~ Members of Congress are not required to share their returns with the public, although some have made it a practice.

WASHINGTON -- Missouri Republican Sen. Jim Talent and his wife earned $279,191 last year and donated more than $20,000 in stock to their church in suburban St. Louis, according to their federal income tax return.

The forms, reviewed at Talent's offices in response to a request by The Associated Press, offer a rare peek into the earnings and personal finances of Missouri's junior senator, who is seeking re-election this year.

Members of Congress are not required to share their income tax returns with the public, although some federal lawmakers have made it a practice. This is the first time Talent has done so, spokesman Rich Chrismer said.

The Talents' paid $43,590 in federal taxes in 2005. Most of their income came from the $162,100 salary Talent earned as a U.S. senator. Talent's wife, Brenda, earned $107,774 as a lawyer.

Talent's likely Democratic challenger this fall -- Missouri State Auditor Claire McCaskill -- also provided a copy of her 2005 tax return, showing income of $89,278 and charitable donations of more than $10,000. McCaskill declined to make public tax returns filed separately by her husband, millionaire housing developer Joseph Shepard.

McCaskill owns investments worth as little as $71,000 and as much as $240,000. More than 250 investments in real estate partnerships and companies in her husband's name are worth at least $12 million and possibly more than $25 million.

Talent's overall net worth has not changed much since last year, according to his latest financial disclosure form. He owns stocks, bonds and other investments worth as little as $318,000 and as much as $1,287,000.

Besides salary income, Talent and his wife earned $26,263 from interest on bank accounts and other funds, stock dividends and capital gains.