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237 millionaires in Congress
At a time when unemployment is at double digits, at a time when gas prices are again rising, why are we electing people to congress who are millionaires? Could there be a bunch more out of touch with the average folk? I don’t think so.
Among the highlights: Two-hundred-and-thirty-seven members of Congress are millionaires. That’s 44 percent of the body – compared to about 1 percent of Americans overall.
CRP says California Republican Rep. Darrell Issa is the richest lawmaker on Capitol Hill, with a net worth estimated at about $251 million. Next in line: Rep. Jane Harman (D-Calif.), worth about $244.7 million; Sen. Herb Kohl (D-Wis.), worth about $214.5 million; Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.), worth about $209.7 million; and Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.), worth about $208.8 million.
All told, at least seven lawmakers have net worths greater than $100 million, according to the Center’s 2008 figures.
Among executive branch officials, CRP says the richest is Securities and Exchange Commission Chairwoman Mary L. Schapiro, with a net worth estimated at $26 million.
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is next, worth an estimated $21 million. President Barack Obama is the sixth-wealthiest, worth about an estimated $4 million. Vice President Joe Biden has often tagged himself as an original blue collar man. The CRP backs him up, putting his net worth at just $27,000.
Just because they know so much about making money for themselves, it doesn’t mean they know what is best for the country. In fact, this chart would suggest they know best how to SPEND our hard earned taxes and our future generation in billions of debt:
Let’s vote the millionaires out. Let’s put people with wisdom and common sense in, and let’s give them term limits assuring ourselves we don’t put our country in this state again.
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It is my opinion that lawmakers should make the average amount of the workers in the state they represent. That would motivate them to bring jobs to the US and to their State really quick!!
That’s the best idea I’ve heard in a long time!
In a perfect world, your idea would have been implemented years ago. but unfortunately, cash makes the world go ’round. Great blog though, truly a great read.
Hey Barb! It’s been a while since I’ve been around these parts, and it’s good to be back.
That “state average wage” wage sounds like an interesting idea, but I’d caution against the bias against millionaires just because they’re millionaires.
Millionaires are our next door neighbors and usually the more successful ones. The vast majority of millionaires today are self-made, from their own abilities and skills.
Limiting the pay of congress people sounds good, but limiting it too much would make it difficult for the “average joes” we really need in congress to quit their other jobs to spend time serving the country.
Instead, the onus lies with us, the voters, to stand up and throw the real bums out regardless of their pay grade.
It is true what Matthew says about not being biased against millionaires just because they are millionaires. It does depend on how they get there. Wisconsin senator Herb Kohl owns a major league sports team in Milwaukee; I’m sure that contributes heftily to his net worth, but I don’t think owning the team is any part of his pay for serving in the Senate.
However much money our representatives make, WE THE PEOPLE should decide how much their service is worth to us. Who else gets to give themselves pay raises?