GIVE THESE GUYS THE PURSE?

Some Elected Officials Singing the Broke-Ass Blues

By Tracy Medley, 5-17-06

Maybe ex-mobster Mario Facione can help ol' Orry out with a loan.

Congressional financial disclosures, set to be released to the public in full this June, seem to suggest that it never really hurts to have a second job--even when you’re an elected official. Senator and "songwriter" Orrin Hatch is so far Utah’s only elected official who seems to be bringing home the bacon. Hatch reported earning nearly $40,000 in royalties this year from his (gag) music career.

While Hatch is letting his eagle soar (wait, that’s a John Ashcroft ditty) the rest of Utah’s Republicans seem to be falling further and further behind. Fiscal conservatism, my white butt.

Two-term Republican congressman Rob Bishop’s disclosure shows between $40,000 and $115,000 in credit card debt and very few assets. His credit card debt has doubled since last year’s disclosure.

Rep. Chris Cannon, R-Utah and known Richie Rich seems to be hemorrhaging his rather substantial personal wealth as well. His listed assets have dropped from between $12 million and $52 million in 1998 to between $2.1 million and $7.5 million this year.

These are the people that we’re trusting with Utah’s finances? I mean given that the bulk of Utah’s record budget surplus this year wound up in the pockets of the richest among us in tax breaks and not into education or health care programs?

I’m just saying.

So far the only elected official in Utah reporting no debt at all is Congressman and democrat, Jim Matheson. In addition to having no debt, Matheson reported between $333,000 and $995,000 in assets.

I must admit as one of Utah’s regular, struggling schmoes all of these numbers make my head spin. Many Utahns are financially tapped out. While gas prices and inflation continuing to rise, Utah’s salaries are simply not keeping up, with salaries for state employees and teachers ranking among the lowest in the nation.

Maybe Senator Hatch should write a song about that.

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