Powerbrokers aren’t broke
If you’ve had an inkling that lawmakers are out of touch with the average American taxpayer, you could be right.
Of the ninety-four freshman U.S. Senate and House members who have joined the 113th Congress, their median estimated net worth is about $1 million more than the typical American household. Them: $1,066,515, Us: $66,740 — according to the most recent figures available for the U.S. Census showing the median net worth of the average American Household.
The 535 members of Congress — 435 members in the House of Representatives and 100 members in the Senate — have a median estimated net worth of about $966,000, according to Center for Responsive Politics data, collected from personal financial disclosure forms filed by all members of Congress and candidates who were victorious at the polls.
Some have earned it, some inherited it and a good number married it.
According to Open Secrets blog, Democrat members of Congress are wealthier overall. Their median net worth is $990,508 compared to the $907,014 for their Republican counterparts. In the House, where the median net worth is estimated to be $856,009, Democrats are wealthier than Republicans, with Democrat members’ median estimated net worth at $910,505, compared with that of the Republicans at just $789,008. In the Senate, though, where the median estimated net worth for all members is $2.5 million, the Republicans have a slight edge — $2.56 million to $2.47 million — over their Democrat colleagues.
The Democrats’ decline in the Senate has much to do with the retirement of Sen. Herb Kohl (D-Wis.), one of the wealthiest members of Congress, and the departures of Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-NM), Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.) and Sen. James Webb (D-Va.), each of whom had an estimated net worth of more than $6 million in 2010. On the House side, 13 members averaging at least $5 million each, did not return.
The New York Times covered the concept of Congress swearing off collecting paychecks until it passes a budget, saying in principle it sounds self-sacrificing, even noble. But behind the “no budget, no pay” proposal, which the House recently passed when it voted to extend the debt limit, is also a basic reality: many of those who support the idea are so wealthy that their Congressional paychecks represent little more than a rounding error.
Rank-and-file members of the House and Senate earn a base salary (excluding benefits and perks) of $174,000 a year. The Speaker of the House is paid $223,500, while the Majority and Minority Leaders receive $193,400.
Roll Call provides a detailed list of the 50 wealthiest members of Congress as of the last filing.
We’ve all heard of the old line, “My wife doesn’t understand me.” The real question is, “Does your member of Congress?”
This is great stuff to precipitate a lot of posts expressing outrage at how very awful it is but it really isn’t significant compared with the major and serious issues Americans are facing today.
The issue isn’t the wealth of members of Congress. Most of the Founding Fathers were very well off compared with the general populous. The issue is what they do, or fail to do, regardless of their net worth.
No, since I moved here I have had Jeff McFlake and now Kristin Sinema, so no I have not had any representation at all.
I do not care how much money any of them have, it is not going to make my life any easier or harder. What I resent is their deal making and voting on porjects and bills they said supposedly went there to stop. I resent that they exempt themselves from Obamacare and social Security. I resent they say oh I did not vote on a raise for me, it is the next guy who wins the election, but invariably it is the same people who win. I resent the lying to us, which they do constantly, they say the public would not understand, well TRY US.. I resent how they make a career out of “Public Service”, and then collect their salaries for the rest of their lives, while they tell CEO’s they make too much money. I resent how they make laws that does not include them.
If we do not start taking all that away from them on a local and state level we will never stop the wholesale destruction of the Government.
“Today the path to total dictatorship in the U.S. can be laid by strictly legal means, unseen and unheard by Congress, the President, or the people… We have a well-organized political-action group in this country, determined to destroy our Constitution and establish a one-party state… The important point to remember about this group is not its ideology but its organization. It is a dynamic, aggressive, elite corps, forcing its way through every opening, to make a breach for a collectivist one-party state. It operates secretly, silently, continuously to transform our Government without suspecting that change is under way… If I seem to be extremist, the reason is that this revolutionary clique cannot be understood, unless we accept the fact that they are extremist. It is difficult for people governed by reasonableness and morality to imagine the existence of a movement which ignores reasonableness and boasts of its determination to destroy; which ignores morality, and boasts of its cleverness in outwitting its opponents by abandoning all scruples. This ruthless power-seeking elite is a disease of our century… This group … is answerable neither to the President, the Congress, nor the courts. It is practically irremovable.” – Republican Senator Willam E. Jenner, 1954
Jenner the McCarthy lite!…
Westnash, the Full Flavor Liberal!….LOL!
The issue isn’t McCarthy. The issue is whether what Senator Jenner said is true or not. What factual evidence do you have, if any, to refute Senator Jenner’s statement, Westnash?
The Conservative Republicans who read this blog and who post here are intelligent. Innuendo and aspersions aren’t going to get you anywhere. You have to make a reasoned and compelling factual argument. What do you have to offer in that regard, Westnash? Anything?
I am happy to see any of them that made money from a business career before they got to Washington. The tragedy is how much they make AFTER they get there. Their salary is plenty but only a micro amount of what they get in benefits and other perks.
Think for a moment that we allow the City of Phoenix to pay the City Manager twice as much as a US Congressman or Senator and you see what a miscarriage of justice is occurring in city, county, and state government.
The only answer is Term Limits.
Westnash wrote: “The only answer is Term Limits.”
You have been beating that drum for days now, Westnash. Now prove to us that term limits are even an answer, let alone the only answer.
There is a plethora of information available about the impact of term limits, as they have been in effect for various public offices for a long time now. What factual data do you have to offer us regarding the effectiveness of term limits in making things better? Or are you simply spouting off with another of your simplistic, ill-conceived, unfounded, harebrained ideas?
Look at todays Senate, on both sides and you see the total need for Term Limits. They will not go on their own.
