Harris, Cardin wealthiest in delegation, reports show
The newest member of Maryland’s congressional delegation, it turns out, might also be its most wealthy.
Rep. Andy Harris, the Baltimore County Republican elected last year to represent the Eastern Shore along with several Baltimore suburbs, holds assets valued between $1.5 million and $4 million, according to annual financial disclosure statements by members of Congress that were made available to the public Wednesday.
Harris, an anesthesiologist, appears to have surpassed Sen. Benjamin L. Cardin, who is worth between $1.4 million and $3.5 million and has frequently turned up as one of the state’s most well-off elected officials. Because lawmakers report the value of assets in broad ranges, it’s impossible to assess actual net worth.
Rep. Roscoe G. Bartlett, meanwhile, who also typically reports significant financial holdings, received a one-month extension to file his report.
Harris’ disclosure statement shows that he earned $123,705 last year from Johns Hopkins, where he practiced medicine. The statement also documents $40,011 in salary he received from his time as a state lawmaker and $27,000 from his private medical practice, Tidewater Anesthesia Associates. A spokesman said Harris has taken a leave of absence from Hopkins but still sees patients at his practice in order to maintain his medical license.
“It’s the second time that he’s taken a pay cut to serve his country,” said Harris spokesman Ryan Nawrocki, referring to Harris’ decision to join the U.S. Naval Reserve, in which he served as a commander.
Rank-and-file members of Congress earn $174,000 a year.
The annual disclosure statements offer a limited glimpse into members’ finances – including retirement savings, trips paid for by private groups and work performed outside their official duties. The reports show Rep. Donna Edwards, a Prince George’s County Democrat, traveled to Turkey last year on a trip paid for by the Turkish Coalition of America, for instance.
Rep. Elijah Cummings listed three rental properties – two in Baltimore, one in Washington – owned by him or his wife that are worth, in total, between $1 million and $2 million. The Baltimore Democrat also received a trip to Orlando, Fla., last year on behalf of the Progressive National Baptist Convention.
Democrat Rep. C.A. Dutch Ruppersbeger lists a $89,863 pension from his time as Baltimore County executive.
Edwards was the Maryland lawmaker who reported holding the least in assets, between $3,004 and $46,000.
Reports from House members are available on the clerk’s website. To see reports from Mikulski and Cardin, click on their names in the list below. (The list includes assets held by spouses and dependent children.)
Sen. Benjamin L. Cardin, D: $1,443,047-$3,450,000
Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski, D: $156,018-$517,000
Rep. Andy Harris, R, 1st District: $1,525,050- $4,050,000
Rep. C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger, D, 2nd District: $1,035,044-$2,676,000
Rep. John Sarbanes, D, 3rd District: $260,014-$775,000
Rep. Donna F. Edwards, D, 4th District: $3,004-$46,000
Rep. Steny Hoyer, D, 5th District: $18,005-$96,000
Rep. Roscoe G. Bartlett, R, 6th District: N/A
Rep. Elijah E. Cummings, D, 7th District: $1,256,010-$2,590,000
Rep. Chris Van Hollen, D, 8th District: $63,007-$245,000
An earlier version of this post incorrectly stated that Ruppersberger received a gift from Sen. Dianne Feinstein in 2009. He did not.
Comments
I don't understand. Their Congressional pensions alone dictate more assets then some of them reported. The average pension payout is just shy of $85k a year for former members. This does not include any deferred compension they invest in thrift savings, IRAs, etc. So how in the world can they claim such low figures? Let's take Steny Hoyer for example with his ridiculously low 18-96k. Steny already qualified for the 85k per year (he's actually higher since he served in leadership...closer to 100k). He will receive a pension from the state of Maryland for state senate legislative service to the tune of $20k a year (perhaps more since he served as Sen. President). He will also receive just shy of $3k a month in Social Security. And he has a nice home in the district too. I mean, c'mon, none of us were born yesterday.
Posted by: JP | June 16, 2011 11:59 AM
The glaring thing that's not mentioned in this article is that Democrat Cardin's income is almost all government related, meaning off of the backs of the poor and middle class voters while Andy Harris actually went out and busted his butt to EARN a PRIVATE SECTOR BUCK!
BIG DIFFERENCE!
These stories always annoy me because of all of the omissions of truth.
Like, for instance, Gov. Martin O'Malley allegedly represents the poor and middle class, yet he raised more out of state corporate money than Bob Ehrlich and even got campaign donations from BGE/Constellation Energy, which he vowed to fight. Then he chose NOT to fight them and cut energy assistance for the poor and middle class, cut financial aid to young scholars, as well as financial aid to continuing education students, even State Troopers!
OH, but illegal aliens get financial aid. INSANE!
The Baltimore Sun is a joke for not ratting out these ironies and I doubt this will get posted, so I'll post it somewhere else most likely.
Posted by: ComicsHero | June 16, 2011 1:42 PM
Comics Hero, you conveniently forget that Harris' wealth came from his parents who run a crabhouse on Kent Island.
Posted by: Rusty Shackleford | June 16, 2011 2:51 PM
Are we really supposed to believe that Steny Hoyer is worth less than 100,000? I don't see anyone getting enraged that Elijah Cummings is worth 2.5 million--and he is a CAREER politician--how do you get so rich on 178,000 a year? AND IT IS PEANUTS compared to Nancy Pelosi.
Posted by: listingstarboard | June 16, 2011 3:24 PM
I wrote to Cardin concerning the National debt and the effect on our grand children's lifestyle. He didn't have the courtesy to reply. When your assets are as large as his, you don't give a darn as to how your idiotic Senate decisions impact your offspring. When he kicks the bucket, his kids will be independently wealthy. The heck with the working stiffs that pay taxes to pay his lazy ass's salary.
Posted by: TSinNottingham | June 17, 2011 10:40 PM
Rusty Shackelford - You are wrong. The Harris crab house, while a huge Andy Harris fan, is of NO relation to the Doctor. He is the son of immigrants.
Posted by: matteasternshore | June 24, 2011 1:23 PM