Congress Shouldn’t Be a Stock Trading Firm
The United States Congress has become a hotbed of financial corruption, with lawmakers using insider knowledge to enrich themselves through stock trading. While the American people struggle with stagnant wages, rising costs, and economic uncertainty, members of Congress are posting Wall Street-level returns—beating the market year after year.
If a regular citizen did this, it would be called insider trading—and they’d go to prison. But in Congress, it’s just part of the job. This bill puts an end to the rigged system by banning individual stock trading for lawmakers and replacing it with an annual salary bonus equal to the federal minimum wage.
How It Works
- Bans individual stock trading, hedge funds, private equity, and real estate speculation by members of Congress and their families.
- Prohibits blind trusts and other loopholes that enable hidden profiteering.
- Replaces lost “opportunities” with a minimum wage bonus added to their congressional salary.
Key Terms
- Blind Trust
- A financial arrangement where assets are managed by a third party, but in practice still allows lawmakers to benefit from insider influence.
- Minimum Wage Bonus
- An annual salary bonus equal to one year of federal minimum wage earnings ($15,080 at $7.25/hr full-time).
Full Text
Congressional Anti-Corruption Stock Act
Section 1: Stock Trading Ban
No member of Congress, their spouse, or dependent children may own, buy, or sell individual stocks, stock options, hedge funds, private equity, derivatives, or sector-specific funds. Violators will forfeit 100% of the illegal holdings and be permanently barred from running for office again.
Section 2: Blind Trust Prohibition
Blind trusts are prohibited. Members of Congress shall not use financial arrangements that obscure their investments or provide indirect influence over legislative decisions.
Section 3: Real Estate Speculation Ban
Members of Congress may own only one primary residence. Rental properties, flipping houses, commercial real estate holdings, and REITs are strictly prohibited.
Section 4: Permitted Investments
Permitted investments include broad-based index funds, bond market index funds, U.S. Treasury Bonds, Certificates of Deposit, and government securities. Retirement accounts (401k, Roth IRA) are permitted under these same restrictions.
Section 5: Minimum Wage Bonus
All members of Congress shall receive an annual salary bonus equal to full-time annual earnings at the federal minimum wage. Calculation: Federal Minimum Wage × 40 hours × 52 weeks ($7.25 × 40 × 52 = $15,080 per year). This bonus is taxable income.
Section 6: Enforcement & Penalties
Members of Congress must divest prohibited holdings within 90 days of taking office. Annual public financial disclosures are required. Violations will result in 100% forfeiture of illegal assets and a permanent ban from running for office.
Disclaimer
I’m not a lawyer, and this isn’t finalized legislative language — but I’m also not waiting around for someone else to write what’s clearly overdue. We need more single issue, readable bills.
These are serious drafts from someone running for Congress who believes voters deserve more than slogans and vague promises. And yes, once elected, I’ll work with the Office of Legislative Counsel, the Congressional Research Service, and policy experts to refine every section into fully enforceable law. That’s what they’re there for.
But make no mistake — the intent, urgency, and direction are already here.