Sep 18, 2008 2:16 pm US/Eastern
Report: Rangel's Congress Parking Perk Breaks Law
NY Dem Has Parked 1972 Silver Mercedes-Benz In House Of Representatives Indoor Lot
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
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U.S. Representative Charles Rangel, D-Harlem, could very well be removed from his powerful position as Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee.
AP
Rep. Charles Rangel is under fire again, this time for stashing an old car without license plates in a congressional parking garage.
The New York Post reported Thursday that the Democratic lawmaker, already under investigation by the House ethics committee, has parked his 1972 silver Mercedes-Benz in a House of Representatives indoor lot.
The Post said Rangel's registration on the vehicle, which is covered with a tarp and has no license plates, expired in 2004.
House rules require cars to display proper identification including plates and forbid use of the garage for storage.
Also, the House Web site says anyone with a reserved indoor space incurs taxable income currently calculated at $100 per month.
If the car has been in that space since its license plates expired four years ago, the imputed income would be nearly $5,000.
Rangel, who is chairman of the tax-writing Ways and Means Committee, has been criticized for numerous lapses in his personal finances.
He is facing questions about unreported income on a vacation home in the Dominican Republic; his use of congressional stationery to raise money for an education center named after him; and his use of three rent-stabilized apartments in his home district of Harlem.
Rangel's press secretary, Emile Milne, said the congressman was in hearings all day and had no immediate comment.
People close to the New York Democrat said on Tuesday that giving up the powerful chairmanship was never under consideration. They spoke on condition of anonymity because Rangel has refused to discuss the matter publicly.
Rangel has come under fire for unreported income on a beach vacation home in the Dominican Republic, as well as other issues. He has been meeting privately the past two days with House Democratic leaders.
(© 2009 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
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