Rangel Finds Ways and Means to Retain Chairmanship

Despite falling into a heap of controversy over the summer that led to a congressional investigation at his own request, Congressman Charles Rangel will hold onto his prestigious position as Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee. Despite GOP Leader John Boehner calling for his removal, Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other House Democrats unanimously voted to keep him as chair. Rangel said that he would like to see the alternative minimum tax eliminated, but generally supports the Obama tax plan--something he will have sway over within the committee that oversees tax regulation. And when asked what Rangel would like from whomever Obama chooses as the next Secretary of the Treasury, Rangel responded, “Him sharing with me whether [Henry] Paulson makes any sense at all," saying that Americans losing their jobs and health benefits were not on Paulson's agenda whatsoever.