Main Street

Millionaire Congressman tells constituents he is “struggling”

Congressman Danny Rehberg of Montana, one of the richest members of Congress, told a Missoula town hall last week that he is “struggling just like everyone else.”

Rep. Rehberg was answering a town hall attendee who asked why the representative wasn’t looking into raising taxes on the rich to address the deficit. After repeating a false claim that the Bush tax cuts helped stabilize the economy in the 2000’s (ummm…), Rehberg described his own family’s experiences:

“I’m a small businessman. My wife is a small businessman. You know she hasn’t taken a salary in ten years? She has not, as a result of the business, because we are struggling like everyone else… with the economy,” Rehberg said.

“What’s your net worth?” an audience member interjected.

Glad you asked, audience member! Rehberg’s net worth is estimated to be about $10.9 million, making him the 14th richest member of the House and the 23rd richest member of Congress. Just for context, Senator John McCain, who is married to a beer heiress and famously owns seven houses, is number 24.

Montana has an unemployment rate of 8.1 percent, and the average wage per job in 2009 was about $34,000. If Rehberg wants to show he understands the struggles of average Montanans, he can introduce a bill – any bill – that addresses the jobs crisis in his state.

But don’t vote to keep taxes low on millionaires, defund healthcare services for women, tacitly support the assault on worker’s rights, and then come home and pretend you’re struggling when you’re not. This is exactly why so many people hate politicians.