Wow! Loony Representative Pete Stark (D-CA) couldn’t get the backing of members of his own party to take over the chairmanship of the House Ways and Means Committee.
The Washington Times: The fallout from the ethical troubles of Rep. Charles B. Rangel, New York Democrat, continued Thursday as his successor chairman on the Ways and Means Committee stepped down just a day after becoming acting chairman.
Rep. Pete Stark, California Democrat, resigned in a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, which was read on the chamber floor just after the House convened Thursday morning.
His move clears the way for the committee’s No. 3 Democrat, Rep. Sander M. Levin of Michigan, to take over.
Some Democrats said Mr. Stark, among Congress’ more liberal members, was too far to the left to run the panel, which is seen as one of the more business-friendly committees in Congress. Mr. Stark also has a history of making contentious comments.
Before you go doing the Snoopy Dance, let me tell you that Levin reminded reporters of his “close relationship with Charlie.”
