I just received an email from Legistorm announcing the availability of a database that shows the personal financial disclosure forms of members of Congress and their staffs.  The purpose is to make it easier for "Joe and Jane Citizen" (that’s you and me) to see if our legislators have any conflicts of interest.  Of course I went to the site straight away to see how my personal Congress Critter, Rep. Foxx, and her staff are represented.  A couple of interesting discoveries:

• Rep. Foxx has what appears to be a fairly extensive portfolio that includes lots of companies like Smuckers, Microsoft, Wal-Mart, Verizon, etc.  I’m willing to bet that most members of Congress have similar financial holdings so it would be almost impossible for Senators and Representatives to not work on legislation that directly effects the companies that they have interests in.  I’m hoping that people don’t fly off the deep end and start saying that there’s a conflict of interest just because someone owns shares in particular companies.  For instance just because Foxx owns shares of Verizon I don’t think she should have to recuse herself from anything telecomm related.  On the other hand if Verizon made up 99% of her portfolio and represented all of her nest egg then that would be a different thing.
• The travel expenses for her office reveal a trip made by former staffer Deana Young Funderburk to something called the Humpty Dumpty Institute.  Gotta love the name.  Here’s how they describe themselves:
• Young Funderburk worked for Tom Delay before joining Foxx’s staff.  Great reference, huh?
• Staffers have to reveal a lot about themselves on these forms.  IRA, pensions, debts, rental incomes, etc.  It’s all there and when I looked at it the reality of being a "public servant" really hit home.  Would you want the world to be able to see all of your finances like that?