Politics

Rangel: ‘Gridlock’ necessitates that Obama use executive powers [VIDEO]

Nicholas Ballasy Senior Video Reporter
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New York Democratic Rep. Charlie Rangel told The Daily Caller that “gridlock” in Congress has made it “necessary” for President Barack Obama to unilaterally implement mortgage refinancing and student loan programs without congressional authorization.

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TheDC asked Rangel if he thinks there are other areas where Obama should bypass Congress.

“I do, but I don’t want it to be interpreted that I welcome the executive branch using their powers instead of having the legislative branch do it. It’s necessary now because it’s a gridlock between the president and the United States. I hope that is just so very, very unusual,” Rangel told TheDC after a rally on Capitol Hill Wednesday.

“All these things as a veteran of the House are very, very painful, very painful; so while the president’s doing the best he can by executive order, I don’t have my list for him to go down,” he said.

Rangel added that he would support a super committee recommendation to raise taxes.

“Most all economists have agreed that you have to raise revenue as well as cut back spending so I don’t have to say what it is or how much they need,” Rangel said. “There are trillions of dollars in the tax code, there will be trillions coming when the high-income [tax] cuts expire.” (RELATED: Boehner: Sidestepping Congress is ‘laughable’)

The president’s $447 billion jobs bill failed in the Democratic-controlled Senate and was not voted on in the Republican-controlled House. The Senate also voted against a $35 billion stimulus bill, which was originally one part of the president’s jobs proposal.

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