September, 28 2022, 04:40pm EDT
New Stand Up America Poll: Nearly 80% of Americans Support Legislation to Ban Congressional Stock Trading
Yesterday, House of Representatives Leadership Released the Bill Text of Their Legislation to Ban Congressional Stock Trading
WASHINGTON
A new poll by Stand Up America and Data for Progressshows that nearly 80% of Americans support legislation to ban members of Congress from buying and selling individual stocks, including 75% of independents and Republican respondents.
The polling also shows nearly 60% of Americans are more likely to support congressional candidates this November if they agree members of Congress should not be allowed to trade stocks, including 55% of independents and 57% of Republicans, respectively. The polling comes just one day after House of Representatives leadership released the bill text of their legislation to ban congressional stock trading.
Stand Up America's founder and President, Sean Eldridge, issued the following the statement in response to the polling:
"Our representatives should be focused on public service, not personal profit. That's why an overwhelming majority of Americans agree that it's time to end stock trading by sitting members of Congress. Existing ethics laws do not go far enough to prevent members of Congress from using the information they have access to for personal gain.
"No more excuses. No more delays. It's time for action."
The new polling shows increases in public support from previous polling for both the legislation (previously 70%) and the likelihood of supporting a midterm candidate who supports the legislation (previously 49%) - demonstrating continued growth in public support for a ban.The polling comes in the wake of over 100,000 grassroots constituent actions by Stand Up America members.
This year, Stand Up America members across the country have sent nearly 100,000 constituent emails, made nearly 2,000 constituent calls, and submitted 1,850 letters to the editor urging Congress to implement a stock trading ban.
More information on the importance of a congressional stock ban is available here.
Stand Up America is a progressive advocacy organization with over two million community members across the country. Focused on grassroots advocacy to strengthen our democracy and oppose Trump's corrupt agenda, Stand Up America has driven over 600,000 phone calls to Congress and mobilized tens of thousands of protestors across the country.
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