Congress votes their Wallets First

Lawmakers heavily invested in defense

Lawmakers heavily invested in defense

Study Shows Lawmakers Have As Much As $196 Million Invested in Defense Companies

ANNE FLAHERTY
AP News

Apr 03, 2008 18:09 EST

Members of Congress have as much as $196 million collectively invested in companies doing business with the Defense Department, earning millions since the onset of the Iraq war, according to a study by a nonpartisan research group.

Not all the companies in which lawmakers invested are typical defense contractors. Corporations such as PepsiCo, IBM, Microsoft and Johnson & Johnson have at one point received defense-related contracts, notes the report by the Washington-based Center for Responsive Politics.

The center's review of lawmakers' 2006 financial disclosure statements suggests that members' holdings could pose a conflict of interest as they decide the fate of Iraq war spending. Several members earning money from these contractors have plum committee or leadership assignments, including Democratic Sen. John Kerry, independent Sen. Joseph Lieberman and House Republican Whip Roy Blunt.

The study found that more Republicans than Democrats hold stock in defense companies, but that the Democrats who are invested had significantly more money at stake. In 2006, for example, Democrats held at least $3.7 million in military-related investments, compared to Republican investments of $577,500.

Overall, 151 members hold investments worth $78.7 million to $195.5 million in companies that receive defense contracts that are worth at least $5 million. These investments earned them anywhere between $15.8 million and $62 million between 2004 and 2006, the center concludes.

It is unclear how many members still hold these investments and exactly how much money has been made. Disclosure reports for 2007 aren't due until this May. Also, members are required to report only a general range of their holdings.

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The Republican Good News Fairy-- Indeed

This Modern World

Taiwan cabinet plans to prop up stock market

UnHuh.. get with that Neocon program, Ma, and start using the public funds to make sure the Wealthy Elite of Taiwan stay fat and happy FIRST and prop up your admin's performance rating at the same time. yes the " Free" Markets always need that Publicly SPONSORED PROZAC shot under modern ' conservative' regimes. it's the secret ingredient.

Published: Reuters - Monday, Jun 30, 2008
http://www.reuters.com/article/hotStocksNews/idUSTP26393020080629

Taiwan announces stock market stimulus package


TAIPEI (Reuters) - Taiwan's cabinet will take steps to prop up the ailing stock market, including encouraging insurance companies to invest more of their T$8 trillion ($263 billion) in assets in the market, local media reported on Sunday.

Newspapers detailed the steps in their Sunday editions following a late Saturday meeting where the cabinet discussed ways to shore up the market , which tumbled 3.4 percent on Friday to a five-month closing low.

Other steps the cabinet will take include encouraging major government funds to invest more in the market.

The drop in Taiwan's stock market has been part of a broad global selloff, but it has been particularly acute amid a flight of foreign money.

In the month of June alone, foreign funds have taken a net T$115 billion out of the Taiwan stock market, the biggest outflow for a single month since last November

Ping over to TaiwanMutters to glean the yam-isle's further debaucheries. ( hits might wake them up also , as they seem to haven fallen asleep just as their vigilance is most needed.).

Truth Rings Eternal

The Case against Bush

Kucinich Introduces 35 Articles of Impeachment

it may come to nothing, but at least theres an official list of infractions on record now.