Rich Senator, Poor Senator

I didn't think much of this story until I read that last line. Wonder what that is all about and how it influences (if it does) the whole tenor of the health care or any kind of lobbying situation would have on him. Curious.

A Roll Call analysis of U.S. Senate financial disclosure forms shows 48 senators are not in the millionaire's club, but nonetheless nearly all reported minimum net worths above the typical American household. The remaining 50 Senators record minimum net worths of at least $1 million or more.

The survey included 98 Senators. Disclosure forms from newly appointed Sens. George LeMieux (R-FL) and Paul Kirk (D-MA) are not yet publicly available.

Wealth in the chamber ranges from Sen. John Kerry (D-MA) -- the richest Member of Congress overall -- who tops the list with a minimum net worth of at least $167.55 million, to Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT), who registers a negative $40,000."

Census: Poverty Rate Hits 13.2 Percent; Number of Americans Without Health Care Rises to 46.3

Just horrible.

(AP) The Census Bureau reports that the number of people lacking health insurance rose to 46.3 million in 2008.

That's up from 45.7 million in 2007, due to a continuing erosion of employer-provided insurance. Still, the level remained just below the peak of 47 million who were uninsured in 2006, because of the growth of government insurance programs such as Medicaid for the poor.

The nation's poverty rate increased to 13.2 percent, up from the 12.5 percent in 2007. That meant there were 39.8 million people living in poverty. It was the highest rate since 1997.

The statistics released Thursday cover the first full year of the current recession.

Labor Day Money-Saving Party Planning Committee

Here's a little distraction that might save you a couple bucks! I subscribe to a great blog called "The Cheapskate" and pick up all sorts of good tips, hopefully some of these might help you this weekend. Kiplinger's Fabulous Freebies 2009 and The Store Brand Taste Test are worth a look too.

1. Seven money-saving tips for a barbecue, starting with the obvious: Tell everyone to bring their own meat.

2. Three Dallas chefs share recipes for delicious party food that's fancy but inexpensive, like watermelon and sorbet.

3. Great Bargain Wines and Beers, all $10 or less, as recommended by Real Simple.

4. Ten ways to feed ten people for less than $20, including homemade pizzas and stew with fresh bread, from TheKitchn.

5. The best big-bottle "jug wines," which have double the vino of typical bottles, cost $14 or less, and are perfect for barbecues and outdoor parties, from the WSJ.

6. How to feed a group on location—say, at a beach house—without spending a fortune or making three dozen trips to the supermarket, from CheapHealthyGood.

7. Make it a wine and chips party, featuring wines under $15. (Cheese may or may not be in your budget.)

8. Marine Corps Railroad-Style Barbecue Sauce, a simple, inexpensive recipe made for spicing up (salvaging?) just about any piece of cheap meat, from The Dollar Stretcher.com.

Rich man, poor man

By GottaLaff

Via Americablog:

Just an interesting comparison. Poorest senators. Richest. Guessing that means Biden doesn't own 12 houses like Senator McMansion.

Biden is ranked the "poorest", J El Sid the 8th richest. But he was a P.O.W., so he doesn't eat arugula or have a pointy head. Balding head with a comb-over, maybe, but not pointy.