Rangel is Capitol Hill money man

My September 12, 2008, Washington Examiner column looks into Charlie Rangel's modus operandi:

If his acceleration in fundraising isn’t evidence enough that Rangel has turned his chair into a fundraising tool, the Baucus-Rangel Leadership Fund should be a tip-off. One month into the new Democratic majority, Rangel formed a joint fundraising committee with Democratic Sen. Max Baucus of Montana.

What do the two have in common, aside from the fact that there is a Harlem, Mont.? Baucus is chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, the upper chamber’s tax-writing committee. What would be the purpose of a joint fundraising committee controlled by the two lawmakers with the most control over tax law?

Sure enough, the donor list is plush with developers, financiers and wealthy businessmen with interesting tax situations.

Read the whole thing here.