Members of US Congress Get Richer Despite Sour Economy

[DearAbby]

Despite a long and deep recession, the collective personal wealth of congressional members increased by more than 16 percent between 2008 and 2009, according to a study released Wednesday by the Center for Responsive Politics.

The steady also indicates that a significant number of members owned shares of major players in the health-care and financial-services sectors, which were the subject of major reform legislation during the period.

The findings—based on federal financial disclosure data released earlier this year—paint a wealthy bunch in Congress, with more than half of all members—261—were millionaires.

About one in five of those had average calculated wealth in 2009 of at least $10 million. Eight of the 261 were in the $100 million-plus range.

Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) ranked No. 1 in personal wealth—$303.5 million.

In contrast, U.S. median household income dropped 3 percent to $50,221 between 2008 and 2009, the second straight decline, according to the Census Dept. In terms of millionaires, only about 1 percent of the overall population qualifies.

More:
http://www.cnbc.com/id/40233691

[Angry Dragon]

1. No need to wonder about how they are going to vote

[FiveGoodMen]

2. I keep thinking about this French device

It has a vertical track, a big blade, a place to put your head...

[BrklynLiberal]

4. LOL. Brilliant!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!1

[closeupready]

3. Of course.

n/t

[Greyhound]

5. K&R. Who do they represent? Here's your answer.

Blue team, red team, conservative, liberal, or 'centrist', they serve one master and it ain't us.

Yes there are a few exceptions, but they are very few and kept far away from any real power.
:kick: & R

[DearAbby]

6. If I could I would K&R this!

We have seen who they will serve, follow the money.

[ProudDad]

7. Well compensated tools of the Corporate States of America... (n/t)

[BeFree]

8. Why?

Because they write the laws. And it just so happens that they can write the laws to benefit themselves and their friends.

It's not news, that's why we never read about this in the paper or see it on TV.

CCritter song:
"I write the laws that make the young girls cry.
I write the laws that make the whole world flinch
I write the laws that make my rich friends rich
I write the laws, I write the laws."

Chorus: "Suckers"

[EmeraldCityGrl]

9. Allan Greyson was one of the wealthiest members of congress

Something like in the top ten. Always surprised me.

[ProudDad]

10. Traitor to his class, eh? (n/t)

[ProudDad]

11. Traitor to his class, eh? (n/t)

Ooops... goddamn windoze...

[DaveinJapan]

19. I'd say that's why he had the balls to speak out..

the others are trying to protect their wealth and continue their careers, whereas he had nothing to lose.

[earth mom]

12. Let The Peons Eat Cake! Except there ain't NO cake to eat! 1 in 8 US households have NO food!

:argh:

1 in 8 households struggling with hunger: report

WASHINGTON — Some 17.4 million US households struggled to get enough food to eat last year because money was tight, the US Department of Agriculture said Monday.

more:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x9575913

[Greyhound]

13. Now why would these parasites care about that?

Neither they nor their families are ever going to be hungry...:grr:

[closeupready]

17. "Hunger"? What's that? You mean, food insecurity?

:sarcasm:

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

14. Simply by being elected they enter the top 10% of income earners.

[ipaint]

15. Low estimates.

From articles-

"Members of Congress are only required to report their wealth and liabilities in broad ranges. It’s therefore impossible to precisely determine how much value their assets are worth...."

Why no banksters are going to jail for collapsing the economy-

"In another context, however, Beltway watchers might find it unsettling that some of the most widely-held stocks are those of companies at the center of the financial crisis in 2008-2009."

Captured government, top to bottom.

[WinkyDink]

16. Govt = $$$ Trough.

[kentuck]

18. "Behind every great fortune is a great crime.."

Someone once said...

[cbdo2007]

20. Of course - anyone who had extra money to invest would have been stupid to NOT invest it in 2008

when the market crashed.

Unfortunatly for most Americans, we don't have the extra money to invest and most people aren't even aware of how they can use the stock market to make money for themselves. Congress DOES know how to do this and they DO have the extra money to invest.