The lead story in today’s New York Times, “A House Panel Will Try Rangel in Ethics Cases,” describes a new finding by a House investigative panel that Representative Charles Rangel broke House ethics rules by accepting rent-stabilized apartments in Harlem as a gift significantly below market value and that he preserved a tax loophole worth half a billion dollars to a company that promised to donate money to build an educational center in his honor.

The article correctly notes the role of Mr. Rangel’s difficulties on the Democratic Party and its fight to maintain control of the House. Already, you have the minority leader, Mr. Boehner, criticizing Nancy Pelosi for failing to maintain the ethics of the House she pledged to reform.

On the other hand, Mr. Rangel is 80 years old and is a very proud and upright gentleman who has devoted his life to helping many of his constituents who are poor and needy in so many ways. He has not had an easy life and his ability to fight for what is right and stand up for those who have no voice is truly commendable.

The case now goes to another subcommittee to confirm the findings and then the full House committee on Standards of Official Conduct who can decide what type of punishment to recommend: from a letter of reprimand to expulsion from the House.

The lead article in today’s New York Times is titled, “Ethics Rules for Congress Curb but Don’t End Trips.” It describes the result of legislation meant to prohibit lobbyists from paying for Congressional junkets. While it found that the number of trips declined, it still found suspect arrangements, often with a third non-profit corporation set up as an intermediary.

While Congressional representatives do need to travel to learn about and study the objects of their legislation, there is always a line that should not be crossed when there is undue influence on their resulting opinion. Also, no matter how thorough the ethics legislation may be, there are always loopholes and inconsistencies to be exploited.

For example, while lobbyists can’t pay for Congressional travel, their corporate clients can do so, and the lobbyists can meet the Congresspeople at a site as long as they don’t travel together.

So what should be done? Well, exactly what the New York Times is doing. Good investigative journalism will shame the Congressional representatives into submission, primarily because they want to keep their jobs. The worst abusers of the system will always be exposed as long as we have freedom of the press.

So, kudos to The New York Times for a good job and fulfilling their role in our democratic nation.

The lead story in The New York Times today is titled, “Lawmaker is Said to Have Agreed to Aid Lobbyists.” It describes an effort by Representative Jane Harman of California to become Chairwoman of the House Intelligence Committee that involved standing up for pro-Israeli lobbyists under investigation by the Justice Department.

Apparently, these lobbyists asked Representative Harman to intervene with the Justice Department regarding a potential espionage case against them. In return, they offered to help her become Chairwoman of the Intelligence Committee by using a powerful friend to threaten to withhold campaign contributions against Speaker Pelosi unless she acquiesced.

Politics involves a lot wheeling-dealing and knowing where to draw the line is often a matter of discretion. Sometimes politicians become blinded because they live in a “bubble,” an ethos of Capitol Hill that involves continuing compromise and trade-offs.

Representative Harman has a long reputation of serious, committed work, and it’s a shame to see her career threatened by her support of Israeli lobbyists, whom she probably would have helped regardless of any “pay back.”

The Times broke this story, and it sounds like one of those involved chains of authority and command where a foot soldier inadvertently crosses the line. I hope Representative Harman is absolved of any wrongdoing because our country needs devoted lawmakers of her character.