Democratic House member says Rangel should give up tax-writing job after ethics findings

Democrat calls for Rangel to yield tax-writing job

WASHINGTON — A House Democrat is urging Rep. Charles Rangel to step aside as the top tax writer in Congress a day after the ethics committee said he violated travel rules by letting corporations pay for his trips to the Caribbean.

Rep. Gene Taylor of Mississippi was the first Democratic lawmaker to suggest that Rangel should give up his chairmanship of the House Ways and Means Committee, which originates not only tax laws but also benefit programs that now pay nearly half the costs for Americans’ health care.

In Taylor’s words, Rangel should “either step down or step aside until this is resolved.” Taylor made the remark to reporters while the House was voting on an intelligence bill. Rangel of New York was on the House floor taking part in the votes at the time.