Arizona should have a candidate who can beat McCain but when it is only someone tainted it wont happen.
I look at today’s Senate and see no need whatsoever for term limits. You’re hallucinating again, Westnash, LOL
Might I point out, Westnash, that Jon Kyl left office, not because of term limits, but because he decided to retire from Congress. He was a member of Congress for 25 years. When he left, who replaced him? Jeff Flake! Explain to us how that change has benefitted Arizona and The United States of America. Explain to us how “turnover”, per se, is beneficial, using Flake as an example.
Westnash,
The Founders considered term limits and decided against the idea, opting for voter participation instead. How easy it is to sit home and not engage in the process when you know that your representative will automatically be gone. We need to hold people accountable at the ballot box, and we do that by arming ourselves with knowledge and the exercising the immense power of our votes. Apathy results from non-participation. Since this nation’s beginning, countless lives have been lost in order to preserve our liberty by way of the ballot! You are far too willing to give away that which has made us great and free.
That’s an eloquent statement, Army Of One!
Actually it is not relevant. The founders obviously didnt worry about term limits in practice because no one had been in office very long. However, most set an example and served only 1 or 2 terms. There was no pension or public trough to feed from.
With term limits Jeff Flake would have been limited out of the House. We dont know yet what kind of Senator he will be. We do know what kind McCain is and he should have been gone long ago.
Actually, it could not be more relevant. As “Army Of One” accurately stated, the Founders DID consider term limits and DID decide against the idea. It is you who is irrelevant, Westnash, LOL!
Westnash wrote about Flake: “We dont know yet what kind of Senator he will be.”
ROFL! Have you been in a coma? Have you heard about “comprehensive immigration refrom”, “amnesty” and the “Gang of 8″ in the U. S. Senate? Duh!
Like all left wing Liberals, you seek to rewrite history, distort and misrepresent. That’s alright, Westnash. There are plenty of Conservative Republicans here to debunk your Pinko propaganda, LOL!
Euby, I think we are worse off. McFlake is a clone of McJerk, both do as they want and we here do not hear from them but every 6 years. I can scream, and yes I do at the top of my lungs, at what Flake did and how he lied to us. Then the voters listened to the ads run by McJerk and McKyl, my God people do you actually think anything changed? NO. They are still the same, why not try something new? Like a Wil Cardin? Or a JD Hayworth? IF we get rid of the system in this state, either make it a real Republican Primary or a Caucus State, we could have change. I do not believe we would ever have a McJerk or a McFlake again.
Hi, CD9!
I agree that we are worse off!
This is why term limits can’t be effective. What is needed is election integrity.
Remember, Dems and RINO’s don’t have to steal every congressional election. Only enough for control!
Yes, and voter fraud is rampant. In a few states voter ID laws will go inot effect. A lot good that is going to do us, they now working on Amnesty, I hope every illegal votes Jeff McFlake out, then votes to take away their pensions. That would be Karma.
BH Obamao, President for Life, felt quite comfortable going out to shoot some hoops with his homies on election day because he already knew what the vote count would be in those “swing states” that would cement his regime. The true election process was laid out in the Constitution, but has been effectively eviscerated to accommodate the fraud of the Marxist left.
There is to be a national election DAY that is the same in all states – not an election month, with early voting , mail-in voting, and most vulnerable of all “computerized balloting and vote counting.” There is not supposed to be mass questionable registration submissions by Marxist community organizing groups to County Recorders who cannot or will not verify their eligibility. There is not supposed to be a federal Department of Injustice that sues the states that try to audit and update their voter registration roles. CITIZENS are supposed to come to neighborhood spots where they will be recognized and identified by their neighbors, and cast their votes with confidence they will be counted as marked and will be protected from unlawful and now hi-tech manipulation.
The voices of those who try to address this are like cries in a hurricane, unheard or ignored by our elected representatives and hand-picked judges, and cast aside even in local meetings and the blogasphere. We talk smugly about mounting get-out-the-vote campaigns, but ignore the reality that the votes we get out will be counted for the leftists or will be cancelled by votes cast by cartoon characters and illegal aliens. And don’t forget those independent redistricting commissions that blatantly flaunt their true responsibility.
In this age of rampant fraud, it is naïve to suggest that the ballot box is our instrument of term limits. Until election and registration integrity are re-created, we are largely doomed to a future of subservience. If you don’t want to address it, just sit back & have another glass of the DC Kool-Aid.
God bless America.
Leo wrote: “Until election and registration integrity are re-created, we are largely doomed to a future of subservience.” Bingo! We have a winner! Give that man a cigar! ;-)
Leo:
This one’s for you!
“True the Vote Files Lawsuit Against Supervisor of Elections Over Mishandling of Allen West Recount”
“Katie Pavlich
News Editor, Townhall”
“Feb 04, 2013 09:00 AM EST”
“Voter integrity group True the Vote (TTV) filed a federal lawsuit Monday against St. Lucie County Florida Supervisor of Elections Gertrude Walker for failing to uphold election law and for failing to enforce record inspection rights under the National Voter Registration Act and the Florida Constitution. The lawsuit has been filed in light of the gross mishandling of the recount between Rep. Allen West and now Rep. Patrick Murphy by St. Lucie County election officials.”
“True the Vote’s lawsuit will provide information kept from the public. It will allow for a public debate on exactly what happened, why it happened, why it seems to happen repeatedly and how it can be stopped from happening again,” True the Vote President Catherine Engelbrecht said in a video statement about the lawsuit.”
http://townhall.com/tipsheet/katiepavlich/2013/02/04/true-the-vote-files-lawsuit-against-supervisor-of-elections-over-mishandling-of-allen-west-recount-n1504559