Texas Congressvarmint Mike McCaul is the richest man in Congress not through his own doing but because he married the daughter of the Clear Channel Communications founder.

McCaul is a Tom DeLay baby, having been elected in 2004 after DeLay shoved through mid-decade redistricting in Texas, handing the newly created 10th Congressional District to McCaul on a dainty little tea service platter.

McCaul major accomplishment in congress was his attempt to require a Christian funeral service for every soldier killed in combat, even if the soldier and his surviving family were not Christians.  Once the crap hit the fan on that one, McCaul said that this bill was in response to the certified American fact that the Department of Veteran’s Affairs was not allowing Christian prayers at military funerals.   That, of course, was not true.  I was, however, quite impressed that such a big lie could fit in such a small brain.

Well, the newest is that McCaul is voting on bills that can and do directly influence his wealth.

The family of Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Austin, traded between $5 million and $23 million in companies lobbying for bills under his jurisdiction, according to a report in the Washington Post. But a spokesman denies any potential conflict of interest, citing safeguards that keep the congressman at arm’s length from the investments.

The safeguard?  Mike and the Mrs. never, ever discuss family finances.

I can see that.  She bought him a congressional seat and surely that covers both birthday and Christmas gifts for the next 3 or 100 years.

But, wild, shameless, and majorly profitable coincidences happen, you know.

[McCaul’s wife and children] invested through their trusts between $286,000 and $690,000 over nine transactions in Thermo Fisher Scientific. The company’s products include instruments to test for contaminated food, and it had registered in 2009 to push a food safety bill before the Homeland Security Committee, on which McCaul was a member.

McCaul’s family bought the stock while the bill was progressing and still owns it. The biggest single trade came in November 2010, just before the bill passed.  The transaction was listed as between $250,000 and $500,000.

You know, like answered prayers for rich people.

Thanks to Mary for the heads-up.