The 25 richest/poorest members of Congress: Why it pays to listen

@washingtonpost i think it'd be telling to see the 25 POOREST members of Congress. @dabeard
— cory provost (@coryprovost) December 27, 2011

Thank you, Cory Provost.

An online reader of The Washington Post, @coryprovost weighed in on Twitter after seeing our slide show of the 25 richest members of Congress. "I think it'd be telling,'' Provost tweeted us, "to see the 25 POOREST members of Congress.''

We thought so, too. So business producer Sarah Halzack built a gallery of members with the lowest net worth in Congress.

View Photo Gallery: These lawmakers had the lowest net worth in 2010, according to an analysis by the Center for Responsive Politics based on disclosures filed by the leaders.

Readers agreed with the Brooklyn-based Provost as well.

Both the richest and “poorest’’ lists originated from a Dec. 26 Post story by reporter Peter Whoriskey and a detailed graphic representation by Pam Tobey, Whoriskey and Dan Keating, based on data by the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics.

The two items had the second- and fifth-highest number of pageviews on the site in December, despite appearing very late in the month. They were fifth and seventh in January, as of Tuesday afternoon.

The two stories, told visually for a digital audience, reflect the bedrock watchdog role of The Post. And the second item carries a lesson for our readers, whether they be in print, on our Web site or through social media: We are listening.

We invite you to follow us on Twitter @washingtonpost. You can also tweet questions for editors using #askthepost.

View Photo Gallery: Members of Congress with the highest and lowest net worth in 2010, according to an analysis by the Center for Responsive Politics based on disclosures filed by the lawmakers.

David Beard is sitewide engagement editor for The Post and @dabeard on Twitter.

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