Reports show several Georgia millionaires in Congress

<p>Sen. Johnny Isakson of Georgia is most certainly a millionaire. By just how much is not clear.</p><p>According to his personal financial disclosure released Thursday, the Republican from Marietta who made his fortune in real estate had at least $8 million in assets in 2006. Those assets could be worth as much as $18 million, but their precise value is hard to determine because Washington lawmakers are required only to report broad ranges of value.</p><p>For example, Isakson's largest holding was a 12-acre plot of land in the mountains of northeast Georgia. Checking a box on the disclosure form, he listed its value as between $1 million and $5 million.</p><p>Alongside millions of dollars in stocks, he reported a house in Marietta worth between $500,000 and $1 million, as well as a condominium in Athens worth less than $100,000.</p><p>Lawmakers aren't required to report the values of their primary residences, or of personal property such as automobiles.</p><p>Isakson, who was paid the standard congressional salary of $165,200, earned a comfortable supplemental income from his investments, taking in at least about $800,000 in dividends, interest and capital gains.</p><p>Isakson's wealth far exceeds that of the state's senior senator, Republican Saxby Chambliss of Moultrie, who reported assets totaling between $200,000 and $430,000, mostly in stock.</p><p>But Isakson isn't the only millionaire in the state's congressional delegation.</p><p>Rep. Tom Price, a Republican and former doctor from Roswell, reported that he and his wife have at least $6 million in investments and real estate holdings, including a vacant lot in St. Simons worth at least $1 million.</p><p>Rep. Lynn Westmoreland, a Republican from Grantville, reported that he and his wife own millions of dollars in real estate.</p><p>According to his report, Westmoreland's wife, Joan, bought an ownership stake in 498 acres of land in Russell County, Ala., worth $1 million to $5 million and later sold her share in 434 acres in Troup County worth $1 million to $5 million. She also owns a half share in 44 lots in LaGrange worth between $250,000 and $500,000, and the couple together own a rental property in Sharpsburg.</p><p>Although reports were due last month and released publicly Thursday, many Georgia lawmakers received extensions, and their reports were not available.</p><p>The reports also show any gifts or privately funded travel that lawmakers received.</p><p>Chambliss, who was chairman of the Agriculture Committee last year before Republicans lost power, was reimbursed for four domestic trips for farm-related speaking engagements. The trips were to Kissimmee, Fla., paid for by the Farm Credit Council; to Morton, Minn., paid for by the Minnesota Corn Growers; to Lubbock, Texas, paid for by the Texas Corn Producers; and to Asheville, N.C., paid for by the American Sugar Alliance.</p><p>Isakson did not report being reimbursed for any trips.</p>

http://accesswdun.com/article/2007/6/96242