but from now on at all public events he has to wear a Zildjian hat.

I don't really know anything about this guy, but that is pretty cool of him. I mean, he's rich compared to most, but a total assets worth $3.6 million is not *that* rich. Not rich enough that another $120,000 is something to which he can just turn up his nose. Good on him, and I'd be interested in knowing how many other congressmen--the really rich ones--have done, or would do, something similar.

Pocket Ninja: I don't really know anything about this guy, but that is pretty cool of him. I mean, he's rich compared to most, but a total assets worth $3.6 million is not *that* rich. Not rich enough that another $120,000 is something to which he can just turn up his nose. Good on him, and I'd be interested in knowing how many other congressmen--the really rich ones--have done, or would do, something similar.

I'm guessing not many.

Pocket Ninja: I mean, he's rich compared to most, but a total assets worth $3.6 million is not *that* rich. Not rich enough that another $120,000 is something to which he can just turn up his nose.

That's what I thought, too. He's well-off, but not so much that $120k salary isn't still a significant sacrifice for him to donate. That's definitely more than just a gesture. Good for him.

Poor thing will just have to make do on the kickbacks now.

This guy is my congressman and I'm quite proud to be able to say that.

TruckerGut: Poor thing will just have to make do on the kickbacks now.

I think all the Kentucky kickbacks campaign donations go to McConnell.

Good on him for doing this....and holding to a campaign promise. I'll toast him with a shot of some good ol' Wild Turkey. Or maybe something from that jar of clear liquid that my relatives in Knott County gave me.

How many of the charities are run by family members and political cronies?

Sir Cumference the Flatulent: How many of the charities are run by family members and political cronies?

This, or he just got a whole shiatload of good PR for his re-election bid for $120K.

It is sad that whenever I hear of anyone doing anything good I immediately try to figure out their angle.

He will make it all back in three or four speeches.There are very few magnanimous politicians to go around.

"If he were a Republican, the MSM wouldn't report his political affiliation."

-what the trolls will be coming in to say.

lordofcheese, i got one of those in my stocking this year

Pocket Ninja: I mean, he's rich compared to most, but a total assets worth $3.6 million is not *that* rich. Not rich enough that another $120,000 is something to which he can just turn up his nose.

FTFA: with annual income and royalties ranging from $1 million to $5 million from stock in Sonny's Restaurants.

i don't think he's missing the $120k very much.

TFA: GROUPS GETTING MONEY

Alzheimer's Association, Boyshaven...

I hear they got a pile of money from Mark Foley too.

/somebody get those kids a space bar and a capital H, and quick

Why didn't he donate his "Special interest" funds? I'm sure that amounts to much more than a salary.

He owns stock turning $1-$5 million a year in Sonny's...

The BBQ chain?

I went back to read more of the article. Nothing to any food banks, or to youth recreational organizations. Or anything to do with teaching health eating habits.

Don't wanna cut into that bottom line, do ya.

microdome: I'm guessing not many.

Which is even greedier than it seems, considering that politicians nearly always use "public service" as a springboard to a more lucrative post-political career. Typically, it's based on the connections they made while in office, and the gleaned expertise they can resell.

Coolhaus: Typically, it's based on the connections they made while in office, and the gleaned expertise they can resell.

Christ, that little bit of was like channeling Ric Romero for a second. Sheesh.

)wildcardjack: He owns stock turning $1-$5 million a year in Sonny's...

The BBQ chain?

I went back to read more of the article. Nothing to any food banks, or to youth recreational organizations. Or anything to do with teaching health eating habits.

Don't wanna cut into that bottom line, do ya.

Link (new window)

No health initiatives there, eh?

Days before filing for re-election, Rep. John Yarmuth is giving away money

I stopped reading right there.

Does anyone have the link/spreadsheet that lists the Senate/House members and how much they donated to charity by year? I remember seeing that in a story a couple of months ago, but my Google-Fu is weak this morning.

Pocket Ninja: I don't really know anything about this guy, but that is pretty cool of him. I mean, he's rich compared to most, but a total assets worth $3.6 million is not *that* rich.

Who cares? The article says he's a demoncrat and this move just proves he's a farking commie.

Congressional salaries should be inversely proportional to the amount of money spent to win that seat.

Pocket Ninja: I don't really know anything about this guy, but that is pretty cool of him. I mean, he's rich compared to most, but a total assets worth $3.6 million is not *that* rich. Not rich enough that another $120,000 is something to which he can just turn up his nose. Good on him, and I'd be interested in knowing how many other congressmen--the really rich ones--have done, or would do, something similar.

Yeah but hey. There's this other charity, the US Government, that rich people like him don't like to pay in to. The whole thing is a publicity stunt so he'll get re-elected (surprise anyone?).


What a farked up country. A triple millionaire is "not that rich."

moothemagiccow: What a farked up country. A triple millionaire is "not that rich."

What exactly do you mean is farked up about our country from this? The fact that somebody is able to create wealth for themselves and then give some money that they make to charity? Yeah, that sucks. Compared to somebody like Warren Buffett (w/ a net worth of around $55 billion...who also gives a lot of money to charity), $3 million truly isn't "that rich."

There are definitely a lot of things that are farked up about our country...but this strikes me as one of those things that are right with it.

And in the midst of all of it, follows through on a campaign promise. Which in itself is something nice. (When someone promises to only serve a certain amount of terms, note the actual follow-through rate is roundabout 50%. The others, by the time their time comes, are in just long enough to get their first tastes of the benefits of seniority, and wind up sticking around. When that happens, 'but-but-but you promised' is usually not enough to get them voted out.)

