How Much are You Worth?

How Much are You Worth?

Democrats want to get a hold of President Trump’s financial records for one thing; embarrass him. They know they can spin any part of the records to their benefit. If he’s rich, he’s one of the 1% they have vilified for years. If he’s poor, it’s proof of the lying braggadocio man they have described. If they find he used a tax credit, even though legal, they’ll tarnish him with having used “loopholes” that contributed to depriving some child of her food. The President knows this is what the Democrats want and he’s decided to fight them all the way rather than capitulate and have to fight them even more later.

As with most of the other hypocrisy that is endemic with politicians of any stripe, none will offer up their own finances voluntarily. Tax returns don’t do justice to the wealth these elected officials have and amass as a result of us catapulting them into the limelight. In the revolving door of DC, it’s very rare that  a former Congressman won’t already have or won’t be able to earn enough money to live a life of luxury that most of us only dream about. Salary for Representatives and Senators is $174,000 which is not out of line with mid level executive pay in the private sector. Living in DC is expensive and many maintain residences in their home districts. They are banned from any other income that “can influence their work”. So how do they end up so wealthy?

Here’s what I propose. Anyone running for elected office at the Federal level must submit a net worth analysis both at the time of their filing for being placed on the ballot and on the day they leave the office for which they were elected. Let’s find out who really runs up against an emoluments clause. If you couple this with restrictions on allowing former Congressman access to the Capitol and lobbying, I think you will find we get a whole new cast of citizen legislators. Ones that are more concerned with we citizens than their own pocketbooks and power.