Nov. 6, 2009 – The feisty and outspoken New York Rep. Charles Rangel (D) and several other Black lawmakers will most likely be cleared of any wrongdoing by the House ethics committee on Friday.

Rangel has been the subject of an investigation looking into several financial irregularities, including his failure to report more than a half million dollars in assets.  Rangel always maintained it was an accounting error and that he would be cleared. 

Republicans have tried unsuccessfully for months to get him to step down from chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, one of the most powerful committees in Congress, but Rangel declined to do so and for good reasons. 

Roll Call is reporting Rangel along with four other members of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) will be cleared of any misconduct for taking a privately financed trip to the Caribbean.  The investigation centered on whether a trip to the Caribbean privately financed broke House travel rules.  I was told by staffers, lawmakers checked with the ethic committee before taking the trip and it was deemed permissible.  It’s not clear why the committee started the probe after the members reported it in their disclosure filings.

The four other Black lawmakers who will reportedly be cleared are: Reps. Bennie Thompson (D-MS), Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick (D-MI), Donald Payne (D-NJ), and Del. Donna Christensen (D-Virgin Islands).

On Thursday a group of high-profile New York Democrats held a rally on the steps of City Hall to show their support for Rangel.  Former New York Mayor David Dinkins told the crowd, Rangel has had a long record of public service, “Folks seem to have a short memory.”

David Jones, one of the organizers of the rally chided the media for their coverage of Rangel, “Where is the balance? Everything makes him out to look like he’s on the take.”

This will be good news for Rangel and the other four Black lawmakers who can put this all behind them. But for California Reps. Maxine Waters (D) and Laura Richardson (D)  it’s just beginning.  Last week the ethics committee opens two probes looking into Waters role facilitating meeting with minority bankers and government officials and Richardson relationship with the lender who foreclosed on her home.  (See my Blog Oct. 30)

The House ethics committee has launched investigations into seven Black lawmakers; more than 15 percent of the total members in the House, no White members are under any full-scale ethics committee probe.  Politco.com is reporting, an eighth Black member, Rep. Jesse Jackson, Jr. (D-Ill.) would also be under an investigation if the Justice Department hadn’t stepped in and asked the committee to stand down.

The 10 member committee seems to have targeted Black lawmakers and is keeping them on the ropes of defending their names and reputations.  It appears to be a distraction they just have to cope with. 

Several of the 42 members of the CBC are majority ranking members and chair powerful House committees, some of these investigations could be a way to weaken their influence or remove them from power under a cloud of controversy. 

It can’t be ignored that all of the ethics investigations are focused on Black lawmakers; they are being held to higher standard and it looks like the other 393 lawmakers are getting a pass.

 The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s 39th Annual Legislative Conference  is taking place in the nation’s capital Sept. 23 -26 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. 

Please welcome guest blogger, California Congresswoman Maxine Waters.

By Rep. Maxine Waters (D- Calif.)

Sept. 23, 2009 — Tens of thousands of people will gather in Washington, D.C. this week for the Annual Legislative Conference of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation.  ALC provides a great opportunity for reconnecting with friends, meeting new people, networking and celebrating.  At its heart though are the issues forums – discussions of

Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.)

critical issues affecting African Americans by panels made up of elected officials, community leaders and celebrities presenting information and interacting with the audience.

I will be hosting several ALC events, including a banking issues forum where Federal Reserve Chairman Benjamin Bernanke, high-ranking Treasury Department and Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation officials, and minority business owners will discuss opportunities for minority-owned firms to do business with federal banking regulators.  I have blogged previously about the importance of this issue: http://blogs.bet.com/news/pamela/2009/07/29/have-tarp-dollars-tapped-into-your-community/ and I have held a series of meetings with Chairman Bernanke, Treasury Secretary Geithner and FDIC Chairman Bair since the financial crisis began about increasing minority participation in the government’s financial rescue programs.  We have had some success creating roles for minority-owned firms within the Troubled Asset Relief Program, the Public-Private Investment Program and the Term Asset-Backed Securities Loan Facility, and we will continue to encourage the inclusion of minority-owned and women-owned firms as the federal banking regulators hire additional outside contractors for legal, accounting, valuation and asset management services. 

U.S. District Judge Terry Hatter and Harvard Law Professor Charles Ogletree headline a panel of attorneys, advocates and activists during another issues forum I am hosting regarding the topic of eliminating mandatory minimum prison sentences for drug offenses.  This session will examine opportunities for changing current sentencing policy and provide an update on legislation Congress is considering. I have introduced the Major Drug Trafficking Prosecution Act of 2009 (H.R. 1466), which eliminates mandatory minimum sentences for drug offenses, and Rep. Bobby Scott, who chairs the crime subcommittee, has introduced the Fairness in Cocaine Sentencing Act of 2009 (H.R. 3245), which eliminates the distinction between powder and crack cocaine.  Currently, people convicted of selling crack – who are more likely to be African American – receive significantly longer prison sentences than those convicted of selling an equivalent amount of powder cocaine.  The consequence of this disparity and mandatory minimum sentences is many African Americans being locked up for a long time.

“Young, Gifted and Black” is a forum I created years ago to attract more young people to ALC and get them thinking and talking about issues that directly affect their lives.  YGB features successful, talented people whom our youth can relate to and be inspired by.  It has always been a fun, exciting, provocative and popular part of ALC – and this year promises to continue that tradition.

