Rep. Anna Paulina Luna is forcing Congress to finally confront a corrupt system where politicians enrich themselves on taxpayer time while ordinary Americans struggle with inflation and broken promises.
Story Snapshot
- GOP Rep. Luna filed a discharge petition on December 2, 2025, to bypass House leadership and force a vote on banning congressional stock trading
- The Restore Trust in Congress Act has bipartisan support from over 100 lawmakers, but faces resistance from members profiting from insider information
- Congressional members outperform the market on average, raising serious questions about whether politicians use nonpublic information for personal gain
- No member of Congress has ever been prosecuted under the existing STOCK Act, despite widespread concerns about insider trading abuse
A System Rigged Against Hardworking Americans
For years, conservatives have watched politicians on both sides of the aisle use their positions to accumulate wealth while working families struggle with inflation and stagnant wages.
Rep. Luna’s discharge petition exposes a fundamental problem: members of Congress routinely outperform the stock market, suggesting they’re leveraging nonpublic information for personal enrichment. This isn’t a partisan issue—it’s a betrayal of public trust that demands immediate action and accountability.
It is done. I just filed a discharge petition to force a vote to ban stock trading in Congress.
Both Republican @SpeakerJohnson and @RepJeffries have acknowledged that insider trading in Congress is a serious problem and must be stopped, and have signaled support to stop the… pic.twitter.com/FFMx8WSVDd
— Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (@RepLuna) December 2, 2025
The Restore Trust in Congress Act Gains Momentum
The bipartisan Restore Trust in Congress Act, introduced by Rep. Chip Roy of Texas, prohibits members of Congress, their spouses, and dependent children from owning or trading individual stocks. Over 100 lawmakers across the political spectrum support the measure, demonstrating rare consensus on congressional reform.
Yet House leadership has stalled the bill, revealing that some members benefit from the status quo and actively work behind the scenes to block meaningful reform that would eliminate their insider trading advantages.
Existing Laws Lack Real Enforcement
The 13-year-old STOCK Act theoretically prevents federal officials from using nonpublic information for financial gain and requires disclosure of trades exceeding $1,000 within 45 days. However, the law has proven toothless.
Not a single member of Congress has faced prosecution under this statute, and no public records show any official paying fines for disclosure violations. This enforcement vacuum allows politicians to operate with impunity, knowing consequences never materialize regardless of their trading activity.
Market Outperformance Proves Insider Advantage
Data presented to Congress reveals that members of both parties consistently outperform the broader market, with performance improving when their party controls more government branches.
Dan Savickas, vice president of policy at the Taxpayers Protection Alliance, testified that this pattern “lends further credence to the public perception that congressional representatives are using their office for personal gain rather than public service.”
Rep. Burchett captured the frustration bluntly: politicians hear sensitive information in committee meetings before the public and exploit those connections for profit.
Leadership Resistance Exposes the Problem
House Speaker Mike Johnson kept the chamber out of session during the recent 43-day government shutdown, effectively stalling Luna’s push for action. Rep. Magaziner acknowledged that members from both parties actively lobby leadership to prevent the bill from reaching the floor.
Luna herself called the November hearing “for show,” expressing concern that watered-down legislation with “no teeth” might emerge instead of genuine reform. This resistance from leadership demonstrates that powerful members profit from the current system and will fight to preserve it.
A Test of Congressional Integrity
Luna’s discharge petition represents a critical moment for congressional reform. With 218 signatures required to force a floor vote, rank-and-file lawmakers now face a choice: stand with working Americans demanding accountability or protect the corrupt system that enriches their colleagues.
Conservatives have long criticized government corruption and cronyism. Supporting the Restore Trust in Congress Act proves those principles matter beyond campaign rhetoric, sending a powerful message that no member is above the law and that public service means serving the people, not personal portfolios.
