by Brian T. Lynch, MSW
The Wealthiest US Legislators Estimated Net Worth
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Issa, Darrell (R-Calf) House
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$448,125,017
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McCaul, Michael (R-Tex) House
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$380,411,527
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Harman, Jane (D-Calf) House
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$326,844,751
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Kerry, John (D-Mass) Senate
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$231,722,794
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Kohl, Herb (D-Wis) Senate
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$173,538,010
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Combined Wealth
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$1,560,642,099
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Average Wealth Increase per Legislator by Party and Chamber – 2004 and 2010
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Wealth /Member in 2004
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Wealth /Member in 2010
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Six Year Dif /Member
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Total % Change
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Annual % Change
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House Democrats (n=176)
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$2,918,824
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$4,408,237
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$1,489,414
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51.0%
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8.50%
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House Republicans (n=133)
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$5,243,557
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$10,111,971
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$4,868,414
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92.8%
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15.47%
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Senate Democrats (n=40)
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$20,516,818
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$19,323,256
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-$1,193,561
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-5.8%
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-0.97%
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Senate Republicans (n=41)
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$4,394,130
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$5,128,482
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$734,352
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16.7%
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2.79%
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Senate Independents (n=3)
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$577,182
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$1,359,855
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$782,673
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135.6%
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22.6%
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Total Wealth Increase of All US Legislators Between 2004 and 2010
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Average Wealth in 2004
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Average Wealth in 2010
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Difference in Six Years
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Total % Change
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Annual % Change
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All Members (n=393)
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$2,213,699,631
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$3,108,019,528
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$894,319,897
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40.4%
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6.7%
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All Democrats (n=216)
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$1,334,385,659
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$1,548,780,022
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$214,394,363
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16.1%
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2.7%
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All Republicans (n=174)
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$877,552,427
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$1,555,159,941
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$677,607,514
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77.2%
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12.9%
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Independents (n=3)
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$1,731,545
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$4,079,565
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$2,348,020
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135.6%
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22.6%
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Senators (n=84)
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$1,002,563,604
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$987,277,595
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-$15,286,009
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-1.5%
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-0.3%
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Congressmen (n=309)
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$1,211,147,532
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$2,120,971,945
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$909,824,413
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75.1%
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12.5%
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Average Wealth Increase Per US Legislator by Party and Chamber Between 2004 and 2010
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Wealth /Member in 2004
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Wealth /Member in 2010
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Six Year Dif /Member
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Total % Change
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Annual % Change
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All Members (n=393)
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$5,632,823
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$7,908,447
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$2,275,623
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40.4%
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6.7%
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All Democrats (n=216)
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$6,177,711
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$7,170,278
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$992,566
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16.1%
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2.7%
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All Republicans (n=174)
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$5,043,405
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$8,937,701
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$3,894,296
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77.2%
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12.9%
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Independents (n=3)
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$577,182
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$1,359,855
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$782,673
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135.6%
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22.6%
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Senators (n=84)
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$11,935,281
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$11,753,305
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-$181,976
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-1.5%
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-0.3%
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Congressmen (n-309)
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$3,919,571
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$6,863,987
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$2,944,416
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75.1%
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12.5%
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Average Wealth Increase of All US Legislators by Party Between 2004 and 2010
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Average Wealth in 2004
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Average Wealth in 2010
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Difference in Six Years
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Total % Change
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Annual % Change
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House Democrats (n=176)
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$513,712,948
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$775,849,769
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$262,136,821
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51.0%
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8.50%
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House Republicans (n=133)
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$697,393,079
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$1,344,892,164
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$647,499,085
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92.8%
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15.47%
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Senate Democrats (n=40)
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$820,672,711
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$772,930,253
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-$47,742,458
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-5.8%
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-0.97%
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Senate Republicans (n=41)
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$180,159,348
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$210,267,777
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$30,108,429
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16.7%
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2.79%
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Senate Independents (n=3)
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$1,731,545
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$4,079,565
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$2,348,020
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135.6%
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22.6%
