Report: New members of Congress not flush

Published 12:00 am Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Alabama’s three freshman members of Congress will arrive in Washington with comfortable but not extravagant personal portfolios, The Birmingham News reported Tuesday.

The report was passed on financial disclosure forms filed with Congress.

The 2nd District’s new representative, Martha Roby, was paid $28,000 last year as a member of the Montgomery City Council. She did not disclose the salary of her spouse, who is an attorney with Balch and Bingham. The couple reported joint bank accounts worth between $15000 and $50,000. Roby also owns Hancey Mill Road Farm LLC, which was valued at between $50,000 and $100,000 but did not provide her any income.

The 7th District’s new rep, Terry Sewell, will take a pay cut when she is sworn in. She earned $285,000 annually as an attorney with the Maynard Cooper and Gale law firm. Like other members of Congress, she’ll be paid $174,000 per year.

Mo Brooks, the incoming congressman from north Alabama’s 5th District, filed in May and listed a $229,000 salary last year from his Huntsville law firm of Leo and Brooks. As a Madison County commissioner, he also was paid $63,617. He did not disclose his spouse’s salary with Huntsville city schools. He and his wife jointly own accounts worth between $100,000 and $250,000.