Cheney Makes Way More Than His Boss

Dick Cheney may report to George Bush, but he out-earned the president threefold last year, according to tax returns released yesterday. The first couple paid $221,635 in taxes on the $923,807 they made in 2007, ABC reports, while the Cheneys paid  $602,651 on their $3,042,767—up $900,000 over last year's income.

The biggest part of the Bushes' income came from the $400,000 presidential paycheck, but Laura Bush received a $150,000 advance for a kids’ book co-written with daughter Jenna. Only a fraction of the Cheneys' income came from his $212,000 vice presidential salary. They also made money from pension payments, Lynne Cheney’s book royalties, and her work with the American Enterprise Institute. Bush and Cheney gave the same amount, about $160,000, to charity last year.  (More George W. Bush stories.)