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Rich Man, Poor Man - Congress Has Both - NYTimes.com

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November 10, 2011

Rich Man, Poor Man; Congress Has Both

By ELIZABETH TITUS

WASHINGTON A Texas multimillionaire, Representative Michael McCaul, Republican of Austin, recently topped a list of Congresss wealthiest members, and five other Texans joined him in the top 50. But less well known are the Texas members on the other end of Congresss net-worth spectrum, including Representatives Rubn Hinojosa, Democrat of Edinburg; Louie Gohmert, Republican of Tyler; and Silvestre Reyes, Democrat of El Paso. A low net worth can pose a challenge to lawmakers trying to maintain one home in their district and another in Washington, current and former members say. But it also proves that you do not have to be a millionaire to serve in the peoples house and that, some say, is an important point to make. A diverse Congress on all levels makes for better legislation and more tuned-in lawmakers, Mr. Hinojosa said through a spokesman. Mr. Hinojosa, a former president of a foodprocessing company, is the least-wealthy Texas member and is in Congresss bottom 10, according to Roll Call, the Capitol Hill newspaper, which estimated his net worth at negative $881,000. His federal financial disclosure, which establishes a range of values for many of the members personal assets and liabilities, puts his average net worth at about negative $2.67 million. He declared personal bankruptcy last year, attributing it to his liability for a bank loan to the troubled food-processing company. If you just have wealthy people who can afford to run for office, then youre not going to have that representation that the Constitution was supposed to provide, said Mr. Reyes, whose net worth is about $8,000, according to his federal financial disclosure. Mr. Reyes, a former United States Border Patrol sector chief, reported no debt. Mr. Gohmert, a former judge who did not respond to a request for comment, disclosed an

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Rich Man, Poor Man - Congress Has Both - NYTimes.com

average $150,000 in liabilities, for a personal loan and student loans for three children. Advocates for fiscal transparency say such data is important for the public to know, and not just because it helps deter conflicts of interest. Sheila Krumholz, executive director of the Center for Responsive Politics, said it also helps people understand whether they would be good stewards of the public purse, if they are good stewards of their own finances and their familys finances. Some dispute that reasoning, saying lawmakers could simply have inherited money or spent a less lucrative career in public service. In any case, wealthy members should be in the mix, said Representative Michael C. Burgess, Republican of Lewisville and a physician by trade. Success breeds success, Mr. Burgess said. Practical difficulties can ensue for less wealthy members who spend much of the year in Washington. Henry Bonilla, a former Texas congressman, said some members did not want the public to know they slept in their offices and showered in the House gym. But others publicize such actions as a symbol of frugality that appealed to constituents back home. The practice, however, drew concerns from an ethics group this year. Hardship, of course, may be a matter of voters perspective. But on a more basic level, it helps them understand or appreciate whether the members can relate to the average American experience, Ms. Krumholz said.
etitus@texastribune.org

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