Rangel Round-Up Redux

We now have a connection between AIG, the insurance giant we taxpayers now own a portion of, and Rep. Charles Rangel (D. N.Y.).  Maurice Greenberg (former CEO of AIG) has pledged $5 million to the City College of New York for the school of public service to be named in Rangel’s honor.  But, Mr. Rangel also met with AIG execs on April 21, 2008.  City College’s records indicate it had hopes of a $10 million donation from the company after the meeting.  Shortly after the meeting, Mr. Rangel changed his position on a tax bill to include a provision favorable to AIG.  Previously, Mr. Rangel was on record as opposing the AIG-beneficial provision.  Mr. Rangel’s staff has indicated he was persuaded to change his mind on the provision by fellow members of Congress.  However, there was a post-April 21 letter from an AIG executive on the provision, a letter that urged Mr. Rangel to support the provision because it would save AIG millions. 

The law allows Mr. Rangel to seek donations from constituents for nonprofit institutions.  However, it ain’t the law we are worried about here.  Our concern is qpqquid pro quo.  Its appearance.  Its effects.  Its power.  And the Barometer worries about the troubling Rangel denial amidst a sequence of supposedly serendipitous events. 

Since 2002, the Barometer has expressed concerns about AIG.  Would that someone could have heeded the call back then.  Where there is ethical smoke and PR mirrors, there could be some fire. The Barometer worries now about Mr. Rangel.  Shaving the treetops on legality is risky business.  ‘Tis even riskier government. 

About mmjdiary

Professor Marianne Jennings is an emeritus professor of legal and ethical studies from the W.P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University, retiring in 2011 after 35 years of teaching undergraduate and graduate courses in ethics and the legal environment of business. During her tenure at ASU, she served as director of the Joan and David Lincoln Center for Applied Ethics from 1995-1999. In 2006, she was appointed faculty director for the W.P. Carey Executive MBA Program. She has done consulting work for businesses and professional groups including AICPA, Boeing, Dial Corporation, Edward Jones, Mattel, Motorola, CFA Institute, Southern California Edison, the Institute of Internal Auditors, AIMR, DuPont, AES, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Motorola, Hy-Vee Foods, IBM, Bell Helicopter, Amgen, Raytheon, and VIAD. The sixth edition of her textbook, Case Studies in Business Ethics, was published in February 2011. The ninth edition of her textbook, Business: lts Legal, Ethical and Global Environment was published in January 2011. The 23rd edition of her book, Business Law: Principles and Cases, will be published in January 2013. The tenth edition of her book, Real Estate Law, will also be published in January 2013. Her book, A Business Tale: A Story of Ethics, Choices, Success, and a Very Large Rabbit, a fable about business ethics, was chosen by Library Journal in 2004 as its business book of the year. A Business Tale was also a finalist for two other literary awards for 2004. In 2000 her book on corporate governance was published by the New York Times MBA Pocket Series. Her book on long-term success, Building a Business Through Good Times and Bad: Lessons from Fifteen Companies, Each With a Century of Dividends, was published in October 2002 and has been used by Booz, Allen, Hamilton for its work on business longevity. Her latest book, The Seven Signs of Ethical Collapse was published by St. Martin’s Press in July 2006 and has been a finalist for two book awards. Her weekly columns are syndicated around the country, and her work has appeared in the Wall Street Journal, the Chicago Tribune, the New York Times, Washington Post, and the Reader's Digest. A collection of her essays, Nobody Fixes Real Carrot Sticks Anymore, first published in 1994 is still being published. She has been a commentator on business issues on All Things Considered for National Public Radio. She has served on four boards of directors, including Arizona Public Service (1987-2000), Zealous Capital Corporation, and the Center for Children with Chronic Illness and Disability at the University of Minnesota. She was appointed to the board of advisors for the Institute of Nuclear Power Operators in 2004 and served on the board of trustees for Think Arizona, a public policy think tank. She has appeared on CNBC, CBS This Morning, the Today Show, and CBS Evening News. In 2010 she was named one of the Top 100 Thought Leaders in Business Ethics by Trust Across America. Her books have been translated into four different languages. She received the British Emerald award for authoring one of their top 50 articles in management publications, chosen from over 15,000 articles. Personal: Married since 1976 to Terry H. Jennings, Maricopa County Attorney’s Office Deputy County Attorney; five children: Sarah, Sam, and John, and the late Claire and Hannah Jennings.
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