I was disappointed with Speaker Pelosi's tone-deaf statement on stock trading by members of Congress. Even in our "free-market" economy, ordinary people are subject to restrictions on trading when they have access to material non-public information. Yet elected representatives have repeatedly abused their positions for personal gain, even in violation of existing rules for office-holders. Republicans know that most Americans oppose this kind of abuse, and are trying to use that sentiment to tar Democrats with the taint of corruption. Fortunately, Sens. Jon Ossoff and Mark Kelly have introduced a bill to ban direct stock trades by Congress members and their immediate families. I urge you to throw your support wholeheartedly behind this effort. Though it may not be at the top of anyone's legislative priorities list, it is an opportunity to pass a good measure with at least some Republican support -- and to take the cudgel away from those who would use it in bad faith to discredit any future Democratic campaign. Please support the Ban Congressional Stock Trading Act!
