Democrats divided over effort to force vote on banning lawmaker stock trading

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Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.) introduced a discharge petition earlier this month, hoping to jolt the long-stalled debate and force a vote on a bipartisan bill to bar lawmakers, their spouses, dependent children and trustees from owning, buying or selling individual stocks.

Lawmakers in both parties broadly agree on the need for reform regarding stock trading, but differ on how to approach it. Because a discharge petition is seen as a shot at House leadership, a successful effort likely would require widespread Democratic buy-in.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) blasted the effort at a Tuesday press conference, even as several members of his conference broke ranks to back it.

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“If she’s interested in dealing with corruption, do something about the active ongoing crime scene coming out of 1600 Pennsylvania Ave., the most corrupt administration in American history. And it’s not even close. And we don’t hear a peep from her or any of her colleagues about even extending the stock ban to the executive branch to Donald Trump to JD Vance or perhaps even to the Supreme Court,” Jeffries said.

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The House Administration Committee, led by Chair Bryan Steil (R-Wis.), held a hearing last month to address the issue of stock trading, though no final proposal emerged from the discussion.

Rep. Jim McGovern (D-Mass.) echoed similar sentiments, saying the “corruption” coming from the White House “is so intense, it would make Richard Nixon blush.” He noted any ban extending to the executive branch would include future Democratic presidents, as well.

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“If we don’t pass an anti-corruption bill that addresses the corruption of Trump, then I think we haven’t fulfilled the limits of what we need to address,” said Rep. Julie Johnson (D-Texas), who added Tuesday that she hasn’t looked at the petition yet.

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“The corruption we’re seeing at the White House and with this administration is unprecedented, and it should be part of any story, but of course, like you know, it doesn’t mean that this Congress should not take the lead on banning members from trading individual stock,” said Rep. Greg Landsman (D-Ohio), who signed the petition.

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