ZOE LOFGREN WILL HEAD THE HOUSE ETHICS COMMITTEE AND INVESTIGATE CHARLIE RANGEL:

Reporting from Washington — Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-San Jose) has been named chairwoman of the House Ethics Committee, taking over at a crucial time for the nation and further increasing California’s clout in Washington.

A pledge by Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco) to “drain the swamp” — referring to a culture of corruption that many said had permeated Republican-controlled Washington — helped Democrats win control of the House in 2006. But at the top of the committee’s current agenda is an investigation of a powerful Democrat, Rep. Charles B. Rangel of New York, chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee.

Don’t get rid of him — he’s leading the tax revolt!