House Votes on Rangel Censure Thursday
The Hill reports:
The House on Thursday will consider whether to censure Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-N.Y.) for a series of ethics violations, a top Democrat revealed Wednesday.
Democratic leaders were leaning toward a Wednesday vote, but Rangel on Tuesday appealed to Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) to delay the process by a day. The schedule allows the 20-term lawmaker some additional time to lobby colleagues to soften his punishment, from censure to a reprimand.
Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) said he hasn't decided how he'll vote on the issue, but the measure will hit the floor Thursday afternoon, after consideration of a middle-class tax-cut extension.
“Originally, I thought I didn't have a role in that,” Hoyer told reporters Wednesday, referring to the Rangel episode. “But … the parliamentarian indicates that I do. So I've talked to all the parties, and we've scheduled that matter for consideration [Thursday afternoon].”
Hoyer said he informed both Rangel and Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.), head of the ethics panel, about the schedule on Tuesday.
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