Legislation will tackle corruption in Washington by banning corporate PACs, banning insider trading, establishing term limits, getting dark money out of politics, and more
WASHINGTON, DC – This week, Representative Josh Riley (NY-19) and Representative Greg Landsman (OH-01) introduced the Drain the Swamp Act to fight corruption and return power to the American people. In response to blatant corruption at the highest levels of government and unprecedented attacks on our democracy, the Drain the Swamp Act is a comprehensive package of reforms to take on our rigged system, hold politicians accountable, and restore trust in government.
“Growing up in Endicott, I saw firsthand what happens when politicians put corporate interests over the needs of working families: plants close down, jobs get shipped overseas, and our communities suffer. I came to Congress to take on the corrupt political establishment that has hurt too many of my neighbors in Upstate New York and to fix the system that has been rigged against us for far too long,” said Rep. Riley. “The Drain the Swamp Act is a comprehensive reform package that bans corporate PACs, bans insider trading, establishes term limits, and gets dark money out of politics.”
“The blatant corruption in Washington will only end when Congress steps up. This is our moment for big change. It’s time to take on corruption, fix our broken politics and democracy, and return power to the American people,” said Rep. Landsman.
Rep. Riley and Rep. Landsman joined CNN’s The Lead with Jake Tapper to discuss the bill. You can watch their interview HERE.
Specifically, the Drain the Swamp Act would return power to the American people by:
- Ending Political Corruption
- Banning the President, Vice President, Members of Congress, and their immediate families from owning or trading stocks.
- Banning Supreme Court Justices and their immediate families from owning or trading stocks.
- Banning betting on political events and other government actions in prediction markets for: Members of Congress and their immediate families, the President and Vice President, political appointees, judicial officials, high-ranking military personnel, and other government officials.
- Prohibiting presidents, their immediate families, and their businesses from suing the federal government without bipartisan approval from Congress.
- Strengthening the emoluments clauses of the Constitution to stop presidents and federal officials from illegally accepting bribes and gifts.
- Holding Politicians Accountable
- Establishing 18-year term limits for the Supreme Court and Congress.
- Suspending pay for members of Congress during government shutdowns or if the public debt limit is reached.
- Revoking pensions for Congress, cabinet officials, and former presidents convicted of felonies.
- Establishing ethics rules for the Supreme Court.
- Preventing abuse of the presidential pardon power.
- Removing the statute of limitations for crimes committed by the President or Vice President.
- Defending Our Democracy
- Overturning Citizens United.
- Banning partisan gerrymandering.
- Banning corporate PACs.
- Banning untraceable “dark” money in politics.
- Ending voter suppression.
You can read the bill text of the Drain the Swamp Act HERE.
###
