WASHINGTON, D.C. - Democrats in the Georgia delegation may object to the assumption that only the wealthy get elected to Congress. <br>
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According to personal finance records released Friday, Sen. Max Cleland and Reps. John Lewis and Cynthia McKinney reported virtually no income or assets last year other than their $145,100 salaries. <br>
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Cleland even listed more than $10,000 in revolving credit card debt. <br>
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The other Georgia senator, Democrat Zell Miller, shares a blind trust, valued between $15,000 and $50,000, with his wife Shirley, but he made more money two years ago as an unemployed former governor. When he came to Congress, Miller left behind $130,000 in salaries as a professor at two universities, $56,250 in consultant fees from Philip Morris Management Corp. and more than $100,000 in director's fees from numerous companies. <br>
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Miller listed $80,157 in retirement benefits, and Cleland, who lost both legs and an arm in a Vietnam grenade blast, reported $41,161 in veteran's pay. <br>
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The latest disclosure reports generally repeat findings from previous years that show Republicans are the wealthiest members of Georgia's congressional delegation. <br>
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The reports don't list net worth, and assets are reported in large ranges, but it appears Republican Johnny Isakson was the delegation's richest member for the second straight year. Isakson reported 102 assets, including between $100,000 and $1 million for the sale of his Rabun County home and several stock and bond transactions worth more than $250,000. <br>
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Jack Kingston reported capital gains and dividends on one stock valued between $100,000-$1 million and several other smaller assets, including rental fees for four Savannah apartments. <br>
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His Republican colleague John Linder reported dividends from Grayling Industries worth between $100,000-$1 million, $250,000-$500,000 in interest on a money market fund he shares with his wife, and several other smaller sources of income. <br>
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Republican Rep. Mac Collins reported $21,765 in income for his role as an adviser to Collins Trucking Co, a family-owned business. <br>
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Although Lewis reported no income beyond his salary, he received $6,000 that was donated to charity for three college speeches and was awarded a $25,000 gift from the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation for his work as a civil rights leader. Civil rights business dominated most of the 41 trips for which he was reimbursed, by far the most in the delegation. <br>
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Another Democrat, Sanford Bishop, listed small amounts of interest on six bank accounts and $50,000-$100,000 in income for rent on a Starkeville, Miss., house. He reported the same amount for a dividends on a money market and securities account, jointly with his wife. The report says Bishop gained more than $50 million for sale of his Columbus, Ga., house, but spokesman Selby McCash said that was a misprint, although he couldn't provide the correct figure. <br>
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Republican Reps. Bob Barr, Saxby Chambliss, Nathan Deal and Charlie Norwood filed extensions, and their reports were unavailable Friday.
