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The Lowdown On Lawmakers' Wealth
by Heather Greenfield
Two databases launched this month have had millions of hits by viewers researching the money spent by and for politicians, the Center for Responsive Politics reports.
The updated OpenSecrets.org has new information to track the personal finances of members of Congress and the executive branch, and to see where lawmakers and their aides have been traveling on the dime of interest groups.
OpenSecrets logged nearly 140,000 visitors, more than 1.6 million page views and more than 7 million hits since the site was re-launched after Columbus Day. A statement on the site said, "This tremendous interest has taxed our bandwidth, but we've taken steps to ensure that OpenSecrets remains reliably accessible as the Nov. 7 election approaches."
"The finances of Washington's powerful look in some ways like the average American's," said Sheila Krumholz, CRP's acting executive director. "They keep their money in checking accounts and mutual funds. They, too, have home mortgages. The big difference is, politicians have a lot more money."
For example, the database shows that 35 percent of members of Congress are millionaires, according to 2005 reports. Only 1 percent of the general population has that kind of wealth.
Members of Congress have millions of dollars invested in politically influential industries, which they also regulate, including pharmaceuticals and health products (at least $25.5 million in holdings); computers and the Internet ($21.5 million); and oil and gas ($19.5 million).
The center's new travel database currently covers about 2,800 trips from early 2005 through 2006 that were valued at almost $5.7 million. The database reveals that Israel is by far the most popular destination for members of Congress and their aides. The center reports that "since early 2005, they've been to Israel more than they've been to Chicago."
Catch This Speech If You Can
A world-famous expert on identity theft offered some hard-earned wisdom at the Information Technology Association of America in a talk that offered more inspiration than technical solutions.
Frank Abagnale, whose life was depicted in the movie "Catch Me If You Can," told the real story about altering his driver's license at 16 to find work, the tactics he used to get an ID as a PanAm pilot, and later how he impersonated a doctor and a lawyer before spending time in prison in France, Sweden and the United States on forgery charges.
Abagnale was released from a U.S. prison early on the condition that he work with the FBI to combat ID theft. Thirty-one years later, he said he is still working there, well past the four years required in his deal. He told those working to combat ID theft today that he rejected three presidential pardons because a sheet of paper would not nullify his actions. Only his life would.
The powerful speech drew laughter in the beginning, as Abagnale described both the antics and his reasoning for committing the crimes, but then drew tears among many in the audience as he said the love of his wife and three sons changed his life. Abagnale encouraged men to remember "what it means to be a man": to be a daddy and not just a father; to love their wives and be faithful; and to put the needs of their wife and kids just below God and country.
Although Abagnale technically works for the FBI, he takes no salary and earns his living consulting and giving speeches like the one to ITAA.
Transitions In The Telecom Realm
As members of Congress contemplate their future, the legislative director for Rep. Eliot Engel, D-NY, has made a decision about his. Pete Leon has joined Comptel as vice president of legislative affairs. Leon had been Engel's legislative director for five years.
"Comptel is delighted to have someone with Pete's legislative expertise join our policy team," said Earl Comstock, the telecommunications group's president and CEO. "We look forward to having him on board as we continue with our efforts to educate lawmakers on the vital role the competitive communications industry plays in bringing innovative services and choice to consumers."
One of Leon's first assignments may be to help voice Comptel's opposition to the AT&T, BellSouth merger without restrictions on the merged firm. The plan is pending before the FCC.
The Internet Society, meanwhile, has hired Terry Monroe away from Comptel to work as director for the group's expanded membership department. He has 20 years of experience dealing with telecom and Internet communities.
Monroe was executive vice president of business development and membership with Comptel. He began his career there as director of government affairs, developing Comptel's early Internet policy positions.
Before that he was a policy analyst at the New York Public Service Commission. He began his career at the National Telecommunications and Information Administration. Lynn St. Amour, the Internet Society's president and CEO, said, the group is "very pleased to have Terry joining us."
Also in the telecom work, the Independent Telephone and Telecommunications Alliance, which represents mid-sized telecom companies, has a new director of regulatory affairs in Joshua Seidemann. "ITTA is very lucky to have hired such a well-respected attorney with the breadth of experience that Josh has," said Lisa Zaina, ITTA's executive director.
During his 10 years in the telecom industry, Seidemann has represented dominant telephone carriers before the FCC. He recently was an associate at the Washington law office of Woods and Aitken and spent five years as an assistant deputy ratepayer advocate for New Jersey.
Satellite Group Gains Two Members
The Satellite Industry Association has increased the strength of its political signal with two new members.
Spacenet, a leading provider of satellite and hybrid terrestrial high-speed Internet services, has joined as an associate member. Arrowhead Global Solutions, a leading provider of satellite and terrestrial telecom networks and integrated information technology solutions to the government and corporate sectors, has joined as an executive member.
"Given its experience with both satellite and terrestrial broadband services, Spacenet will expand the SIA's voice and presence in the broadband sector," Executive Director David Cavossa said. Spacenet CEO Andreas Georghiou said his company looks forward "to becoming an active participant in the organization and helping to shape the future of the satellite industry's commercial and regulatory agenda."
Meanwhile, Cavossa said Arrowhead's experience with the Defense Department and intelligence agencies "will expand SIA's knowledge and presence in this area."
Quote Of The Week
"Every job that can be exported will be exported -- not because of wages but healthcare costs."
-- Intel CEO Craig Barrett, speaking at a health information technology conference on the need to bring healthcare costs down by switching to electronic records.
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