Due to the nature of the job, Members of Congress often receive information on actions that will be taken up by Congress before the public does. This has created a problem where some representatives use this information to enrich themselves by trading in the stock market. In the private sector, this is called insider trading, and it is strictly illegal.
As your representative, I am accountable to you, the residents of Wisconsin's Sixth Congressional District. I came to Washington to promote Wisconsin’s interests and help create a better future for our country, not use this position as a get-rich-quick scheme.
In a bid to root out this corruption, I introduced the Member Financial Transparency Act. This legislation would require Members of Congress to quickly disclose transactions in the stock market to either the House or Senate Ethics Committee within a week of the completion of the transactions, whereby that information will become publicly available.
It’s time Members of Congress be held accountable and stop providing themselves with special rules.
