America's Congress: Now With Even More Millionaires!

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Congress: Mostly Millionaires!



That Congress is full of millionaires may not surprise you. But would you be shocked to know that, for the first time ever, a majority of current members are millionaires? Still no?

An analysis by the Center for Responsive Politics found that at least 268 of the 534 current members "had an average net worth of $1 million or more in 2012."

The median net worth for the 530 current lawmakers who were in Congress as of the May filing deadline was $1,008,767 -- an increase from last year when it was $966,000. In addition, at least one of the members elected since then, Rep. Katherine Clark (D-Mass.), is a millionaire, according to forms she filed as a candidate. (There is currently one vacancy in Congress.)

Last year only 257 members, or about 48 percent of lawmakers, had a median net worth of at least $1 million.

The richest member of Congre$$ is D.C.'s buddy Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.), who "had an average net worth of $464 million in 2012." In 2012, there were 46.5 million people in poverty in this country. That's 15 percent.

And an excellent comment:

Doesn't it seem a little suspicious that someone with tens of millions in the bank would seek out a job that only pays $174,000?

[test_recordings]

That final quote is quite telling

[OGLemon]

not surprised

[nowaysj]

What is it for just the senate? I know pelosi and feinstein came in as paupers, earned a decent income but have somehow amassed multi-multimillion dollar portfolios... how could they do that? Oh yeah, selling the US population into slavery.

[wub]

This is also the most ineffective Congress in history, they've passed fewer bills than any other;

http://articles.latimes.com/2013/dec/11 ... 3-20131211

WASHINGTON -- The 113th Congress looks to be a sure bet to go down as the most ineffective in history.

Just 56 bills were signed into law so far in 2013, as the first session prepared to wrap up. For the first time in recent memory, the number of new laws didn’t even come close to breaking triple digits.

Even counting Tuesday’s bipartisan budget compromise -- which conservative critics already are threatening to derail -- this Congress is so far behind its predecessors it will need to pass a flurry of laws next year to catch up.

Last year’s 112th Congress currently holds the title as the most inactive, with 231 bills passed into law. Prior to that, 1995’s 104th Congress had the worst track record with 333 laws. And even 1948’s notorious “do nothing” Congress, so called by President Harry S. Truman for its relative inaction, managed to push through 906 laws.

[NickUndercover]

but DEERAYGOOLAYSHUN tho

[test_recordings]

I don't get why Congress is being measured on how effective it is by how many laws it passes?

If it's a shit law being considered, I wouldn't want it just for the sake of counting it!

I'd rather they looked at existing law and modified that, like the UK does. Unless that is actually how they do it?

[nowaysj]

Well, the ship is sinking, the house is burning, and the sky is falling, would be dope if our government did something to protect the country they supposedly govern.

[NickUndercover]

Pull a Chris Christie and stop them from physically getting to Congress

[test_recordings]

Interesting article from a few years ago, but highlights the problems that this 1%-only group causes:

http://www.vanityfair.com/society/featu ... ent-201105

Consider it, in the future you could end up with a truely two-tier society that is enforced by law because that law is made of money...

[nowaysj]

In the future?

You really have no idea.

[test_recordings]

Okay okay.

Blatantly obvious to the point where everyone knows and accepts it.

Right now, a lot of people still have blinkers on

[rockonin]

What is it for just the senate? I know pelosi and feinstein came in as paupers, earned a decent income but have somehow amassed multi-multimillion dollar portfolios... how could they do that? Oh yeah, selling the US population into slavery.

[test_recordings]

Nutter!

[rockonin]

lol Cheers, I aim to please.

[m8son666]

hahaha what the fuck