The ways of power on the Ways and Means Committee

By Ethel C. Fenig

Now that the ethically challenged Rep Charles Rangel (D-NY) has been replaced by the morally challenged Rep. Pete Stark (D-CA), who has been replaced by the reasonably responsible Rep Sander Levin (D-Mich) (and yes, there are some Democrats who are responsible, even though liberal) on the usually described as "powerful" House Ways and Means Committee what exactly is the job of this committee and why is it so powerful?

In the words of the official government Committee website

The Committee on Ways and Means is the oldest committee of the United States Congress, and is the chief tax-writing committee in the House of Representatives. The Committee derives a large share of its jurisdiction from Article I, Section VII of the U.S. Constitution which declares, "All Bills for raising Revenue shall originate in the House of Representatives."

It is "the chief tax-writing committee in the House of Representatives." Remember that as you learn of just some of Ways and Means Committee Chairman Rangel's ethically challenged problems--tax evasion.

Got that? A tax evading representative chaired a committee that wrote the laws on taxes. Stark, the second most important member of the committee who was chairman for a day was "a loose canon" in the words of editor Thomas Lipson, ie, a bigot. They both seem to be the perfect appointees for President Barack Obama (D) to join Timothy Geithner and others serving in the post racial, post partisan government of tax and spend.

So why didn't the first female Speaker of the House, Rep Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), who upon ascension to her position in November, 2006, under the presidency of George W. Bush (R), promised that "This leadership team will create the most honest, most open, and most ethical Congress in history" remove Rangel years ago?

Or are tax evasion and ethnic slurs considered honest, open and ethical?