During the 2006 congressional race of Kentucky’s 3rd district, the LEO printed an article illustrating how members of Congress become wealthy while serving, even though their salaries are quite low. The author argued that Congress gets “what amounts to insider information” because they “know when they’ll vote on legislation that affects big, lucrative companies, just like they’re aware of changes in tax laws, impending government contracts and so on.”

During his campaign in 2006, former LEO editor and then-candidate John Yarmuth agreed that such insider knowledge presented an ethical conflict. He criticized Anne Northup, his opponent at the time, for voting on legislation affecting her financial holdings, while promising if elected he would “divest himself of holdings that could mean a personal gain for him if he voted on an issue.”

Along with such promises, Yarmuth has never understated the importance of GE and Ford to Louisville’s economy. He’s worked to craft legislation to help these companies, and has a voting record that reflects his loyalties to these Louisville businesses. In fact, he believes in them so much, he bought stocks in both companies after he began pushing their lobbied-for legislation.

When elected to Congress, Yarmuth did not have any financial holdings in GE or Ford. But, in 2009 he bought between $100,000 and $250,000 in stocks of both.

Earlier this month, Yarmuth’s ethics were brought into question with regards to his stock in Almost Family, a home health care company run by his brother. Yarmuth had gone back on his 2006 promise by not only voting on, but helping to write legislation affecting his Almost Family holdings, which may be up to $5 million.

Almost Family receives over 80% of its revenues from Medicare reimbursements, and the Congressman Yarmuth has worked tirelessly during his time in Congress to expand those reimbursements. Over half of the legislation co-sponsored by Yarmuth has been health care related, and much of it would raise his own profits, including his Medicare for All Act.

In an interview with WHAS radio’s Mandy Connell earlier this month, Yarmuth attempted to excuse his purported unethical behavior. To avoid the appearance of conflict, Yarmuth said that he had not bought or sold any stock in Almost Family since his election. He didn’t want his constituents to think he “knew something.” However, he forgot to divulge the addition of Ford and GE to his financial portfolio.

Last year, while buying their stock, Yarmuth helped Ford collect $5.9 billion in federal dollars through a loan program created in Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007. Last month, Yarmuth touted his role in GE’s expansion that brings more jobs to Louisville. He also introduced legislation to provide them with a $24.9 million tax break. Although this is good for Louisville’s economy, it brings into question Yarmuth’s motives. Is he crafting legislation to help his constituents, or is he using his insider information to once again help himself?