In a rare bipartisan move, lawmakers from both sides of the aisle — from progressive Democrats to pro-Trump conservatives — have come together to tackle Washington corruption head-on.
On Wednesday, a surprising coalition of lawmakers announced a sweeping reform bill to ban members of Congress and their families from trading individual stocks, a practice many Americans see as legalized insider trading.
The proposal, called the Restore Trust in Congress Act, was officially introduced by Rep. Seth Magaziner (D-RI) and Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX), a well-known America First conservative.
AOC Backs Bill to Stop Lawmakers From Profiting Off Taxpayers
Progressive firebrand Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) shocked many conservatives by throwing her full support behind the bill — and she didn’t hold back in her remarks.
“If anyone says, ‘This isn’t fair. I’d have to sell my stocks to run for Congress,’ maybe you should stay home,” Ocasio-Cortez declared.
She blasted it as ‘outrageous’ that some members of Congress think giving up their Wall Street portfolios is too much of a burden.
Ocasio-Cortez argued that Washington is overrun with millionaires who put personal profit over patriotism, adding that the reform could “level the playing field” and encourage more working-class Americans to run for office.
MAGA Conservative Delivers a Blunt Message
Rep. Tim Burchett (R-TN), a strong ally of President Trump, was even more direct:
“This Congress has been lining its pockets with taxpayer money, and by golly, it has to end.”
Burchett’s fiery remarks drew applause from conservatives fed up with career politicians cashing in while everyday Americans struggle with inflation, high taxes, and government overreach.
Americans Overwhelmingly Support This Reform
Even moderate Republican Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) highlighted how popular this bill is among voters:
“This isn’t an 80-20 issue. It’s 95-5, and the five percent against it are probably day trading on the House floor.”
Democrat Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) agreed, saying Americans deserve to know their representatives are making decisions for the country, not to boost their own stock portfolios.
Could the Ban Expand to the President and VP?
Right now, the legislation applies only to Congress. However, Rep. Magaziner hinted that a future amendment could expand the ban to include the President and Vice President, dramatically increasing accountability at the highest levels of government.
“Many of us in both parties support this idea,” Magaziner said. “We’re working to build the support needed to include them.”
Why This Matters to You
For decades, Americans have watched as Washington insiders got rich while the middle class paid the price. Many lawmakers have been accused of using inside information to profit from the stock market — while families faced soaring food prices, higher taxes, and shrinking savings.
This bill represents a major step toward restoring trust in our government and sending a message: lawmakers should work for the people, not for their wallets.
Key Takeaways:
- Bipartisan bill bans stock trading for members of Congress and their families.
- AOC joins forces with pro-Trump Republicans, shocking many on both sides.
- The bill could expand to cover the President and Vice President in the future.
- Supported by 95% of Americans, showing rare unity across the country.
Final Thoughts
This bill shows that when Americans speak loudly enough, Washington listens. While Democrats and Republicans rarely agree, the fight against insider corruption has brought unlikely allies together — proving that cleaning up Congress is a winning issue.
Whether this reform succeeds or not, it has sparked a national conversation about accountability, transparency, and who our leaders really serve.