Dear friend of OpenSecrets,
Personal financial disclosure (PFD) filings give the public insight into the finances of key government decision-makers. According to the most recent filings available, some members of Congress — including Nancy Pelosi and Mitch McConnell — have increased their wealth by tens of millions of dollars over the last two decades. We found that 291, more than half of our federally elected officials, are millionaires.
Here’s what OpenSecrets uncovered:
- Lawmakers invest hundreds of millions into stocks, with drugmakers, big banks, fossil fuel companies and tech giants among the most popular investments.
- Some members of Congress still serve on corporate boards while in office and are paid to do so. Others collect royalty checks every year from private companies.
- Most members do not hold their assets in blind trusts, allowing them control over their transactions.
The transparency PFDs provide helps to ensure a more accountable system of government. Making these filings and other datasets accessible on OpenSecrets.org gives the public the power to oversee our elected officials. Keeping these records current is painstaking work, much of which has to be done manually to ensure accuracy. With your help we're updating our PFD section to include the most recent data, and will soon begin tabulating the next year of filings to maintain this unique public resource. Look for breaking stories that mine the data in our OpenSecrets News section.
In this election season overshadowed by COVID-19, OpenSecrets’ independent and nonpartisan data and analysis is vital for citizens who increasingly get their news digitally. Your donation allows us to keep the financial activities of our elected officials transparent, and the public informed.
|
