Miers' Wealth Declined Due to Mother's Care, Church Donations

Press reports today note that financial disclosure forms filed by Harriet Miers reveal that her assets have dropped dramatically since coming to Washington, D.C., from $552,000 -$1.13 million in 2000 to $218,000 - $595,000 in 2004 (the most recent form available, filed in May 2005).  Part of the reduction is due to the 75% drop in her salary as she left her law firm ($624,000) to work at the White House ($151,000) (If confirmed, her salary as a Supreme Court Justice will be $199,200.)  Press reports give two additional reasons for the decline in her assets:   

• Miers has been primarily responsible for paying for the care of her 91-year-old mother, who has been ailing for a decade.   Miers paid for a full-time caregiver for many years and, since July 2005, she has financed her mother's move to a skilled nursing facility.
• Miers gives at least 10-12% of her annual income to her church, Valley View Christian Church in Dallas, which she has attended for 25 years.

Miers' financial disclosure forms:

• 2004
• 2003
• 2002
• 2001
• 2000

Press coverage:

• Austin American-Statesman
• Business Week
• law.com
• Seattle Post Intelligencer
• Washington Post I
• Washington Post II