It’s no secret that many politicians enter Congress humble, fiscally challenged servants of the people, and eventually, as if by some strange magic, retire fabulously wealthy. One of the examples of this wonderful life lotto machine that Washington, D.C., has become is California Senator Dianne Feinstein.
What’s the secret to her financial success? Why, it’s her politically connected husband, Richard Blum.
One of the ways Blum has enriched himself is by bidding on Federal government contracts on behalf of his companies. According to the New York Post, Blum’s company stands to make $1 billion (yes, that’s with a “b”) in commissions from the sale of U.S. Postal Service properties.
The US Postal Service plans to sell 56 buildings — so it can lease space more expensively — and the real estate company of the California senator’s husband, Richard Blum, is set to pocket about $1 billion in commissions.
Blum’s company, CBRE, was selected in March 2011 as the sole real estate agent on sales expected to fetch $19 billion. Most voters didn’t notice that Blum is a member of CBRE’s board and served as chairman from 2001 to 2014.
This feat of federal spousal support was ignored by the media after Feinstein’s office said the senator, whose wealth is pegged at $70 million, had nothing to do with the USPS decisions.
This isn’t the first-time companies with ties to Richard Blum have gotten government contracts that benefitted them greatly. In 2007, Feinstein was forced to resign as chairman of the powerful Military Construction Appropriations subcommittee after it was found that should she steered contracts to companies owned by her husband. Questions have also been raised about the current Postal Service contract with Blum’s company, as well.
In this general climate of discontent towards politicians in general, stories like this will only raise more questions about whom our government actually serves.
Original Article Here: http://www.ijreview.com/2015/01/234533-ever-wondered-senators-retire-rich-dianne-feinstein-shows-us/
