Posted on 03/28/2010 6:02:29 AM PDT by Libloather
Rep. Charlie Rangel's constituents tell congressman to keep tax advice to himself
BY Kate Nocera and Celeste Katz
DAILY NEWS WRITERS
Thursday, March 25th 2010, 4:00 AM
Sorry, Charlie Rangel: People in your district really don't want your income tax advice.
The congressman, who helped write the U.S. tax code - only to break it himself - mailed a tax-season flyer to constituents.
"Hopefully, the information in this guide can help put money back into your pockets," Rangel says in the glossy, full-color mailbox-stuffer.
Or take it from their pockets.
"This mailing was prepared, published and mailed at taxpayer expense," it says.
Rangel's office could not provide figures on the size of the mailing or its cost.
A slew of ethics questions about the 20-term Harlem congressman recently led him to step down - rather than be forced out - as chairman of the tax-overseeing Ways and Means Committee.
Rangel's tax problems have included failing to pay taxes on $75,000 in rental income from a vacation villa in the Dominican Republic.
Residents of his district, which covers Harlem and part of the upper West Side, know chutzpah when they see it.
"Well, I think if anyone is going to tell you how to pay - or not pay - taxes, he's your guy," chuckled retiree Ed Hanft, 85. "It's too much of a reminder to his constituents as to what he did. He shouldn't talk about taxes at all."
Reno Brown, 89, agreed. "I'd never take tax advice from that guy," Brown told the Daily News.
"It's probably not the best time to put something like that out," observed Keisha Jones, 40.
Sam Bryan, 71, felt sorry for Rangel.
"I had the thought that it was really ironic when I got that pamphlet in the mail. It's mostly sad. ... I think he's done a lot for the community," Brown said.
A spokesman said Rangel "has sent his tax newsletter to constituents for many years in order to assist them in filing their tax returns and ensuring that those who are eligible take advantage of important benefits, including the Earned Income Tax Credit."
The aide said the flyer complies with House regulations.
One side of the mailer is in Spanish. There's an English translation on the reverse - which should help Rangel, who partly blamed language and cultural barriers for misunderstanding tax rules about his vacation home.
"Charlie Rangel should resolve his own ethics conflicts before he tries to advise his constituents on their own issues," scoffed Craig Holman of the Washington-based Public Citizen, a consumer advocacy group.
"If I were Rangel, I'd be a little embarrassed sending out something like this at this point. ... That is amazing. He certainly has gall."
I wish Rangel’s constituents would do the country a favor and vote him out. It is people like him that make the case for congressional term limits.
Why am I not surprised and doesn't that just say it all.
I grew up in Charlie Rangel’s district, so I could safely say that his constituents might not take his tax advice but when it comes to election time he will get his usual ninety plus percent of the vote.
There’s a few other folks from NY that join him in making the case for term limits. I’d vote him out if I could - wrong end of the state for me.
Won’t happen.
He brings home the bacon...
He and the Pillsbury Dough Boy (Rep. Gerald Nadler) from New York along with Chuckie ‘the Schemer’ Schumer are there who’s advise I never would take. Plus I am really tired of seeing their mugs on the TV.
Guess Rangel thinks he good ad tax questions ... like Turbo Tax Timmy. Hey they should set-up a tax consultants office in NY maybe.
Oh please. How many of Rangel’s constituents even PAY taxes???
How lacking in self-awareness is this guy? LOL
What? WHAT has Rangel done for the "community"? I bet Mr. Brown can't answer. It's like when I ask people, "What did Obama do as a community organizer? Who did he help? Give me a single detail." They have no answer.
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