A story in today’s Kansas City Star examines how some of U.S. Senate candidate Claire McCaskill’s husband’s business dealings would create “several potential conflicts of interest” should McCaskill successfully unseat Sen. Jim Talent. Click here to read it.
In the story is an interesting bit that many may not realize. These guys are rich — really rich.
From the Star: A disclosure report filed with the Senate this year puts McCaskill’s net worth at between $13 million and $30 million, possibly more. Even the low end of that scale would make her one of the Senate’s 10 richest members, according to estimates by Roll Call, a Capitol Hill newspaper.
Republicans have been trying to turn “Mr. McCaskill”, businessman Joseph Shepard, into an issue in the final weeks of this campaign, repeatedly demanding Shepard release his tax returns to the media.
“[Jim and Brenda Talent] recognize when you serve in public office you forfeit a certain amount of privacy when it comes to financial information,” said Rich Chrismer, a Talent spokesman, in a press release sent out this morning.
According to the Star, the Talents reported a net worth last year of between $300,000 and $1.3 million.
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October 18th, 2006 at 10:28 am
What plan do the Talents have for handling ethics matters arising from their income? They don’t have their investments in a blind trust, and never have. And talking about potential conflicts of interest: what about all the business Bryan Cave gets because Talent’s wife is a partner there? What about their capitalizing on Talent’s influence? Talent is no saint. His tax policies have enabled McCaskill’s husband to make fat cash, so why try to make Claire ashamed of her wealth? Had it not been for his money, she may never have considered a career in public office; they don’t pay well at all. Talent will just say anything to keep his seat, won’t he?
October 18th, 2006 at 11:51 am
We heard Liz Brown say that Claire should spread some of that wealth and take out an ad on PubDef.
October 18th, 2006 at 11:54 am
The Talent’s income is reported between $300,000 and $1.3 million; that’s a pretty big spread! Glad they cleared that up.
October 18th, 2006 at 1:41 pm
and 13 to 30 or more is not ya wright
October 18th, 2006 at 2:04 pm
I have no problem with Mrs.McCaskill’s wealth (she maried well).I am more concerned about her winning and supporting issues that are important to me!
October 18th, 2006 at 7:40 pm
You mean to tell me in the good ol’ U-S-of A, that being rich is a crime? I’m sure McCaskill can abstain from voting on potentially conflicts of interest.
Republicans need to cease from futile attempts to discredit Demos.
After all…Niaknows making legal money…makes cents (smile)