year.

Yet upon your Party's return to work, its pattern of playing politics at the expense of working people persists: while purported to be in session for a five working days this week, the Democrat Congress has only scheduled to consider two Rule bills, both of which would easily pass on the suspension calendar.

Reasons abound as to why this Democratic Congress refuses to fully and fairly address real people's concerns. Without dwelling upon all of them, for the good of "The People's House" we point to one of them:

Last week The New York Times, Bloomberg News, and other media outlets reported that the chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, Rep. Charles Rangel (D-NY), has failed to report to both the IRS and the Clerk of the House at least $75,000 in income from a luxury vacation property in the Caribbean (which he visited during your Party's recent five week paid vacation), and that he received an interest-free loan for the property – allegations confirmed in numerous media reports by Rep. Rangel's own attorney. These new revelations follow the news that Chairman Rangel has been occupying four rent-controlled apartments in New York City, one of which he has illegally used as a campaign office.

Given Chairman Rangel's continuing ethical lapses, he cannot effectively carry out his duties as Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee. Thus, in order to remove one obstacle to this Democratic Congress actually addressing and solving working families' concerns, you, as the Speaker of the House, must insist that Rep. Rangel step down from his Ways and Means chairmanship pending an investigation of his ethical lapses.

The American people elected their Representatives to work for them, not to sit in Washington or at home collecting paychecks and playing politics. The sovereign American people demand this Democratic Congress deal with the tough issues facing our nation. Frankly, it's about time we started.

There are at least three full legislative weeks left before Election Day and, according to Majority Leader Hoyer, left to legislate in all of 2008. We must address the number one issue affecting Americans' prosperity and quality of life: high energy costs. To solve this critical issue, we can pass the American Energy Act, which is exactly the sort of "all of above" solution that voters expect and deserve.

Thus, we hope you take a necessary step in the right direction for America by agreeing it is in the best interest of the public and this representative institution for Rep. Rangel to step down from his chairmanship until his ethical issues have been resolved; and, further, begin working with us to get things done for our constituents and our country.

As the 84,000 jobs lost during your Party's five week paid vacation have proven: Americans' can't afford to wait.

Sincerely,

Rep. John Boehner (R-OH)
Republican Leader