See which Ga. Congress members are richest, poorest

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See which Georgia Congress members are richest, poorest

By BEN SMITH
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 06/19/08

The University of Georgia Athletic Association flew GOP U.S. Rep. Paul Broun of Athens to New Orleans for New Year's Eve.

And Republican U.S. Rep. John Linder of Duluth made considerably less money on the "The Fair Tax Book" in 2007 than the previous year, according to his financial disclosure.

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Members of the U.S. House and Senate are required to file personal financial disclosures every year. The latest filings, which cover 2007, were made available for public inspection at the U.S. Capitol this week. The reports indicate that the basic financial status of 10 of Georgia's 13 congressmen and two senators changed little from the previous year.

Savannah U.S. Rep. Jack Kingston, Rep. Lynn Westmoreland of Grantville and Marietta Rep. Phil Gingrey, all Republicans, have not turned in their reports and have been given extensions on filing them, according to aides.

Among other things, the filings include stock sales and purchases, interest income, rent collections and debts. But they provide an imprecise picture of the finances of congresspersons and senators. The lawmakers' earnings are reported in broad ranges and not precise figures.

They don't list the $169,300 salaries earned by members of Congress. Nor do they include the salaries of spouses or list the values of their personal homes.

Georgia senators

Sen. Johnny Isakson (R); Marietta

• Assets: $8.8 million to $24.8 million

• 2007 income: $1.5 million to $3.9 million

• Liabilities: $15,000 to $50,000

Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R); Moultrie

• Assets: $181,000 to $415,000

• 2007 income: $4,500 to $10,600

• Liabilities: none listed

Georgia representatives

Rep. Tom Price (R); Roswell

• Assets: $6.7 million to $28.7 million

• 2007 Income: $219,600 to $1.3 million

• Liabilities: None listed

Rep. John Linder (R); Duluth

• Assets: $5.8 million to $36.8 million

• 2007 income: $6 million to $7.3 million

• Liabilities: $150,000 to $300,000

• Of note: In 2006 Linder earned between $100,000 and $1 million in royalties on "The Fair Tax Book," which he co-wrote with talk radio host Neal Boortz. Linder's 2007 report lists royalties of between $50,000 and 100,000.

Rep. Nathan Deal (R); Hall County

• Assets: $3.4 million to $15.8 million

• 2007 income: $65,000 to $150,000

• Liabilities: $1 million to $5 million

Rep. John Barrow (D); Savannah

• Assets: $2.1 million to $7.25 million

• 2007 income: $100,000 to $1 million

• Liabilities: None listed

• Of note: Barrow's reported income skyrocketed between 2006 and 2007. He listed an income of between $2 and $240 in 2006.

Rep. David Scott (D); Atlanta

• Assets: $1 million to $5 million

• 2007 income: $47,500 to $128,000

• Liabilities: None listed

Rep. Jim Marshall (D); Macon

• Assets: $1.76 million to $4.3 million

• 2007 income: $78,000 to $180,000

• Liabilities: None listed

Rep. Paul Broun (R); Athens

• Assets: $350,000 to $953,000

• 2007 income: $35,000 to $49,000

• Liabilities: None listed

Rep. Sanford Bishop (D); Albany

• Hometown: Albany

• Assets: $234,000 to $611,000

• 2007 income: $10,200 to $26,600

• Liabilities: $60,000 to $115,000

• Of note: A surge in income in 2006 that resulted from an inheritance of between $200,000 and $2 million from his late mother, dropped significantly in 2007.

Rep. John Lewis (D); Atlanta

• Assets: $9,000 to $135,000

• 2007 Income: $1,800 to $9,000

• Liabilities: None listed.

• Of note: Lewis remained the most sought after speaker in the Georgia delegation. Lewis listed 25 expenses-paid speaking engagements in 2007.

Rep. Hank Johnson (D); DeKalb County

• Assets: None shown.

• 2007 income: $12,000 from his DeKalb County pension.

• Liabilities: None listed

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Comments

By rsw

Jul 15, 2008 11:58 AM | Link to this

If you folks would read the article before looking at the numbers, it states,

"The lawmakers' earnings are reported in broad ranges and not precise figures.
They don't list the $169,300 salaries earned by members of Congress. Nor do they include the salaries of spouses or list the values of their personal homes."

By Wilber

Jun 25, 2008 5:58 PM | Link to this

Oh, come on; does Hank Johnson not even own a home that would count as an asset? And John Lewis, who I admire as a solid citizen, and a career polititian, but has no more than $135K in assets? I think we deserve a follow-up story with an explanation of how these categories are calculated! Please and thank you.

By GreenGeorgian

Jun 20, 2008 7:45 PM | Link to this

Okay, this is nuts. Some of these guys show an income that is considerably less than our tax dollars paid them. I mean, I KNOW US Senators like Saxby Chambliss make more than ten thousand a year. Hey writer, Ben Smith, why doesn't your story cover the real underlying facts about how they actually made x amount of dollars of public taxpayer dollars, but only paid taxes on some penty anty amount???

By MB

Jun 20, 2008 6:52 PM | Link to this

Saxby Chambliss: And who voted HIM IN OFFICE? Not me!!!! I simply saw through him. Republican voters seem to vote partisan and indiscriminately ~ not for character or integrity. I also agree with ATL80.

VOTE FOR OBAMA FOR THE CHANGE FOR WHICH WE'RE ALL DESPERATE ~ PLEASE!!!!

I WANT MY COUNTRY BACK WITH FULL INTEGRITY!

By Sad Brother

Jun 20, 2008 4:09 PM | Link to this

What about Ron Sailor, Andy Young and Bill Campbell? Maynard be dead, but he made a lot of jack while he be mayor.

By Terry McGuirk

Jun 20, 2008 4:07 PM | Link to this

You forgot Ron Sailor.

By Not Max Cleland

Jun 20, 2008 3:49 PM | Link to this

Saxby Shameless, who lately has been seen admiring his own portrait hung in the Capitol by ag lobbyists, isn't fooling anyone with his report. There are so many ways to manipulate stuff like this and sure, I believe in the tooth fairy. Offshore bank accounts, trusts in the name of a litany of family members, 1031 land swaps, and all sorts of other nifty tax avoidance procedures and accounting tricks and expense account fudging are things the righteous, rabid, and gluttonous right feel is necessary to keep our country from falling apart while they don't do squat about educating our at-risk children who are going to end up costing all of us scads of cash. But, that's okay, Saxby can act like a wonderful guy next Sunday at Church as he makes a donation in memory of Leona Helmsley, the patron saint of greed.

By JP

Jun 20, 2008 3:01 PM | Link to this

I am more interested in their integrity and their commitment to their positions in Congress. Are they there in the sessions; voting on the issues. How did they vote?

As long as they are working the job we elected them for, I couldn't care less how much they make.The Kennedy's are VERY wealthy, but still get the vote of the poor.

It's the ones who want to use their public work as a springboard to get rich that irritate me.

By Hank

Jun 20, 2008 12:05 PM | Link to this

And they wonder why all of us are paying $4 for a gallon of gas today. To those who can afford it, it's a minor inconvenience. Voters, make noise at the polls this year. Vote in new faces.

By ATL80

Jun 20, 2008 11:43 AM | Link to this

First of all where is the money that these people get paid from for their elected positions? Why do they not have to claim that in addition to other income? Also, it seems funny to me that the politicians I've never heard of ssem to be honest in admitting how rich they are (or maybe they just don't have a creative accountant yet) while the most hight profile politicians are claiming income below the poverty line.