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11 | The "Changes in Net Worth of U.S. Senators and Representatives" is the first part of the Personal Gain Index, a four-part study that examines the extent to which members of the U.S. Congress have prospered during their tenure as public servants. |
12 | Personal Gain Index |
13 | Changes in Net Worth of U.S. Senators and Representatives (Personal Gain Index) |
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15 | In this study, we look at changes in net worth during an incumbent's time in office. This allows us to: |
16 | - See which incumbents had the largest gains in net worth |
17 | - Compare the gains in net worth experienced by congressional incumbents with what happened to the net worth of the people they represent. |
18 | Ballotpedia |
19 | Researchers used data provided by OpenSecrets.org to calculate the change in net worth of each congressional incumbent from either 2004 or the year he or she was first elected, if that year was after 2004. The earliest average was then adjusted for inflation. This data affords constituents the ability to see the real increase (or decrease) of each member's net worth. The data used to calculate changes in net worth may include changes resulting from assets gained through marriage, inheritance, changes in family estates and/or trusts, changes in family business ownership, and many other variables unrelated to a member's behavior in Congress. |
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