New Jersey Democrat
Rep. Robert E. Andrews
What the Post found
Public projects, private interests
Spending with family connections: $3.3 million
Andrews has helped secure $3.3 million over the past decade for a scholarship program at Rutgers School of Law in Camden, N.J., where his wife is an associate dean in charge of scholarships and special legal programs, according to the school's Web site. Andrews sought an ethics opinion, and the committee concluded his wife had no "ownership interest" in the law school and the earmarks did not "affect the spouse's salary." The congressman said the earmarks help to provide legal services to the poor and his wife has no direct oversight of the program.
Andrews’s financial portrait
The Post examined the personal finances disclosed by all members of Congress and computerized by Center for Responsive Politics to show how they manage their assets and invest their money.
Andrews
House median
Estimated wealth
$547,503 in 2010
Change in estimated wealth
179% since 2004
Less wealth and more aggressive
Lawmakers holding fewer assets with riskier investment strategies and/or higher debts.
Spouse's estimated wealth in 2010
69% of Andrews's wealth
Wealthier
More aggressive
Financial approach
Spousal Assets
75 lawmakers report a significant amount of holdings in the names of their spouses. The assets include stocks, retirement funds, real estate and bank accounts.
What industries does Andrews invest in?
Many assets can be tied to specific industries, such as finance, agriculture or
natural resources. "Mixed" investments are assets not tied to a specific industry.
Andrews's estimated
2010 liabilities
$32,501
What asset types does Andrews hold?
Assets are lumped into groups such as real estate, stocks,
mutual funds or cash.
NOTE: "Mixed" investments are assets that are not tied to a specific industry. Charted change in annual estimated wealth is capped at 200 percent increase and 100 percent decrease for clarity. See the full methodology here.
SOURCES: Congressional financial disclosure forms, Center for Responsive Politics, Washington Post analysis.
About the data
The estimation of assets for lawmakers is based on calculating the midpoint of reported value ranges for holdings and liabilities that members of Congress list on financial disclosure forms. It does not reflect assets lawmakers are not required to disclose, such as personal residences and non-interest bearing bank accounts. The estimation is not intended to provide a complete portrait of the net worth of each legislator, but rather show their relative standing in Congress and how their holdings have changed over time.
If you're a member of Congress who would like to further clarify your financial portrait, please contact us at capitolassets@washpost.com.