If he were a Republican, the MSM wouldn't report his political affiliation.

We can easily test that theory if a Republican does the same thing.

Donating your salary to charity does NOT make you a good person.

I just wish that he'd chosen a better charity than the United Way. Buncha scam artists.

JFK already did it.

Welcome to 40 years ago....

Chameleon: I just wish that he'd chosen a better charity than the United Way.

Alzheimer's Association, Boyshaven, Brain Injury Association of Kentucky, Bridgehaven, Brooklawn, CASA, Cedar Lake Lodge, Center for Women and Families, Children's Hospital Foundation, Christian Care Communities, Community Health Charities of Kentucky, Dare to Care, Elderserve, Girl Scouts of Kentuckiana, Historic Homes Foundation, Home of the Innocents, Jewish Community Center, Kentucky African-American Heritage Center, Kentucky Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression, Legal Aid Society, Louisville Deaf Oral School, Louisville Fund For the Arts, Louisville Urban League, Louisville Waterfront Development Corporation, Harbor House, Maryhurst, NAACP, New Zion, Planned Parenthood, Simmons College, The Bingham Clinic, The Fairness Campaign, The First Tee of Louisville, The Kentucky Humane Society, The Library Foundation, Wellspring, and Youth Alive would want to have a word with you: as per TFA, the esteemed Representative gave his money to ALL of these charities... not just the Metro United Way.

If his donation becomes a tax write-off, it really isn't a donation. Hope he doesn't sprain his wrist patting himself on the back.

espiaboricua: Brain Injury Association of Kentucky

"Serving basically everyone living in Kentucky."

JQPublic: If his donation becomes a tax write-off, it really isn't a donation.

If it's such a "no big thang" why don't more people do it?

The Why Not Guy: If he were a Republican, the MSM wouldn't report his political affiliation.

We can easily test that theory if a Republican does the same thing.

Schwartzenegger. He reduced his salary to 1$ so there could be more money in the public fund. I don't really recall wether his political affiliation was mentioned in the articles about that. Probably not, he's usually jsut thought of as the Governor.

Now if Barron Hilton ran for any office he has my vote shyt I would even try to vote twice

I'm not impressed. Basically, it's the candidate saying "I'm willing to pay $120,000 to be a congressman."

Mitt Romney (R) has similarly promised not to accept a salary if elected president. If the promise not to accept a salary gets him elected, it will be a bargain compared to the $18 million of his own money he's already spent on the campaign.

The founding fathers had it right:
The 1st United States Congress voted to pay Washington a salary of $25,000 a year-a large sum in 1789. Washington, already wealthy , declined the salary. Congress urged him to accept the salary, and he eventually agreed to do so. A dangerous precedent could have been set otherwise, as the founding fathers wanted future presidents to come from a large pool of potential candidates - not just those that could afford to do the work for free.
(according to Wikipedia)

as the founding fathers wanted future presidents to come from a large pool of potential candidates - not just those that could afford to do the work for free.

Are there many people running for Congress who are leaving $30,000 per year jobs?

Sure, the salary means some people will "move up" but there aren't a lot of people who are living on food stamps moving to DC.

Frankly, I don't want someone being my congressman who can't make it in the real world and earn a six figure salary on their own. There is too much (even local) finance stuff congressmen are in charge of that I want them to be able to handle even mediocre amounts of money.

Jim_Callahan: Schwartzenegger. He reduced his salary to 1$ so there could be more money in the public fund. I don't really recall wether his political affiliation was mentioned in the articles about that. Probably not, he's usually jsut thought of as the Governor.

Great, then the claim that only Democrats get press for acts of charity is now proven false. And please, don't even start whining that people don't already know Mr. Schwarzennegger is a Republican. That would be almost as retarded as saying a call for quarantine of Americans with AIDS is "moderate."

but did he have a big laser light show?

did he adopt a fat kid?

Mosey: as the founding fathers wanted future presidents to come from a large pool of potential candidates - not just those that could afford to do the work for free.

Are there many people running for Congress who are leaving $30,000 per year jobs?

Sure, the salary means some people will "move up" but there aren't a lot of people who are living on food stamps moving to DC.

Frankly, I don't want someone being my congressman who can't make it in the real world and earn a six figure salary on their own. There is too much (even local) finance stuff congressmen are in charge of that I want them to be able to handle even mediocre amounts of money.

Well la-dee-farking da for you. I'm not acceptable Congress material because I can't buy and farking sell you? "Finance stuff"? That's pretty goddamn specific right there! I think you ought to base an argument on that bullshiat phrase!

TheXRayStyle: moothemagiccow: What a farked up country. A triple millionaire is "not that rich."

What exactly do you mean is farked up about our country from this? The fact that somebody is able to create wealth for themselves and then give some money that they make to charity? Yeah, that sucks. Compared to somebody like Warren Buffett (w/ a net worth of around $55 billion...who also gives a lot of money to charity), $3 million truly isn't "that rich."

There are definitely a lot of things that are farked up about our country...but this strikes me as one of those things that are right with it.

???? I wasn't arguing with the statement, I was farking depressed by it. I'm not stupid.

moothemagiccow: ???? I wasn't arguing with the statement, I was farking depressed by it. I'm not stupid.

My question is: why do you find it depressing that people are able to create wealth and give large amounts to charity?