Common Cause urges passage of STOCK ACT

Thursday’s scheduled action on the STOCK Act gives the House of Representatives an opportunity to put the public interest ahead of private gain and to take a small step toward restoring public trust in our government, Common Cause said today.

“Poll after poll confirms that most Americans believe corruption is running wild in Congress, and indeed throughout government,” said Bob Edgar, president and CEO of the non-profit government watchdog group. “The apparent ability of at least some members to profit in the stock market based on information obtained as part of their official duties deepens that belief.”

Edgar joined representatives of several other good government organizations and Reps. Louise Slaughter, D-NY, and Tim Walz, D-Mn., the STOCK Act’s sponsors, at a Capitol press conference to urge passage of the legislation.

“The Senate passed a strong version of the STOCK Act last week, 96-3. Incredibly, the House leadership now has redrafted this bill, which stands for greater government transparency, in secret,” Edgar said. “Perhaps even worse, they’ve removed provisions added by the Senate to require those in a growing Washington industry – legislative intelligence gathering – to disclose their activities. The House needs to pass the STOCK Act tomorrow and then work with senators so that it goes to the President in the strongest form possible.”