House members do well in slump

Investments give salaries a boost in slowing economy

WASHINGTON - House leaders are doing well financially during this economic slump.

Their lucrative investments and, in many cases, well-compensated spouses supplement their House salaries.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Democrat of California, one of the wealthiest members of Congress, and her husband, Paul Pelosi, a real estate magnate, spent between $1 million and $5 million to buy the home they had been living in on San Francisco's Broadway.

They also own a vineyard in St. Helena, Calif., worth between $5 million and $25 million and a town house in Norden, Calif., valued between $1 million and $5 million, according to annual financial disclosures released Monday. The Pelosis also took in rental income of as much as $5 million on five separate commercial properties in the San Francisco Bay area. As speaker, Pelosi's salary is $212,100, about $47,000 higher than virtually everyone else in the House.

Other senior lawmakers reported hundreds of thousands in retirement savings, stock and mutual fund investments, and no major liabilities.

Representative Steny H. Hoyer, Democrat of Maryland, the majority leader, has as much as $665,000 invested in individual retirement accounts.

Representative John A. Boehner, Republican of Ohio, has an array of mutual fund investments, including seven with a value of at least $100,000 each. He also has a profit-sharing retirement plan from Nucite Sales, his former company, worth between $1 million and $5 million.

In their leadership posts, Hoyer and Boehner both earned $183,500 last year.

House members and senators outside the top six leadership posts receive salaries of $165,200.

Representative James Clyburn of South Carolina, the number three Democrat, has retirement savings accounts worth up to $100,000 and investments valued between $150,000 and $350,000.

Representative Roy Blunt, Republican of Missouri, reports the fewest investments of any of the top leaders - just $50,000 to $100,000 in stock in Springfield-based Churchill Coffee Co..

But Blunt's wife Abigail, who works in government relations for Kraft Foods, owns stock in the company worth between $50,000 and $100,000. She also owns stock in her former employer, Altria Group, worth between $250,000 and$500,000.

The annual disclosure forms, while not exact, give a glimpse of the financial activities of lawmakers beyond their basic salaries.

Other representatives' spouses contribute to their comfortable financial picture.

Representative Robert W. Goodlatte, Republican of Virginia, the ranking member of the Agriculture Committee, has investments worth between $117,000 and $605,000 and retirement savings worth between $96,000 and $265,000. His wife Maryellen owns 17 separate 401(k) accounts, with a combined value of as much as $1.8 million.

At least one lawmaker mired in a criminal inquiry is collecting money to defend himself in court.

Representative William J. Jefferson, Democrat of Louisiana, lists among his gifts contributions to his legal defense fund topping $20,000. Jefferson's disclosure form reflects his indictment for allegedly receiving hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes in exchange for using his influence to broker business deals in Africa.

Among Jefferson's liabilities are a personal loan of between $15,000 and $50,000 from Noah Samara, CEO of WorldSpace Inc., a company that provides digital satellite radio services to Africa. Robert L. Johnson, the founder of Black Entertainment Television, has also loaned Jefferson between $100,000 and $250,000.