Lawmakers Not Feeling the Pinch?
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Now some fresh pickings from the Political Grapevine:
Wealth of Information
While many Americans are very concerned about making ends meet, members of Congress saw their personal wealth collectively rise more than 16 percent between 2008 and 2009.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The non-partisan Center for Responsive Politics has a new study on financial disclosures, showing nearly half of House lawmakers -- 261 -- are millionaires, a slight increase from the previous year. Of those congressional millionaires, 55 have an average wealth of $10 million or more, with eight in the $100 million-plus range.
In 2009, the median wealth of a House member was $765,000, that's an increase of $120,000 compared to the previous year. Median wealth for senators stood at nearly $2.38 million, up about a hundred-grand from 2008.
U.N.-Believers
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Religious freedom advocates here in the U.S. are urging United Nations' members to vote against a defamation of religions resolution backed by Islamic countries.
Critics worry the proposal does more harm than good and actually restricts religious freedom and leads to violence. A bipartisan letter signed by 42 members of Congress urges 150 heads of state to vote no.
Catholic League president Bill Donohue says -- quote -- "These Muslim nations already kill Christians and Jews with impunity -- they don't need any further encouragement to bring their idea of justice to the shores of other nations."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The Dog Whisperer
Tuesday we showed you Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin cuddling with his new Bulgarian sheepdog puppy. Now, he has asked Russians to help him come up with a name for that puppy.
Former President George W. Bush, who owns a Scottish terrier -- Barney -- wrote in his memoir about meeting Putin's other dog saying -- quote -- "A big black Labrador came charging across the lawn. With a twinkle in his eye, Vladimir said, 'Bigger, stronger, faster than Barney.'"
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Bush says he later told the story to the Canadian prime minister, who replied -- quote -- "You're lucky he only showed you his dog."