May 26, 2009 – Black lawmakers announced last week they will begin a limited hunger strike today to draw more attention to the situation in Darfur and to encourage President Obama to take steps in addressing the crisis.

One of those African-American lawmakers who will be joining the Darfur Fast for Life campaign on Tuesday is California Rep. Maxine Waters (D).  

Members of the Congressional Black Caucus announced they want to meet with President Obama to discuss placing sanctions against Sudan, the deployment of international peacekeeping forces and starting a new push for more cooperation from China regarding the situation in Darfur.

Lawmakers are requesting a meeting as soon as possible, but with the recent developments on Monday with the announcement by North Korea that they have completed a successful nuclear test and plan to launch more short-range missiles, Darfur may once again find itself  lower on the priority list.

Waters will be posting a blog on the topic later today, so check back to see what she has to say about her first day fasting.

 May 12, 2009  -  What is in your wallet?

Chances are you have a credit card or two, maybe even a lot more.

If you keep up with payments, having a card is one way to establish a credit history, which is important for buying a car or home, borrowing money for college, or even getting a job.

However, consumers have been encouraged through slick advertising to reach for the plastic even on everyday purchases such as groceries or coffee.

And when they do, they can be slapped with exorbitant overdraft and over-the-limit fees, inflating the cost of a cup of coffee from $3 to $30.

I have never had coffee worth such a high price.

Many people find themselves deeply in debt, including credit card debt.  Almost half of all American families currently carry a balance on credit cards, and for these families the average balance was $7,300 in 2007. 

A portion of this debt to be sure resulted from an overdependence on credit by consumers, especially during these hard economic times.  However, credit card issuers are primarily to blame.   For too long the credit card companies have been taking advantage of consumers through deceptive and unfair practices including charging excessive fees and interest rates.  They arbitrarily change the rules and terms that apply. Even loyal customers who consistently pay their bills on time now are subject to higher interest rates and lower credit limits.  This year credit card companies are expected to receive more than $20 billion from late fees, over-limit charges and other penalties.

What makes this even more upsetting is that some credit card companies are receiving billions of dollars from taxpayers through Federal bailouts while gouging these same taxpayers with high interest rates and fees on their credit cards.

Fortunately, a majority of my colleagues share my belief that credit card companies must stop misbehaving, and we are taking steps to rein them in.

The House of Representatives recently passed the Credit Cardholders’ Bill of Rights (H.R. 627), and the Senate is scheduled to vote on similar legislation this week. President Obama can then sign the bill into law, ending many unfair practices that hurt American consumers.
 
The Credit Cardholders’ Bill of Rights protects cardholders against arbitrary interest rate increases, excessive fees, due-date gimmicks and double-cycle billing.  It also cracks down on misleading and deceptive marketing by credit card companies, prohibits them from issuing credit cards to minors, and curbs practices that result in high fees on low-income consumers with weak credit histories.  In addition, the bill empowers cardholders by giving them information and rights they need to make important financial decisions.

Have you ever been charged exorbitant credit card fees or been subject to undue harassment from the credit card companies?  How has the economic crisis affected your family’s spending?

Feb. 16, 2008 – When President Obama signs the $787 billion stimulus package into law Tuesday, Black Americans could see the impact in their communities — sooner rather than later.  But it’s not a magic bullet; some things take more time.  

Last week Black lawmakers made a point to express their pleasure with the spirit of the final bill even with some minor cuts to favored programs.  Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO) said, the package remains “the largest economic stimulant in history.”  

And the dollars in it will be welcome back home. “We lined up the initial package with the needs of the people we represent then we measured it along with what we were able to give them.  The people we represent can feel comfortable with this package.  What we wanted in this package is what made it.”

Cleaver‘s district isn’t alone when it comes to meeting the “need” this economic surge of cash will deliver.  House Majority Whip Rep. James Clyburn (D-S.C.) one of the Democratic leadership responsible for moving the bill forward said, “We are pleased President Obama focused his tax cuts on the poor and middle class.”

New York Rep. Charles Rangel (D-NY) said, “People in our communities see their salaries and they see their paychecks and notice a lot is missing.  People are working hard every day and still can’t afford to pay their bills and now we have a President that can help them.”

The bill will offer up hope for folks struggling in the tight job market.  Of the 3.4 million jobs projected in the legislation thousands of these jobs will be in states with large minority populations.  For example, Missouri, Cleaver’s state could see an estimated 70,000 new jobs; South Carolina 50,000; and New York 215,000. 

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act estimates on job creation were derived from an analysis conducted by the Council of Economic Advisers and the chief economist for the vice president.

According to their state-by-state analysis states like Michigan, Florida, Ohio and Pennsylvania will see upwards of 150,000 new jobs statewide.  

“We’re proud we can take home a real solution to the constituents in our communities who have been waiting for a hand up from the government,” Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) said.  Her state could see close to 400,000 new jobs.

But this is just the beginning Waters said, “We made sure that there is a continuation of stabilization funds for foreclosures in this bill.  We asked for $4 billion, we got $2 billion and we’re going after TARP next!  We’re on our way to correcting serious ills in this country.”

Along with jobs the bill now awaiting the president’s signature will also help extend unemployment benefits, prevent teacher lay-offs, provide for school repairs, infrastructure repairs to roads and public transit as well as provide foreclosure assistance.  

Waters summed it up, “We can say to our constituents we took care of you.”

What do you think is needed in your community?