Posted on 03/05/2010 9:03:30 PM PST by Libloather
GOP blasts Holden for not returning 'dirty money'
By JOHN LATIMER
Staff Writer
Updated: 03/05/2010 05:58:35 PM EST
Pennsylvania's Republican committee is criticizing 17th District Congressman Tim Holden for not returning campaign money he received from embattled New York Congressman Charlie Rangel.
On Thursday, the Republican Party of Pennsylvania blasted Holden and five other of the state's congressional Democrats for not returning campaign contributions from Rangel.
Last week, the U.S. House of Representatives Ethics Committee rebuked Rangel for taking trips to the Caribbean that were underwritten by corporate sponsors in violation of House gift-giving rules. The committee said it could find no evidence Rangel was aware of the violation but held him responsible because two of his staffers knew how the trips were paid for. Rangel ordered to repay the cost of the trips.
Because of the controversy, Rangel took a leave of absence from his post as chairman of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee.
The Ethics Committee is continuing to investigate Rangel on several other allegations, including failure to report income tax earned on a vacation home in the Dominican Republic and using his position to raise money for a foundation bearing his name.
Since the Ethics Committee's ruling, recipients have donated to charity $383,000 of the nearly $800,000 Rangel contributed to their congressional campaigns in 2008, the National Journal reported Friday. Holden was not listed among them. A call to his office was not returned.
Luke Bernstein, executive director of the state
Republican Party, lambasted Holden for holding on to the money.
"For the sake of Congressman Holden's constituents, it's time for Tim Holden to step out of the shadows and return every last penny of Charlie Rangel's 'dirty money'," he said Thursday.
Holden, who has served in Congress since 1993, is considered vulnerable by the Republican National Committee. In December, the committee paid for calls to 17th District voters attempting to debunk the congressman as a moderate Democrat by linking his voting record with liberal Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi.
Holden also faces pressure from Democratic leaders who want him to vote for health-care reform. In November, Holden was one of 39 Democrats to vote against the House version of the bill, which passed 220-215.
An article in Allentown's The Morning Call Friday said Holden was noncommittal when asked if he would support the bill being pushed by President Barack Obama.
The Schuylkill County Democrat is facing a primary challenge from Harrisburg attorney Sheila Dow-Ford. Should Holden win the nomination, he will face another challenge from one of four candidates seeking the Republican nomination - state Sen. Dave Argall, Harrisburg businessman Josh First, retired Baptist minister Allen Griffith of Myerstown, and businessman Frank Ryan of Cornwall borough.
Halvorson returns Rangel contributions
03/05/2010, 10:17 pm
Steve Stout
One day after she issued a statement calling for fellow Democrat U.S. Rep. Charlie Rangel to step down as chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, U.S. Rep. Debbie Halvorson, D-Crete, said Thursday she will be donating $16,000 received from him during the last campaign to an unnamed Illinois charity.
Last week, the House Ethics Committee found Rangel violated ethics rules regarding accepting donations and travel bans on corporate funded travel.
He removed himself "temporarily" as chairman of the influential congressional committee Wednesday as investigations continued. The ethics panel has yet to rule on further allegations that Rangel failed to pay U.S. taxes on a Dominican Republic villa, his questionable use of congressional stationary to raise funds for a New York City college and improper storage of a vehicle in a government garage.
Hours before he stepped down, Halvorson released a communication which said she thought it would be "most appropriate for Mr. Rangel to step down" as the powerful Way and Means Committee chairman.
Freshman Halvorson is up for re-election this November, when she will face Republican candidate Adam Kinzinger for the 11th District seat that previously belonged to former U.S. Rep. Jerry Weller.
A spokesman for Halvorson told The Times Friday the $16,000 came from directly from Rangel and his political action committee and that she is researching Illinois charities to decide where the money will go.
http://www.mywebtimes.com/archives/ottawa/display.php?id=399169
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