NEWS

Yarmuth gives away salary, again

Joseph Gerth

@Joe_Gerth

U.S. Rep. John Yarmuth announced that he has again donated his salary for serving in the U.S. House of Representatives to charity.

Congressman John Yarmuth laughs after accepting a plaque during the Martin Luther King Jr. Day services at King Solomon Baptist Church. Jan. 18, 2016.

In a press release Tuesday, Yarmuth said that he contributed his 2015 salary to 17 Louisville charities.

Yarmuth, who is a multi-millionaire, promised during his first run for Congress that he would give away his net income if he won that election. His office said that he has honored that pledge each year, giving away more than $1 million.

His pre-tax salary in 2015 was $174,000.

The charities to which Yarmuth contributed include: The Center for Women and Families; Commonwealth Fund for KET; Family and Children's Place; Family Scholar House; JCTC Foundation; Jewish Community of Louisville; The Library Foundation; Louisville Fund for the Arts; Louisville Orchestra; Louisville Urban League; Louisville Zoo; Maryhurst, Inc.; Metro United Way, Inc.; Muhammad Ali Center; Planned Parenthood of Indiana & Kentucky; Simmons College; and YouthBuild Louisville.

Joseph Gerth's column appears in the newspaper on Sundays. Reach him at (502) 582-4702 or by email at jgerth@courier-journal.com, or follow him on twitter at @joe_gerth.