There's been a decent amount of criticism of the House Ethics Committee lately--and with just cause. Apparently they don't have time for serious investigations, but do have time to release statements about lawmakers driving without a license.

That's right, the Ethics Committee released a statement today declaring that they will not impanel an investigation against Rep. Zack Space for driving without a valid driver's license. Really, who cares? Meanwhile...

It's been a bad two weeks for Ways and Means Committee chairman Charlie Rangel. Last week, the Washington Post and the New York Times broke successive stories revealing the congressman's below market value apartment rentals and his use of congressional letterhead to solicit contributions from corporations for the construction of the Charles B. Rangel Center for Public Service at the City College of New York. While the apartment deals are causing a stir in Rangel's Harlem congressional district, his clear violation of House rules in using congressional letterhead for fund raising appeals are getting the most attention.

Presidents, senators, congressmen, and governors often receive honorary centers at local universities and colleges after they have retired from office, so the future existence of a Charles Rangel Center is not an out-of-the-ordinary or unexpected occurrence for the second African-American congressman from Harlem. The use of earmarking, the clear violation of House rules in his fund raising appeals, and the conflicts of interest in the operation of his committee mark this Center in the pantheon of congressional monuments to vanity.

James Kotecki of Politico gives this latest congressional ethical malfunction the sarcasm it is asking for:

Rangel is embracing an ethics probe of his fund raising. He will likely wind up being admonished for breaking House rules. (That is, unless the ethics committee is out of commission.)

Congressional Quarterly reports that the Senate Ethics Committee is looking into the preferential loan treatment that Sens. Chris Dodd and Kent Conrad received from Countrywide Financial.

Senate Budget Committee Chairman Kent Conrad said Tuesday that the Ethics Committee is examining mortgages he received in 2004 from Countrywide Financial.

“I’m talking to the Ethics Committee,” said Conrad, D-N.D., who, along with Banking Chairman Christopher J. Dodd of Connecticut, has been identified in published reports as being among a group of six current and former officials given unusually favorable mortgage deals from Countrywide.

The committee investigation looks to be spurred by both a complaint filed by CREW - yes, the Senate actually accepts outside complaints - and the doggedness of Sen. Conrad to clear his name. It is clear from the article that Conrad is the one making sure the media knows that the tight-lipped Ethics Committee is investigating his loan.