By Richard Sisk, New York Daily News.

Mayor Bloomberg led a Capitol Hill love fest today for embattled Rep. Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.) while joining other big city mayors in pushing for $73 billion in federal money for urban public works projects.

Rangel brushed off concerns that his chairmanship of the House Ways and Means Committee might be in jeopardy when the new Congress convenes next year over ethical problems ranging from his four rent-controlled apartments in Manhattan to parking fees at the House garage.

Rangel was gruff and to the point. "No problem," Rangel told The News when whether he would hang on as chairman during the current House Ethics Committee investigation of his finances and political contributions. "Nah," the 78-year-old Rangel, when asked whether his effectiveness as a legislator might be limited.

To show that he still had clout, Rangel hosted a meeting the U.S. Conference of Mayors that showered praise on the 19-term Congressman from Harlem.

"He is a fighter-like chairman," Bloomberg said of Rangel. "Nobody understands the problems of urban America better than him."

Mayor Joe Reilly of Charleston, S.C., thanked Rangel for his "extraordinary leadership and support of our cities."

With a grin, Rangel said the nation's mayors needed help because "they don't have the ability to print money the way we do in Washington."

Bloomberg and the mayors of 426 other cities submitted a blueprint for a total of 11,391 projects costing $73 billion to create 847,641 jobs nationwide, which they asked to be included in massive stimulus package of $500 billion or more that President-elect Obama has promised in his administration.

New York City's wish list was not included in the original phone-book thick list of projects. "I don't know why they're not in there," Bloomberg said, but he rattled off a list of projects that he said would be added to the requests.

All of the city's projects were "shovel-ready," Bloomberg said and included new bus express lanes and sewer and water projects.

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