The Hill reported Tuesday that Republicans want Committee Chairman Charles Rangel, D-N.Y., to step down from his post because of the alleged ethics controversies involving him.

"Given Chairman Rangel's continuing ethical lapses, he cannot effectively carry out his duties as chairman of the Ways and Means Committee," the GOP letter to Pelosi said. "Thus, in order to remove one obstacle to this Democratic Congress actually addressing and solving working families' concerns, you, as the speaker of the House, must insist that Rep. Rangel step down from his Ways and Means chairmanship pending an investigation of his ethical lapses."

For his part, Rangel has denied any wrongdoing, and has called on the ethics committee to investigate him.

Among other things, Rangel is accused of violating House rules by occupying four rent-controlled apartments in New York City and using congressional letterhead to solicit contributions to a City College of New York educational center bearing his name.