What has been the main sources of congresspeople's wealth for many years?
968955
I would venture to say Real Estate.
307738
All citizens of the United States reside in a congressional district.  Members of Congress work for the voters in that district.  US protectorates and the District of Columbia generally have nonvoting observer representation in Congress.  I'm sure jaded people think Congress only works for big corporations or rich people, but most congressmen really are concerned with the interests of constituents in their district.  After all, money helps win elections but only to the extent it translates to votes.
200536
There are, of course, multiple answers to this question:\n\nEquitable distribution of wealth.  Those who make more money pay more in taxes.  Taxes fund social programs such as welfare and food stamps.\n\nSustainability of the gov't.  Those bombs we use don't grow off trees!  Neither does the salary of congressmen and women.\n\nUsed as an ultimatum against British colonization:  No taxation without representation!  Self-government and taxes appear to go hand-in-hand.
607582
We are controled by the Corporations...\n\nLets fact it, Congress is paid off, by the Corporations!!\n\nThey call it bribes if you and I take the money, but for them, its PAC Money!  Why do you think they fight so hard to STAY IN CONGRESS...FOR THE MONEY!\n\nI wish you well...\n\nJesse
948200
That was the popular name for several mostly rural populist parties in the 1870's (U.S.) who promoted the issuance of paper money not redeemable in gold or silver, as a means of increasing farmers' liquidity.  They also advocated women's suffrage and elected several state legislators and I believe some Congressmen.
345309
They've made a mockery of politics. They've screwed the average middle-class Americans in every way conceivable from soaring debt, endless war, and the gutting of social programs. But they've managed to stay wealthy in a time of the downward spiral of the standard of living. They've catered to the wealthy and to companies by making them richer even in the face of debt, loss of income to the average worker, and even went so far as to give tax breaks to companies for shipping jobs overseas.  So, yeah, they've contributed a whole lot.
230989
The annual salary of each senator, as of 2005, is $162,100; the President pro tempore and party leaders receive larger amounts.\n\nThe annual salary of each Representative is $165,100. The Speaker of the House and the Majority and Minority Leaders earn higher salaries.\n\nCabinet members earn $180,100 per year, and the President earns $400,000 per year.
1011736
I know the Speaker of the House makes $212,100 a year\nSenators and Representatives make $165,200\nVice President $212,100 \nPresident $400,000 \n\nCongress has the power to set members' salaries, however the Twenty-Seventh Amendment prohibits a change in wages to take effect in the same two-year term that it is passed into law.
23080
You'd be surprised.  Members of Congress spend lots of time in their district.  All of them maintain homes there, and (unlike Senators who run for reelection every six years) members of Congress are continually involved in permanent fundraising and community outreach in their districts.
301860
You can get the current constituents from the London Stock Exchange, and you can get loads of data for each of the constituents from Yahoo finance.\n\nhttp://www.londonstockexchange.com/
701578
politicians make the laws, and they always protect themselves. congress is exempt from every law it passes! and the big money ministers (aka televangelists) put so much money into the pockets of politicians that they are virtually above the law.
1096854
1996 to 1999, the US Goverment led by President Bill Clinton generate the first Surplus's in 30 years.  President Clinton even began paying down the National Debt.  2001 - 2006, President Bush and the Republican lead Congress double the National Debt from 4 TRILLION to OVER 8 TRILLION DOLLARS with no decrease in sight.  Their solution?  Cut more taxes for the Ultra rich, get rid of estate taxes for the ultra rich.  They cloak their agenda by calling Estate Taxes - death taxes; however, only about 5% of Americans will ever have to pay any Estate Tax.  Thomas Jefferson was a strong proponent of having wealth being disappated at the time of one's death so that we do not have wealth staying in the same family from generation to generation by indicating that the dispersal of wealth is a strong contributor to a strong democracy.  Therefore, whenever, you hear the Republican mantra of 'it's your money'; think more about how the meager tax cuts on most of us benefit those with the most and sacrificing benefits for the rest of us.  Vote for the Party of WE (Democrats) and not the self centered selfishness of the Party of ME (REpublicans).
105157
The annual salary of each Representative is $162,100. The Speaker of the House and the Majority and Minority Leaders earn higher salaries. By comparison, Senators earn the same as Representatives, cabinet members $180,100, and the President of the United States $400,000.
273522
In 1998, candidates (Gray David & Dan Lundgren) spent between $25M-30M each.  I'm sure numbers are out there for more recent elections.
1010707
The reason that you pay so much in taxes is that Congress spends your money like drunken sailors. For the past ten years, it has been drunken Republican sailors. Before that it was drunken Democratic sailors. \n\nIt doesn't matter which party is in power, they all spend their time converting your tax dollars into their campaign contributions and votes. That's what your taxes buy; political careers.
624185
What it really is today who really knows. back when the earth was cooling (after the start of the last century)Republicans and Democrats were both fiscal conservative groups. The big difference was where the money was best controlled.\n\nDemocrats wanted Washinton DC to collect the money and then send it back to the states, counties, and cities.  \n\nRepublicans wanted the money to stop flowing upward at the lowest level possible and be spent there.\n\nToday is seems the more liberal you are the more you vote Democrat. If you are more conservative you vote Republican. And because there are more people who are basicly conservative than liberal could explain the rise in Republican Representatives and Senators since 1994.\n\nEven during the last midterm election Republicans gained ground which seldom happens.\n\nNow days who really knows what either party really stands for? It would be easier to define someone if there were more parties. like Liberal Republicans, Liberal Democrats, Conservative Republicans and Conservative Democrats,
235902
Edmund Jerry Brown (Democrat)\nCash on hand: $3,668,855 (as of 12/31/05)\nLate Contributions: $202,600 in large contributions since last report.\n   \nRocky Delgadillo (Democrat)\nCash on hand: $2,359,086 (as of 12/31/05)\nLate Contributions: $25,600 in large contributions since last report.\n   \nChuck Poochigian (Republican)\nCash on hand: $2,633,763 (as of 12/31/05)\nLate Contributions: $81,800 in large contributions since last report.\n   \nPierre-Richard Prosper (Republican)\nCash on hand: $53,871 (as of 12/31/05)\nLate Contributions: $16,800 in large contributions since last report.\n   \nKenneth A. Weissman (Libertarian)   \n\nMichael S. Wyman (Green)