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Average Wealth Increase per Legislator by Party and Chamber – 2004 and 2010
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|||||
Wealth /Member in 2004
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Wealth /Member in 2010
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Six Year Dif /Member
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Total % Change
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Annual % Change
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House Democrats (n=176)
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$2,918,824
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$4,408,237
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$1,489,414
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51.0%
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8.50%
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House Republicans (n=133)
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$5,243,557
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$10,111,971
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$4,868,414
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92.8%
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15.47%
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Senate Democrats (n=40)
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$20,516,818
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$19,323,256
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-$1,193,561
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-5.8%
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-0.97%
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Senate Republicans (n=41)
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$4,394,130
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$5,128,482
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$734,352
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16.7%
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2.79%
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Senate Independents (n=3)
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$577,182
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$1,359,855
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$782,673
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135.6%
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22.6%
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Top Ten Legislators /w Biggest Jump in Wealth ($ increase) by Party and Chamber – 2004 and 2010
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Aggregated Totals
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Average Wealth in 2004
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Average Wealth in 2010
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Difference in Six Years
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Total % Change
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Annual % Change
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House Democrats (n=176)
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$327,705,235
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$568,142,204
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$240,436,969
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73.4%
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12.2%
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House Republicans (n=133)
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$331,746,289
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$1,005,864,579
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$674,118,290
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203.2%
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33.9%
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Senate Democrats (n=40)
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$137,206,389
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$216,341,049
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$79,134,660
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57.7%
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9.6%
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Senate Republicans (n=41)
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$21,576,271
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$81,888,741
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$60,312,470
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279.5%
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46.6%
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Top Ten Legislators /w Biggest Jump in Wealth ($ increase) by Party and Chamber – 2004 and 2010
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Average per Legislator
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Wealth /Member in 2004
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Wealth /Member in 2010
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Six Year Dif /Member
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Total % Change
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Annual % Change
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House Democrats (n=176)
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1,861,962
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3,228,081
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1,366,119
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73.4%
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12.2%
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House Republicans (n=133)
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2,494,333
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7,562,892
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5,068,559
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203.2%
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33.9%
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Senate Democrats (n=40)
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3,430,160
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5,408,526
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1,978,367
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57.7%
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9.6%
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Senate Republicans (n=41)
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526,251
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1,997,286
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1,471,036
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279.5%
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46.6%
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Top TenLegislators /w Biggest Jump in Wealth (% increase) by Chamber & Party – 2004 and 2010
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Aggregated Totals
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Average Wealth in 2004
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Average Wealth in 2010
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Difference in Six Years
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Total % Change
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Annual % Change
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House Democrats*
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$779,531
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$31,996,557
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$31,217,026
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4004.6%
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667.4%
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House Republicans
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$35,430,212
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$392,877,862
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$357,447,650
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1008.9%
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168.1%
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Senate Democrats
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$19,415,702
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$56,516,827
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$37,101,125
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191.1%
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31.8%
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Senate Republicans
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$11,871,405
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$67,686,976
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$55,815,571
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470.2%
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78.4%
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Top TenLegislators /w Biggest Jump in Wealth (% increase) by Chamber & Party – 2004 and 2010
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Average per Legislator
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Wealth /Member in 2004
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Wealth /Member in 2010
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Six Year Dif /Member
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Total % Change
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Annual % Change
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House Democrats*
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$4,429
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$181,799
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$177,369
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4004.6%
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667.4%
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House Republicans
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$266,393
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$2,953,969
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$2,687,576
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470.2%
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78.4%
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Senate Democrats
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$485,393
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$1,412,921
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$927,528
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191.1%
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31.8%
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Senate Republicans
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$289,546
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$1,650,902
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$1,361,355
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470.2%
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78.4%
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* One member, P. Kennedy, accounted for most of the increase. Excluding him for the in rank on the list yeilds an increase of 1,602.6% or 267.1% annual increase.
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I think there’s an error in paragraph 4–I think the top five, cumulatively are in the billions–not trillions. Otherwise and interesting, though not conclusive survey.
Wow, what a very unfortunate mistake. Thank you for catching it. I just went in and changed it.
And thank you for catching it.