Caught this over on Bob Novak’s column today. I was surprised, but I probably shouldn’t have been [emphasis mine]:

CHARLIE’S MONEY
Democratic Rep. Charles Rangel is on pace to raise over $7 million in campaign money in his first two years as chairman of the tax-writing House Ways and Means Committee, far outstripping anybody ever to hold that post.

Rangel reported contributions of $2.7 million for the first three quarters of the 2007 election off-year. His Republican predecessor, Rep. Bill Thomas, raised $3.8 million for his entire six years as chairman. The previous Republican chairman, Rep. Bill Archer, took in less than $1 million in his six years.

According to the Center for Responsive Politics, the largest contributors to Rangel this year have been Citigroup, $59,950; MetLife, $50,500; and JPMorgan Chase, $37,600. MetLife is a major corporate opponent of repealing the estate tax, whose retention is firmly supported by Rangel.

I suppose it makes sense, that with no estate tax to escape, people’s estate planning will be simpler, and Met life won’t sell as much life insurance. Still, it feels so dirty to know that insurance companies pay government to muck with our lives like that. It really doesn’t make me want to do business with Met Life any time soon. Maybe I’ll write them a letter telling them as much.

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