<P> By now, Rangel was known as one of the "Gang of Four", who along with his old mentor Percy Sutton, city and state figure Basil Paterson, and future mayor David Dinkins, were the most prominent politicians in Harlem . They broke racial barriers, attained offices once viewed as not possible for black Americans to achieve, and paved the way for many others around the nation . As power brokers they would dominate public life in Harlem for a generation . </P> <P> Rangel endorsed Koch for re-election in 1981, but by 1983 his relations with the mayor had broken down: "I don't know anybody in politics that I dislike enough that I would recommend that he sit down with the mayor ." By 1984, Rangel was the most influential black politician in New York State . His position on Ways and Means allowed him to bring federal monies to the state and city for transit projects, industrial development, Medicare needs, low - income housing, and shelters for the homeless . Rangel was one of the city's most recognizable politicians, and there was speculation that he would run for mayor in 1985, but Rangel preferred to remain in the House, with the goal of eventually becoming Ways and Means chairman and in the best possible case even House Speaker . Indeed, Rangel never showed any interest in a different political job other than being the Congressman from Harlem . </P> <P> In 1983, Rangel became chair of the Select Committee on Narcotics, which solidified his position as a leading strategist on this perennially important issue to him . Rangel kept the committee going, in the face of the usual pressure to disband special committees . He battled against proposed cutbacks in the federal anti-drug budget, and advocated increased grants to states and cities for better shelters for the homeless . Rangel's amendments providing increased funding for state and local law enforcement were included in the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1986 . He traveled to countries in Central and South America and elsewhere to inspect the sources of drugs and the law enforcement efforts against them; Ebony magazine termed Rangel "a front - line general in the war against drugs ." Rangel said "We need outrage!", making reference to the slow reaction by both government and religious leaders to the epidemics of crack cocaine, heroin, PCP, and other drugs that hit American streets during the 1980s . He believed that legalizing drugs would represent "moral and political suicide". Nor did he refrain from criticizing those most affected by drugs, saying that Hispanic and black teenagers had no sense of self - preservation, and that drug dealers were so stupid that they had to eat in fast - food places because they could not read a menu . By 1988, Rangel was saying that President Ronald Reagan had not done enough in the war on drugs, but that First Lady Nancy Reagan's "Just Say No" campaign had been quite valuable . The narcotics committee itself was termed possibly the most important select committee of its time . The Washington Post said Rangel was "in a powerful position to shape policy on an issue at the top of the nation's agenda ." He would remain as chair of the committee through 1993, when it was abolished along with other House select committees . </P> <P> Rangel was part of the House--Senate joint conference that worked on the Tax Reform Act of 1986, a simplifying overhaul that constituted the most sweeping reform of the U.S. tax code in 50 years . In the negotiations, Rangel successfully argued for dropping more lower - income people from the tax rolls; the elimination of six million households from federal income taxation was hailed as wise policy by both liberal and conservative groups . Rangel authored the Low - Income Housing Tax Credit portion of the bill, which increased affordable housing in the U.S. He also played a key role in preserving the deductibility of state and local income taxes . Rangel asserted that while beneficiaries of tax reform were not well organized, business interests opposed to it were . When the conference threatened to break down, he stressed that it was vital to reach an agreement . </P>

Central america's oldest democratic republic which has had no standing army since 1948