The anger about economic uncertainty that led average citizens to send new legislators to Washington does not mean that they elected people strictly of average means.
The personal financial disclosures of nearly 100 newly elected representatives and senators, which LegiStorm has now added to its site, show that a handful were earning salaries approaching half a million dollars or more before they began their bids for Congress. Others earned less in recent years but are sitting on millions of dollars in assets.
Professional football player Jon Runyan, who won a House seat in New Jersey, earned nearly $700,000 last year from bashing opponents on the gridiron. Larry Bucshon of Indiana made $556,000 as a heart surgeon last year. Texas's Bill Flores received $827,000 in payments from the Phoenix Exploration Co., an oil and gas drilling company he co-founded. Charles Fleischmann, who will represent Tennessee's 3rd district, topped Flores with $865,000 in 2009 income.
Rob Portman, the former White House budget director and member of the House, made his own personal budget balance with a $517,000 law firm income in 2009. Dan Coats, the former and future GOP senator from Indiana earned $821,000 from his law firm, from consulting and from sitting on corporate boards. Ron Johnson, an executive in the plastics industry executive who will take a seat in the Senate representing Wisconsin, received $650,000 as a partnership distribution from his firm. Mike Lee, Utah's new senator, topped $600,000 in income from his law firm partnership.
Tim Griffin, a successful Republican House candidate from Arkansas, made $497,000 last year in gross income (he does not show the net amount) from his two consulting firms.
Of course, the new freshman class will also have its fair share of not-so-wealthy candidates, especially those who came from state legislatures, where pay is generally low. For example, Republican Diane Black's sole personal income in 2009 was the $18,500 she made as a part-time senator in Tennessee. She was not required to list how much her husband made from his job.
There are still a dozen races in which the winner has not yet been determined. We will continue to monitor these races and add disclosures for any new members of Congress.
