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Wealthiest in Congress : Richard Blumenthal Minimum Net Worth $54.9 Million

December 20, 2011 by · Comments Off on Wealthiest in Congress : Richard Blumenthal Minimum Net Worth $54.9 Million 

Wealthiest in Congress : Richard Blumenthal  Minimum Net Worth  $54.9 MillionWealthiest in Congress : Richard Blumenthal Minimum Net Worth $54.9 Million, The Hill, a publication that covers politics in D.C., has come out with its annual list of the 50 top wealthiest members of congress. I have listed the top 10 below, and the entire list can be found at TheHill.com.

I am a Democrat, a Liberal, and for me it is disturbing that the only people who have a chance to run a successful campaign are the extraordinarily wealthy and this includes both parties. As you will see, the top 10 is dominated by my party, and although I do think the Democratic Party is the party who works for the interests of the middle class, with all this money floating around D.C., just how hard will they fight for us versus further enriching themselves.

In saying that, the Republicans of today don’t even make an effort to hide their agenda, and that is to enrich their constituents who fund their campaigns, the mega wealthy, by giving them further tax cuts while raising the taxes of the middle and lower classes.

They are still entrenched in the belief of “trickle down economics.” Give all of America’s wealth to the top-tier of our society and they will in turn rain it down on the serfs, the peasants of our country, us.

The Hill’s Findings

Analysis for The Hill’s Wealthiest shows that 2010 was a banner year for many well-heeled members of Congress.

Last year’s wave election brought big changes to The Hill’s rankings. More than a dozen lawmakers appear on the list for the first time, including 10 Tea Party-backed GOP freshmen with backgrounds in business, medicine and auto sales, among other professions.

The richest GOP freshman is Rep. Jim Renacci (Ohio), who reported a minimum net worth of $35.9 million, ranking him 11th on The Hill’s list. GOP gains in the 2010 elections helped shift the list toward Republicans. Six Democrats who made The Hill’s 50 Wealthiest in 2010 lost their reelection bids.

The rankings include 32 Republicans and 18 Democrats. By chamber, the breakdown is 29 from the House, 21 from the Senate. To compile the rankings, The Hill reviewed all the congressional financial disclosure reports that lawmakers filed for the 2010 calendar year.

Top 10 Wealthiest Lawmakers

1. Michael McCaul, R-Texas — $287 million
McCaul’s wealth exploded in 2010, making him the richest member of Congress by tens of millions of dollars.

2. Darrell Issa, R-California — $220.4 million
The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee chairman has always been one of the richest members of Congress, but his wealth shot up in 2010 by almost $60 million.

3. John Kerry, D-Mass — $193.3 million
Kerry no longer holds the crown of richest member of Congress, but he still was able to increase his wealth by nearly $5 million in 2010.

4. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.VA — $81.6 million
The West Virginia senator’s wealth fell by more than $2 million this year, down from $83.7 million in 2009, due to some of his assets losing value.

5. Mark Warner, D-VA — $76.3 million
Warner’s fortune climbed by more than $6 million in 2010.

6. Jared Polis, D-Colo — $65.9 milion
Polis’s fortune grew by almost $10 million in 2010.

7. Frank Lautenberg, D-NJ — $55.1 million
Lautenberg saw a more than $5 million boost in his fortune in 2010.

8. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn — $54.9 million
Blumenthal’s minimum net worth is $54.9 million, making him the wealthiest new member of Congress this year.

9. Dianne Feinstein, D-CA — $45.4 million
Feinstein’s minimum net worth decreased slightly, by more than $600,000, in 2010.

10. Vern Buchanan, R-FL — $44.4 million
Buchanan saw his wealth slide in 2010 by roughly $9 million.

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