Musical chairs to fill Rep. Rangel’s post

Reporting from Washington —  Concerns by fellow members of the House Ways and Means Committee over Rep. Pete Stark’s politics, background and history of controversial statements led to the surprise decision Thursday to have another congressman replace the embattled Rep. Charles B. Rangel as the committee chairman.

Stark (D-Fremont) had been in line for the powerful post after Rangel announced Wednesday that he was stepping down until a House ethics panel finished investigating him.

On Thursday, however, Stark agreed to step aside in favor of Rep. Sander M. Levin (D-Mich.), announcing that he wanted to concentrate on running the Ways and Means subcommittee on health.

“We are at the cusp of achieving healthcare reform, and we must remain focused on moving forward,” Stark said. “Once we pass health reform, it will take careful oversight to make sure that it is being implemented correctly.”

But the feelings of his panel members and of the Democratic leadership in the House were clear Wednesday afternoon when Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco) showed up as committee members were meeting about a new chairman.

The Ways of Means Committee, which oversees tax policy, is one of the most powerful in the House and its chairmanship is highly prized.

Pelosi proposed a power-sharing agreement between Stark and Levin, signaling her discomfort with allowing Stark to proceed as chairman alone.

That approach appeared to be untenable. By Thursday, Stark had decided to retain his subcommittee, and Levin took over the full committee.

Levin could make for a better fit. He’s an expert on trade issues and is considered to be more moderate than Stark, who is an unapologetic liberal with a history of controversial statements. Moreover, Stark is not considered an expert on tax and economic policy. He’s also been in ill health in recent years, missing a number of roll call votes.

Levin, 78, has served in the House since 1983 and represents a district in the Detroit suburbs. He is the brother of Sen. Carl Levin (D-Mich.).

Rangel said he was stepping down while awaiting the outcome of an ethics investigation into his ownership of several New York apartments and other allegations. He and Pelosi called it a “leave of absence.”

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