Reid thriving

U.S. Sen. Harry Reid, who has been relentlessly attacking Mitt Romney as out of touch with middle class people, substantially increased his wealth during the recession, according to a Washington Post/Center for Responsive Politics analysis of the finances of members of Congress.

Since 2004 Reid’s worth has risen from about $3.8 million to about $6.8 million. The rise, however, was not steady. It had ups and downs.

The study actually examined the finances of congressmembers well before the recession began. During 2004, 2005 and 2006, Reid was actually losing money. By mid-2006 he was down to about $3 million. But then his investments rebounded and by the end of 2007, when the recession began, he was up to about $4.4. Then he experienced another decline and by mid-2008 his worth was down to about where it had been in 2004. From then until 2010—the latest figures available—his wealth has risen sharply to about $6.8 million.

The Post also reported some detail about Reid’s money: “In 2004 and 2005, the Senate majority leader secured [legislation providing] $21.5 million to build a bridge over the Colorado River, linking the gambling resort town of Laughlin, Nev., with Bullhead City, Ariz. Reid owns 160 acres of undeveloped land in Bullhead City.”