Three members of the state’s Democratic Congressional delegation became a little lighter in the wallet by returning thousands of dollars in campaign contributions from the disgraced former chairman of a powerful committee.

 U.S. Reps. Chris Murphy, D-CT, Joe Courtney, D-CT and Jim Himes, D-CT, all parted with the donations sent there way since 2002 from U.S. Rep. Charles Rangel, D-NY, the ex-chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee. 

Himes, who said he “admired Congressman Rangel” wrote $16,000 in various checks to local charities;  Murphy forked over $21,000 and Courtney, who took in the most from the Harlem powerbroker – gave out $25,000.

Republican Congressional candidates and Chairman Chris Healy had publicly called on the three to return the funds donated by Rangel through his reelection committee and his National Leadership Political Action Committee. Rangel stepped down from his post Friday after rank and file Democrats expressed their concern over Rangel’s “admonishment” by the House Ethics Committee for taking unreported corporate trips to exotic Caribbean locations in 2007 and 20-08. Rangel is still being investigated for tax fraud and the improper use of his rent-stabilized apartments in New York City.

Sunday, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi snuck into New Haven to raise some money for our Congressional team, charging $5,000 a head to hear another pitch for taking over the nation’s health care system and putting it in the and of faceless bureaucrats.  CT News Junkie reported the event was to benefit Murphy, U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro and U.S. Rep. John Larson, D-CT.

It is easy to see why the Democrats are huddling quietly. There have been few public appearances from the Congressional delegation as Pelosi, aided by her Lieutenants –  Larson and DeLauro, scramble to find the 217 votes needed to jam through a health care bill  that an overwhelming number of Connecticut voters have rejected.