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Idaho Republican Jim Risch may be new to the Senate, but his personal wealth is getting some attention. Risch is worth an estimated $19.29 million, making him the 13th wealthiest member of the House and Senate combined, according to Roll Call, a newspaper that covers Capitol Hill.
The newspaper published its annual review, “The 50 Richest Members of Congress,” earlier this week. Roll Call analyzes the personal financial disclosure reports of all 535 members of Congress. No other Idahoans made the 50 Richest list.
Idaho real estate makes up most of Risch’s wealth, including his farm and ranch property in Ada and Valley counties, which are valued a minimum of $16 million. Risch also owns a piece of American Trailer Sales Co., a longtime family business. Risch built his wealth as one of Idaho’s most successful trial lawyers.
Another senator with Idaho ties, Democrat John Kerry of Massachusetts, tops the list at $167.55 million. Kerry and his wife, Teresa Heinz, have a home in Ketchum. The late Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., trailed Risch, with $15.74 million, ranking 18th.
Risch’s investment in Risch Goss Insigner and Gustavel, a law firm where he’d been a partner, fell from $1-million-or-more category to the $250,000-or-more range. Risch listed $200,000 in debts.
To read the full story and access an interactive chart, go to http://www.rollcall.com/features/Guide-to-Congress_2009/guide/38181-1.html
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