Dem
47
GOP
53
The Democrats have a year or so to figure out their lines of attack for the midterms. Thus far, some of the more sausage-y stuff, like impoundment, doesn't seem to be landing. So Democrats are now trying a new angle: attacking Republicans for garden-variety corruption.
In particular, they are jumping on Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) for buying stock during the Trump-induced market crash following "Liberation Day," when Americans were liberated from trillions of dollars. Here is the list of 19 individual stocks she bought. It is heavy in tech stocks that could be affected by a trade war. Did Greene know in advance that the tariffs would soon be paused? Was this insider trading? Having congresscritters get special deals of one kind or another is something that ordinary people understand—and don't like. More reports on stock purchases and sales by members are expected in the next few weeks. Senators and representatives have 45 days to report stock transactions after they make them.
What Democrats want is a law that bans members of Congress from buying any individual stocks. If they want to invest in the stock market, the law would limit them to publicly traded ETFs or mutual funds that own a large number of stocks. That would prevent some possible abuses (although not abuses where the member knew in advance that the entire market would go up or down). If Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) refuses to bring the bill to the floor for a vote, Democrats are planning to hammer Republicans until the midterms for their willingness to tolerate insider trading.
The Democrats push on stock trading is part of an attempt to reuse their 2018 playbook, when they flipped 41 Republican seats. The pitch will be that the Republicans are corrupt and backed by equally corrupt billionaires. It is a simple argument that is easily understood by most voters. (V)