WASHINGTON -- Rep. Roscoe G. Bartlett of Western Maryland remains the wealthiest Marylander in Congress with assets valued between $1.7 million and $6.5 million, according to annual financial disclosure reports released yesterday.
With Congress increasingly populated by millionaires, Maryland's congressional delegation of eight House members and two senators is decidedly middle-class. Only Bartlett, a six-term Republican, and Rep. Benjamin L. Cardin, a Baltimore Democrat with assets valued between $1.3 million and $3.3 million, can be classified definitely as millionaires.
A third member, freshman Democratic Rep. C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger, the former Baltimore County executive, may be a millionaire. His report showed he has assets valued between $700,000 and $1.575 million and liabilities of between $200,000 and $450,000.
Ruppersberger's largest asset is Rupp & Associates Inc., a Timonium debt collection agency incorporated in 1994. He valued it at between $500,000 and $1 million.
Three years ago, he placed the firm in what was described as a blind trust. In his financial disclosure statement, Ruppersberger reported receiving income of $100,000 to $1 million from the trust.
Most of Bartlett's wealth is in real estate, including property in West Virginia and Michigan and five properties in Maryland. His largest asset is his 104-acre farm in Buckeystown, south of Frederick, valued at between $1 million and $5 million. His farm tenants paid hlm $50,000 to $100,000 in rent last year.
Cardin has investments in stocks, bonds, mutual funds and a retirement account. He is also the beneficiary of a trust established by his father. Cardin also reported receiving two expenses-paid trips -- a weeklong trip to Barcelona, Spain, from the Aspen Institute and lodging and food for three days in Hot Springs, W.Va., courtesy of the Tax Coalitlon's annual forum.
Rank-and-file members of the House and Senate, who were pald $150,000 last year, are required to file annual reports detailing their assets, liabilities and unearned income. Under federal law, the officials may re-port the values within broad ranges.
The state's senior senator, Democrat Paul S. Sarbanes, reported assets of $267,000 to $430,000, including retirement funds, a life insurance policy and credit union and bank deposits. Although he wasn't required to do so, Sarbanes also reported that his Baltimore home is valued at $100,000 to $250,000.
