And Congress’ Rich Get Richer-Net Worth of Lawmakers Up 25 Percent in Two Years

[babylonsister]

And Congress’ Rich Get Richer
Net Worth of Lawmakers Up 25 Percent in Two Years, Analysis Demonstrates

* By Paul Singer and Jennifer Yachnin
* Roll Call Staff


Members of Congress had a collective net worth of more than $2 billion in 2010, a nearly 25 percent increase over the 2008 total, according to a Roll Call analysis of Members' financial disclosure forms.

Nearly 90 percent of that increase is concentrated in the 50 richest Members of Congress.

Two years ago, Roll Call found that the minimum net worth of House Members was slightly more than $1 billion; Senators had a combined minimum worth of $651 million for a Congressional total of $1.65 billion. Roll Call calculates minimum net worth by adding the minimum values of all reported assets and subtracting the minimum values of all reported liabilities.

According to financial disclosure forms filed by Members of Congress this year, the minimum net worth in the House has jumped to $1.26 billion, and Senate net worth has climbed to at least $784 million, for a Congressional total of $2.04 billion.

more...

http://www.rollcall.com/issues/57_51/And-Congress-Rich-Get-Richer-209907-1.html

[CanonRay]

1. How does a public employee raise their net worth 25% in two years?

Answer: Bribes.

[rurallib]

2. that's 'campaign donations'

[subterranean]

3. They probably own sizable stock portfolios.

Nearly half the members of Congress are millionaires. It's not hard to believe that the value of their stock and financial assets grew 25% or more since 2009, when the market was near the bottom.