In a rare moment of unity, lawmakers from very different political sides have come together to back a new proposal.
A rare bipartisan push to stop stock trading
The legislation aims to stop members of Congress and their families from trading individual stocks. The bill has been introduced with the name Restore Trust in Congress Act by Democratic Representative Seth Magaziner and Republican Representative Chip Roy.
The support for this measure comes from an unusual mix of progressives and conservative representatives. While these two groups often clash on most issues, they share a strong belief that elected officials should not use their positions to benefit financially from stock markets.
The move has drawn public attention because it suggests that corruption and conflict of interest in politics have become concerns for both sides. The law bars anyone serving in Congress and their close relatives from trading individual company shares. Lawmakers aim to restore faith in their decisions and ensure votes are not influenced by personal financial interests.
Strong warnings from supporters of the ban
During the announcement of the bill, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC) warned that people who find this proposal unfair may not be suited to serve in Congress. She argued that representatives should be ready to focus fully on public service, rather than protecting their personal investments.
She described it as “outrageous” that some lawmakers see the stock-trading ban as a heavy burden. Moreover, she pointed out that Congress has too few members from working-class backgrounds. By banning stock trading, she believes the system would become fairer, giving more ordinary people the chance to enter politics without competing against wealthy insiders.
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Another lawmaker Tim Burchett from the conservative side expressed frustration about how members of Congress have enriched themselves while holding office. He called for an immediate end to such practices, saying it was long overdue.
Pramila Jayapal also stressed how important it is for citizens to trust that their representatives are not thinking about their private stock portfolios when they vote. Voters want confidence that decisions are made for the people, not for personal gain.
The bipartisan nature of this movement is unusual. One Republican representative noted that support for the ban is overwhelming, with only a small minority in Congress resisting the proposal. He even claimed that lawmakers most deeply involved in active stock trading might be the ones opposing it.
Calls to expand the measure further
While the bill currently focuses only on Congress, the debate opened the door to bigger questions. Some lawmakers argued that the president and vice president should also face similar restrictions. At the moment, they are not covered by the proposal.
One of the bill’s sponsors suggested that support for including the top executive leaders could come later. He said lawmakers from both parties might add it through an amendment or introduce it as a separate bill if enough of them agree.
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For now, the Restore Trust in Congress Act stands as a rare show of bipartisan cooperation. The proposed law has gained momentum because it speaks to a basic issue of fairness and trust in democracy. Supporters say it is not about party politics but about ensuring lawmakers make decisions free from financial conflicts.
If passed, the measure would require members of Congress and their families to divest from individual stocks and avoid trading while in office. The aim is clear: to rebuild public confidence in the people elected to represent them.
