Charlie Rangel's Replacement Booted, Too

Other Democrats balked at loose-lipped Pete Stark taking over
By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff
Posted Mar 4, 2010 1:42 PM CST
Charlie Rangel's Replacement Booted, Too
Rep. Sandy Levin speaks as US Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood looks on during an event to kick off the Car Allowance Rebate System, or 'Cash for Clunkers' program, July 27, 2009 in Washington.   (Getty Images)

The House Ways and Means Committee ousted its second chairman in as many days today, when Nancy Pelosi announced Sandy Levin as its new acting chairman. When Charles Rangel stepped down from the chairman job yesterday, Pelosi picked the committee’s senior Democrat Pete Stark to take over, the Hill explains. But several committee members balked, arguing that the Californian is prone to firing off inflammatory or eccentric comments.

Pelosi assistant and committee member Chris Van Hollen acknowledged that there’d been “lively discussions” about Stark’s selection. The speaker, meanwhile, brushed off critics. “The problems of the last few days, they're behind us...we have a new chairman,” Pelosi said. Stark sent a letter to Pelosi announcing his resignation, saying he hadn’t wanted the job after all—he prefers to continue helming the Health Subcommittee. (More Charles Rangel stories.)

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