Skip to: Content
Skip to: Site Navigation
Skip to: Search
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2009
| Subscribe to Newser's RSS feeds RSS | Follow Newser on Twitter Twitter


8

Island Rum Fight Fattens Rangel's Coffers

Campaign cash pours in from Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands

Share

(Newser) – Charles Rangel’s campaign coffers are bulging with campaign cash from Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, but he insists that’s in no way influencing his decision on the competing rum tax bills each territory is pushing. “Besides Puerto Rico, you are the only one who has asked about it,” he told a Washington Times reporter. At stake: The Virgin Islands' pact to lure Captain Morgan’s distillery from Puerto Rico.

The Virgin Islands plied Captain Morgan with big subsidies, paid from the federal rum tax money returned to the territory. Puerto Rico’s preferred bill would vastly limit those subsidies, while the Virgin Islands would stabilize that tax stream. Rangel, head of the powerful Ways and Means committee, is crucial to either bill. So Puerto Rico has shot to his second-largest source of donations, behind only New York. The Virgin Islands have long occupied a top-10 spot.

Captain Morgan and US Virgin Islands Governor John deJongh strike the pose with the Morganettes and security during the 2008 Democratic National Convention in Denver, Aug. 27, 2008.
Captain Morgan and US Virgin Islands Governor John deJongh strike the pose with the Morganettes and security during the 2008 Democratic National Convention in Denver, Aug. 27, 2008.   (Jack Dempsey/AP Images for Captain Morgan)
House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Rep. Charles Rangel, speaks to the media in this file photo.
House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Rep. Charles Rangel, speaks to the media in this file photo.   (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

It's depressing, but it is not illegal. One would hope members of Congress would not be influenced by campaign donations, but they obviously are. - Melanie Sloan, executive director of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics
in Washington

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
OFF THE GRID
11.20.09
The Health-Care Wars Have Just Begun
11.19.09
Sarah Palin Deserves Some More Attention
8 comments
VIEWING:
 
Jayster999
Oct 6, 09 1:37 PM CDT
There's OBVIOUSLY no connection. Rangel is a man of impeccable...okay, I can' do it...my usually fine-honed sarcasm all but fails me here. This man is a reprehensible piece of trash. Reply
Vote up! Vote down!
+3
timeandagain
Oct 6, 09 1:37 PM CDT
Big FAT Scum Bag... Reply
Vote up! Vote down!
-1
RobN
Oct 6, 09 1:39 PM CDT
Come on Dems, I thought you were going to police your own. This would be a good place to start. Reply
Vote up! Vote down!
0
JoeQ
Oct 6, 09 1:56 PM CDT
He's sure got a little Captain in him. Reply
Vote up! Vote down!
+5
Spudsy
Oct 6, 09 2:02 PM CDT
This is not a good situation. Every party has it's scumbags. It is up to the voters of New York to deal with it. I doubt that any kind of campaign financing reform would be passed by EITHER party. But if New York wants to be represented by this type of person....... Reply
Vote up! Vote down!
+4

View all 8 comments »

LEAVE A
COMMENT Comment Policy
Facebook ConnectPost this comment to Facebook?

After connecting you will have the option to post your comment on your Facebook profile.

 

Related Newser Stories

6 Stories

 New Trouble for Rangel: 
 Ethics Panel Widens Probe 

Investigation will cover amended financial reports

Oct 8, 09 5:05 PM CDT
(Newser) - The House ethics committee is expanding its yearlong investigation of Charles Rangel to look at amended financial disclosure forms he filed earlier this year. Rangel, who chairs the Ways and Means Committee, filed the reports in July to account for $600,000 in previously undisclosed assets, reports Politico. The development... More »

MORE ABOUT:
ethics • taxes • House of Representatives • Democrat • Charles Rangel

Stanford Spent Millions to Lobby Congress

$8B scammer's island junkets helped push anti-tax agenda

Feb 18, 09 10:39 AM CST
(Newser) - Billionaire R. Allen Stanford has spent millions of dollars in attempting to enlist high-powered Washington officials in his anti-tax efforts, reports the Wall Street Journal. Stanford’s investment companies spent over $5 million on lobbying, $2 million on campaign contributions, and thousands more on flying members of Congress to the... More »

MORE ABOUT:
fraud • SEC • Charles Rangel • Antigua • Ponzi scheme • Virgin Islands • Gregory Meeks • securities fraud • defrauding investors • Stanford Financial Group • Robert Allen Stanford

 Refineries Shut as Omar 
 Nears Virgin Islands 

Hurricane could threaten Puerto Rico as Category 2

Oct 15, 08 3:04 PM CDT
(Newser) - Caribbean oil refineries are under threat from Hurricane Omar, whose 85-mph winds roared through St. Croix today, Bloomberg reports. It could hit the Virgin Islands, home to one of the hemisphere's largest refineries, as a Category 2 storm tomorrow. Puerto Rico may be in line for 20 inches of rain... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Caribbean • hurricane • Puerto Rico • oil refineries • Virgin Islands • Hurricane Omar

6 Stories


Politics 
TwitterFollow @NewserPolitics on Twitter

 
taxes • Charles Rangel • Puerto Rico • rum • Virgin Islands • subsidies

from our news partners