close

House has some lawmakers with fallback jobs

By Donna Cassata Associated Press Writer 4 min read

WASHINGTON (AP) – Richard Pombo still counts himself as a fourth-generation cattle rancher, though he’s the chairman of the House Resources Committee. Allan Mollohan can add property manager to his other job title of top Democrat on the House Ethics Committee. While their Senate counterparts enjoy the luxury of six years in office, members of the House operate on just two-year terms, and several have fallback jobs or assured outside income in case voters turn them out.

Financial disclosure forms released Wednesday described the deep-pocketed, the politicians existing on salary alone and the well-traveled.

The forms also capture House Majority Leader Tom DeLay’s financial fight against various ethical allegations.

The Texas Republican accepted $439,300 in contributions to his legal expense fund in 2004, a year in which the House Ethics panel investigated DeLay and rebuked him for his conduct. Separately, he faces questions about his ties to Jack Abramoff, a lobbyist under federal criminal investigation.

DeLay still owes three law firms between $125,003 and $315,000 combined for his legal expenses.

The top Republican in the House, Speaker Dennis Hastert, supplemented his salary of $203,000 with rent from a Washington townhouse and a $31,002 pension from the state of Illinois, based on his years as a high school teacher. Hastert also purchased a one-quarter share in 69 acres of property in Plano, Ill.

The cowboy boot-wearing Pombo remains active in his family farm, located in California’s Central Valley, producing dairy and beef cattle.

The Republican, now in his seventh term, valued ranch partnerships at $100,000-$250,000 and ranch estates at $250,000-$500,000. Last year, in addition to his base House salary of $158,100, he had unearned income of $6,000-$17,500 from the ranch partnerships.

Pombo’s committee oversees the status of federal lands and environmental quality.

Mollohan and his wife, Barbara, own a property management firm. Last year, the couple purchased five lots in Bald Head Island, N.C., in addition to investment properties in the area and in Canaan Valley, W.Va.

The West Virginia Democrat reported receiving $50,001-$100,000 in income from partial ownership of Remington Inc., a property ownership and management company.

Mollohan isn’t the only lawmaker involved in real estate.

Rep. Juanita Millender-McDonald, the top Democrat on the House Administration Committee, owns rental property in Gardena and Compton, Calif., that produced income of $15,001-$50,000 on each.

While millionaires populate the Senate, the House has plenty of lawmakers who reported that their salary was their major source of income.

Rep. David Obey of Wisconsin, the top Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, has been in office since 1969, when a special election was held after President Nixon tapped Melvin Laird to be his defense secretary.

Obey listed as assets two IRAs, valued between $16,000 and $65,000, and no outside source of income.

Rep. Henry Hyde, R-Ill., the International Relations Committee chairman who is retiring next year after serving since 1974, reported two credit union accounts, one worth $50,001-$100,000 and the other, $1,001-$15,000, and a $7,720.92 pension from his former job in the Illinois General Assembly.

On the other end of the financial spectrum is Rep. Jane Harman of California, the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee.

She listed a 25-year trust valued at $15 million to more than $60 million that provided more than $1 million last year. A smaller trust produced $50,000-$100,000 in unearned income.

Harman is married to Sidney Harman, founder of Harman International Industries that is known for its high-end stereo equipment including JBL, Infinity and Harman Kardon. Last year, Sidney Harman received more than $50 million in unearned income.

The top Democrat in the House, Rep. Nancy Pelosi, counts among her assets a vineyard in St. Helena, Calif., valued at $5 million-$25 million as well as property in Norden and Napa, Calif., and San Francisco.

Pelosi holds the assets jointly with her husband, Paul, who also has invested in high-tech companies.

CUSTOMER LOGIN

If you have an account and are registered for online access, sign in with your email address and password below.

NEW CUSTOMERS/UNREGISTERED ACCOUNTS

Never been a subscriber and want to subscribe, click the Subscribe button below.

Starting at $4.79/week.

Subscribe Today