151 inCongress have $195 million invested in defense contractors earning profit from Iraq and Afghan

[arcadian]

Old article from 2008 you might have missed.

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http://www.projectcensored.org/top-stories/articles/14-congress-invested-in-defense-contracts/

Opensecrets, April 3, 2008
Title: “Strategic Assets”
Author: Lindsay Renick Mayer

Student Researchers: Leora Johnson and Michael Seramin
Faculty Evaluator: Peter Phillips PhD
Sonoma State University

The nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics has calculated that more than 151 members of Congress have up to $195 million invested in major defense contractors that are earning profits from the US military occupations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

When General David Petraeus, the top US military officer in Iraq, went to Capitol Hill to brief Congress in April of 2008, he was addressing lawmakers who had a lot more than just a political stake in the Iraq occupation. Along with their colleagues in the House and Senate, the politicians who got a status report from the general and the US ambassador to Iraq had millions of dollars of their own money invested in companies doing business with the Department of Defense (DoD).

In 2006, the investment portfolios of 151 current members—more than a quarter of Congress—had between $78.7 million and $195.5 million invested in companies that received major defense contracts (over $5 million). The portfolios include holdings in companies paid billions of dollars each month to support America’s military. These companies provided almost everything the military uses, from aircraft and weapons to medical supplies and soft drinks.

Lawmakers with the most money invested in companies with DoD contracts include Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass), with up to $38,209,020; Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-NJ), with $49,140,000; Rep. Robin Hayes (R-NC), with $37,105,000; Rep. James Sensenbrenner Jr. (R-Wis), with $7,612,653; Rep. Jane Harman (D-Calif), with $6,260,000; Rep. Fred Upton (R-Mich), with $8,360,000; Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-WVa), with $2,000,002; Rep. Tom Petri (R-Wis), with $5,800,000; Rep. Kenny Ewell Marchant (R-Texas), with $1,163,231; and Rep. John Carter (R-Texas), with up to $5,000,000.

more

[clear eye]

1. K&R n/t

[Don Caballero]

2. And this is relevant why?

Everyone has investments in diverse areas. I guarantee a majority of these Congress people have no idea they have money invested in the Defense industry.

[xiamiam]

3. conflict of interest, perhaps..nt

[asdjrocky]

4. How do you make that guarantee?

There is no way to do that, there is no way to make that guarantee.

[EOTE]

5. Really? Congress has no idea of the millions going to the defense industry?

That same defense industry that they fund to the tune of hundreds of billions of dollars? Really? You don't see the problem here at all?

[Solly Mack]

9. So, uh, we know where their money is but they don't?

And you guarantee that this information comes as a complete surprise to them? (since they have "no idea")

[arcadian]

10. You are really, really, really, really, really naive if you guaruntee that.

[EOTE]

6. For fuck's sake, why isn't this illegal?

I can't believe insane conflicts of interest like this aren't simply banned. How is it that congress can do the peoples' business when they've got every motivation not to?

[Lance_Boyle]

7. Fine - let them keep THIS money, but TAKE AWAY THE CAMPAIGN CASH

and bury the K-street fuckers who bring it to them. That's the only way forward.

[kentuck]

8. The voters really do need to clean House...

This cannot go on. They are selling us out.

[liberal_at_heart]

11. Let's take out the trash

[L0oniX]

12. Kinda like insider trading isn't it? TRAITORS!

Lots of fucking rats in my government. Will it ever end? When are we going to put a stop to this shit? We're all cowards I guess but oh we can join the fucking military and contribute to the fall or our country. Let's spend money and resources on war since we have an endless supply of other peoples/countries resources. It's such a small amount of money ...we'll/they'll never miss it. We can always just print up some more money.