Congress hardly witnesses progressives and far-right Republicans coming together on anything, but three polarizing representatives are finding common ground over an unlikely but significant matter: congressional stock investments.
Reps. Mouth-Breather, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) of the Progressive Caucus, Matt Gaetz (R-FL) of the Freedom Caucus, and Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), co-chair of the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus, introduced the Bipartisan Restoring Faith in Government Act on Tuesday. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) has signed onto the bill as well.
The bill, if passed, would prohibit members of Congress, their spouses, and their dependents from trading in stocks and making financial investments.
Ocasio-Cortez commented that members of Congress having the ability to trade stocks “erodes the public’s trust in government.”
She added, “When Members have access to classified information, we should not be trading in the stock market on it. It’s really that simple.”
Gaetz said, “Members of Congress are spending their time trading futures instead of securing the futures of our fellow Americans. We cannot allow the Swamp to prioritize investing in stocks over investing in our country.”
He continued, “We all view this as a critical first step to return the House of Representatives back to the People.”
Fitzpatrick tweeted Tuesday, “The fact that Members of the Progressive Caucus, the Freedom Caucus, and the Bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus, reflecting the entirety of the political spectrum, can find common ground on key issues like this should send a powerful message to America. We must move forward on issues that unite us, including our firm belief that trust in government must be restored.”
We must move forward on issues that unite us, including our firm belief that trust in government must be restored.
— Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick 🇺🇸 (@RepBrianFitz) May 2, 2023
“Members of Congress, including their dependents, must be prohibited from trading in stocks while they are serving in Congress and have access to sensitive, inside information. This is basic common sense and basic Integrity 101. And we all view this as a critical first step to return the House of Representatives back to the People. I thank @RepAOC, @RepMattGaetz, and @CongressmanRaja for joining me in this effort.”
And we all view this as a critical first step to return the House of Representatives back to the People. I thank @RepAOC, @RepMattGaetz, and @CongressmanRaja for joining me in this effort.
Read more here ⬇️:https://t.co/G0zFRnngiz
— Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick 🇺🇸 (@RepBrianFitz) May 2, 2023
Reporter Olivia Beavers wrote, “NEW: Turns out banning stock trading in Congress makes for some strange bed fellows. Three names I never expected to see leading a bill together: Reps. @AOC, @RepMattGaetz and Problem Solver’s Co-Chair @RepBrianFitz.”
NEW: Turns out banning stock trading in Congress makes for some strange bed fellows.
Three names I never expected to see leading a bill together: Reps. @AOC, @RepMattGaetz and Problem Solver’s Co-Chair @RepBrianFitz. pic.twitter.com/8FN0RnroVs
— Olivia Beavers (@Olivia_Beavers) May 2, 2023
AOC and Gaetz team up to introduce bipartisan ban on stock trading in Congress https://t.co/A6dThhcLCd
— David Grosse (@DavidPGrosse) May 2, 2023
