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Castor Placed On Ethics Panel

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By BILLY HOUSE

bhouse@tampatrib.com

Published: February 7, 2009

WASHINGTON - U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor's new assignment to a committee that investigates House members' ethical behavior has landed the Tampa Democrat in the middle of one of her party's biggest potential embarrassments.

At issue is a protracted inquiry involving an array of alleged improprieties by New York Rep. Charlie Rangel, who is chairman of the powerful tax code-writing House Ways and Means Committee that holds a key role in efforts to tackle the recession.

The ongoing Rangel matters remain, at least officially, in the hands of the House Committee on Standards of Official Conduct (Ethics). The panel's inquiry began last fall, but was not completed as the last congressional session ended in December.

Castor, who this week attended her first meeting as one of five new Democrats assigned by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to the ethics committee, said in an interview that she does not know why she was picked.

She declined to talk specifically about Rangel or any other individual matter the ethics committee might consider.

"I am very humbled by her confidence in me," Castor said of Pelosi.

Others question whether Castor, who has shown a commitment to ethics reform dating from public service as a Hillsborough County commissioner, should feel anything but troubled.

"It'll be a teaching lesson," predicted Melanie Sloan, executive director of the nonpartisan watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington.

Sloan and others Friday said they doubt that Castor and other Democrats on the committee chaired by Rep. Zoe Lofgren, D-Calif., will ever get the green light by Pelosi to proceed vigorously with a review of Rangel. The panel, they note, also is evenly split among five Democrats and five Republicans, giving each party an effective veto over any action - unless someone breaks ranks.

As for any high-minded ideals about ethics that Castor may or may not have about possibly bolting the party line, Sloan said, "they'll be stamped right out of her."

Castor and Democrats were swept into power in Congress in 2006 in part because of the Republicans' failure to adequately address scandals within their party.

"That led to a change in the balance of power - indeed," Castor acknowledged.

Now, though, attention is focused on how Democrats are handling the alleged Rangel improprieties.

The committee investigates alleged violations of the House Code of Official Conduct and can recommend penalties up to expulsion. The ethics committee can also report to appropriate federal or state authorities substantial evidence of a violation of law tied to the performance of a members' official duties.

Among the allegations that have been raised against Rangel is that he has not paid more than $10,000 in taxes on rental property and that he abused the power of his office in soliciting donations for a college building named after him.

Thursday, the nonpartisan government watchdog Sunlight Foundation issued a report that Rangel had failed to report purchases, sales or his ownership of assets at least 28 times since 1978 on his personal financial disclosure forms.

Assets worth between $239,026 and $831,000 appeared and disappeared with no disclosure of when they were acquired, how long they were held, or when they were sold, as House rules require, according to a senior fellow at the foundation, Bill Allison.

House Republicans in recent days have renewed calls for Rangel to step down from his chairmanship, even introducing a resolution for him to do so.

Rangel told a C-Span program this month that he believes the ethics panel will clear him soon.

Allison said Friday there is probably little wonder why Rangel seems so confident. He notes that there is ample evidence of Rangel's long reach within his party.

"He's one of the top fundraisers for congressional Democrats, and for the party, and in the wheelhouse for a lot of what Democrats want to get through legislatively in the 111th Congress," Allison said.

In fact, two of the new Democrats named with Castor to the ethics panel have received campaign donations from Rangel.

Rep. Peter Welch of Vermont has given back nearly $20,000 in donations he received from Rangel's re-election and leadership committees over the past four years. Rep. G.K. Butterfield of North Carolina has said he is keeping the $5,000 Rangel donated to his campaign.

"I think that what we are learning is that, just like the Republicans in 2006, the Democrats don't have any better mechanism for dealing with ethical problems," Allison said.

Will Castor's own career possibly be damaged by her time on the ethics committee?

Sloan said that rank-and-file House members who agree to take on such a "terrible job" typically find themselves later rewarded, somehow, by their party leaders.

Allison says Castor might be hurt if the committee does not handle the affair deftly.

"There's pressure from everybody - from party leadership on down - to come up with something the public will buy, but won't hurt the member," Allison said.

Reporter Billy House can be reached at 202 662-7673.

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