Chabot worth more than Cranley

Personal financial disclosure reports that show how much money each member of Congress earns – or is worth – are being released today.

As usual, Rep. Steve Chabot’s report covering 2005 contains no surprises:

The six-term Republican from Westwood earned no income other than his $162,100 congressional salary, gave no speeches, had no debts, held no positions and went on just one trip – a weekend jaunt to nearby Baltimore with the conservative Heritage Foundation.

About the only thing worth noting about his 10-page handwritten report is that Chabot, 53, owns stock in Applebee’s, Cincinnati-based Cintas Corp., and The Sportsman’s Guide, an online site that offers deals for hunting and camping equipment.

Altogether, Chabot has a modest portfolio of bank accounts, bank CD’s, retirement accounts and stock that is worth between $385,000 and $1.2 million. These assets earned him between $9,000 and $30,000 last year.

Chabot’s Democratic challenger in this year's election for the 1st Congressional District, on the other hand, is worth much less.

In a four-page handwritten report filed with the House Clerk last month, John Cranley, 32, indicated that his salary for last year was nearly $91,000 – which is $71,000 less than members of Congress make each year.

Cranley earned about $55,000 for serving on the Cincinnati City Council and $36,000 for being an adjunct professor at the University of Cincinnati College of Law.

His portfolio consists of stock in Ford Motor Co., a mutual fund, investment in a partnership and a retirement account that, combined, are worth between $17,000 and $81,000.

But Cranley, a lawyer, still owes between $50,000 and $100,000 in student loans.

We'll post details from other members of Congress here as they become available.