primitives discuss rich Democrats

[franksolich]

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x6547431

Oh my.

And no, the wife's (or husband's) wealth isn't included.

tinrobot (1000+ posts)     Mon Sep-14-09 05:28 PM
Original message
 
The 50 Richest members of Congress

Even membership in Congress’ most exclusive club couldn’t insulate lawmakers from the economic downturn.

According to Roll Call’s annual examination of House and Senate financial disclosure forms, while the 50 richest Members of Congress remain financially flush — each with a minimum net worth of nearly $5.5 million — many of them suffered significant financial losses in 2008.

Lawmakers on this year’s list reported a combined loss of more than $275 million from their minimum net worth since 2007. While the combined wealth of the 50 richest Members tallied approximately $1.3 billion in 2008, that figure falls nearly $171 million short of the previous club, which put up a total of almost $1.5 billion.

Among the 38 lawmakers who return to the 50 richest club in 2008, the average reported wealth has declined more than 10 percent. Those who ranked at or near the top of the list last year reported some of the biggest losses, including Rep. Jane Harman’s (D-Calif.) decline of more than 50 percent, or $114 million less than she previously reported.

Here are the Top 10 in 2008 minimum net worth:

1. Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., $167M
2. Rep. Darrel Issa, R-Calif., $164M
3. Rep. Jane Harman, D-Calif., $112M
4. Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., $85M
5. Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., $72M
6. Rep. Jared Polis, D-Colo., $71M
7. Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Fla., $49M
8. Sen. Frank Lautenberg, D-N.J., $48M
9. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., $42M
10. Rep. Harry Teague, D-N.M., $40M

http://www.rollcall.com/features/Guide-to-Congress_2009...

Full list here : http://innovation.cqpolitics.com/cq-rollcall/richest_me...

Interesting how 8 of the top 10 are Democrats.

hamsterjill  (1000+ posts)        Mon Sep-14-09 05:31 PM
Response to Original message
 
1. I found that interesting, as well.

I'm surprised there are not more Republicans on the list.

Perhaps they have better means of hiding their income.

Walk away  (330 posts)      Mon Sep-14-09 05:35 PM
Response to Reply #1
 
2. Or just a better reason to sell themselves to the highest bidder.

tinrobot (1000+ posts)     Mon Sep-14-09 05:40 PM
Response to Reply #2
 
4. That's what I surmise...

It's not as easy to buy off people who don't need the money.

More_liberal_than_mo (95 posts)        Mon Sep-14-09 05:38 PM
Response to Original message
 
3. Where's McCain? 

on the list or doesn't his wife's money count? How many repubs have rich wives to hid their share of the wealth?

Update: should have checked the link. McCain only has $15M, obviously his wife's money doesn't count.

Nor does Theresa Kerrey's money count; otherwise the Bostonian Billionaire would lead the pack by a much larger margin.

catzies  (1000+ posts)      Mon Sep-14-09 05:54 PM
Response to Reply #3

7. Okay, but then what about Jane Harman? She's richer than a Rockefeller all by herself?

The amount listed for her doesn't include her husband's money??

The bowel movement primitive, who doesn't understand that Theresa Kerrey's money isn't lumped with the paltry sum of her husband's:

blm  (1000+ posts)     Mon Sep-14-09 05:57 PM
Response to Reply #3
 
8. Funny, Kerry and Teresa's money gets lumped together when it's been legally separated from day one and yet every one of these 'lists' always puts their finances as the same, but never do that to McCain, who probably does have more entwined finances with his wife than Kerry has with Teresa who has set aside that fortune ONLY for her and John Heinz' sons.

These lists are meant for BULLSHIT purposes to get BULLSHIT reactions - they care nothing for truth.

Obamanaut  (1000+ posts)      Mon Sep-14-09 05:53 PM
Response to Original message

6. More than half on the total list are Dem. Why is there not more crying out for them to divest themselves of some of their wealth in the never-ending "stick it to the rich" campaign?

Or, is it simply ok for dems to be rich but hate the repubs for it? Is that some sort of 'rich bigotry'?

[Chris]

Look at this.
                             Assets       Liabilities
Herb Kohl (D-WI)     110.61      105.05    (94%)
Nancy Pelosi (D-CA)    25.28       12.75  (50%)
Vern Buchanan (R-FL)  85.3       35.6  (41%)
Kay Hagan (D-NC)       9.83        3.16  (32%)
John Kerry (D-MA)     215.41    47.86  (22%)

These fools couldn't follow a budget if it was written in crayon on a 2nd-grade level.