(Thumbnail Image: The New York Times)

Embattled New York Representative Charlie Rangel is temporarily stepping aside from his post as Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee.

Rangel: "I have this morning sent a letter to Speaker Pelosi asking her to grant me a leave of absence until such time as the ethics committee completes its work."  (CNN)

Boehner: "There is nothing in the rules of the House that refers to temporarily stepping aside -- either you're the chairman or you're not." (ABC)

Republicans have been calling for Rangel to step down for some time. Many still want to vote to have him permanentely removed. GOP spokesman Ken Spain told CNN,

"Nancy Pelosi's promise to run the 'most ethical Congress in history' has been reduced to a punch line, and as a result she is presiding over a caucus in chaos."

The House Ethics Committee admonished Rangel for taking trips to the Caribbean funded by private companies and failing to declare assets and earnings.

An MSNBC reporter says the real reason Rangel decided to step down wasn't just because of the investigation.

"He indicated this is really about 2010 politics and appearances. Because Democrats would be in a very tough position trying to talk about an ethical Washington and an anti-Washington mood if Rangel were to keep this."

With health care high on the priority list, The Wall Street Journal discusses what impact Rangel's decision has on the Democratic agenda.

"I think that you're probably not going to see much at all change in the Democratic agenda. He's chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, this is the taxing committee, an immensely powerful part of the political bureaucracy in Washington. There are others who are lining up to take his place, mind you this is just a leave of absence that he's asked for, so he's temporarily stepping aside for the moment so I think that you'll see a replacement named and the democratic agenda move on. "

According to Politico, California Representative Pete Stark will fill the vacancy unless the House steps in and takes action, which doesn't seem likely.

"Stark's ascension does make sense as chairman from a policy standpoint: The biggest item on the committee's plate right now is the president's health care overhaul, and Stark has been chairman of the panel's subcommittee on health."

Writer: Erika Roberts

Producer: Newsy Staff