Senate Democrats Block Bill to Ban Congressional Insider Trading Over Voter ID Mandate
A bill aimed at banning congressional insider trading failed to advance in the Senate, with all Democrats voting against it and all Republicans voting for it, resulting in a 53-47 party-line vote. The bill, originating in the House and sponsored by Representative Bryan Steil, R-Wis., sought to prohibit members of Congress, their spouses, and dependent children from purchasing stocks and would require public notice before they could sell stocks. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., criticized the Senate Democrats' action, stating that 'EVERY Senate Democrat just joined EVERY House Democrat in voting AGAINST banning congressional stock trading.' Senator Pete Ricketts, R-Neb., the lead Senate sponsor, expressed disappointment that Senate Democrats failed to pass the bill, which had previously passed the House in a bipartisan manner. The bill's failure in the Senate was attributed to its inclusion of a nationwide voter ID mandate, which Democrats vehemently opposed, with Representative Joe Morelle, D-N....