U.S. Senator Mark Kelly from Arizona has put forward a bill that aims to put an end to congressional stock trading. This legislation, known as the Ban Congressional Stock Trading Act, would require all members of Congress, along with their spouses and children, to place their stocks into a blind trust or sell them off. Kelly’s office insists this move is necessary to prevent any use of insider information for personal gain.
Kelly emphasized that as Americans struggle with rising living costs, they should not have to worry about their elected officials making money through insider trading. He was clear in his statement, “The only way to stop insider trading in Congress is to stop members of Congress from trading stocks. Period.” Kelly seems confident that the American public is on his side with this issue.
Backing up his stance, Kelly referenced a survey conducted by the Program for Public Consultation at the University of Maryland. The survey found that a staggering 86% of Americans support such legislation. This includes a solid majority across political lines: 88% of Democrats, 87% of Republicans, and 81% of Independents.
Kelly is hopeful that this bill will help restore trust in the government and address some of the issues plaguing Washington. Senator Jon Ossoff from Georgia has also taken up the cause, introducing the bill alongside Kelly. Ossoff pointed out that members of Congress have unique access to confidential information, which they could potentially exploit for financial gain.
Hellbound and Down 