Rep. Elaine Luria (D-VA) is speaking out against a proposal to ban lawmakers from trading stocks, calling it âbullsh*t.â
Punchbowl Newsâ Max Cohen noted House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) is publicly âgoing to back a ban on stock trading among members.â
When asked for her thoughts on the matter, Luria replied, âSo my thoughts on it, you know, I think this whole concept is bullshit. Because I think that, why would you assume that members of Congress are going to be inherently bad or corrupt? We already have the STOCK Act that requires people to report stock trades.â
She continued, âWhy would you assume â I mean, the people that youâre electing to represent you, it makes no sense that youâre going to automatically assume that theyâre going to use their position for some nefarious means or to benefit themselves. So Iâm very strongly opposed to any legislation like that.â
Cohen then mentioned Rep. Abigail Spanberger (R-VA), who has âkind of led the charge on this.â
He asked Luria, âHave you talked with her about your concerns about trying to ban congressional stock trading, or is that something youâve kept to yourself so far?â
Luria replied, âNo, I mean that Iâve talked to her. I know that I donât agree with her on this issue. I mean, weâre great friends together in Virginia, but it was an issue where we differ.â
The outlet noted Luria and her husband, Robert Blondin, own between $1 million to $5 million in Facebook stock, $1 million to $5 million in ââNVIDIA stock, and $500,000 to $1 million in Netflix stock.
In 2021, Luria and her husband traded hundreds of thousands of dollars in stocks, as Punchbowl News reported.
Additionally, the outlet pointed out that Luria ânow finds herself in an unusual position â a vulnerable Democrat taking a tough and unpopular stand in the midst of a tough election year.â
According to CNBC, the legislation will likely be put up for a vote before the midterm elections.
