[rayiner]

It makes sense to insulate Congressman from insider trading charges. They are exposed to so much inside information that the executive could bring charges against them on a whim. Which would have significant separation of powers concerns.

Of course, the answer to that is to require all Congressmen to put their assets in a blind trust.

[coldtea]

>It makes sense to insulate Congressman from insider trading charges. They are exposed to so much inside information that the executive could bring charges against them on a whim. Which would have significant separation of powers concerns.

How about disallowing them to trade altogether in the first place for as long as they hold office?

[rayiner]

I agree with that (hence the blind trust suggestion).

[pyre]

This would make more sense if there weren't career Congress-critters, though perhaps this would encourage movement in that direction...

[lsaferite]

Yeah, that is a huge issue in itself. Public office should not be a career but something you take time out of your career to perform.

[hueving]

It makes sense if an idiot were to come up with a solution in 5 seconds.

The answer is NOT to give them free reign to do it. It's to prevent them from being allowed to choose stock investments entirely. They get enough perks, they don't need free reign over the market.

[kasey_junk]

Or to decriminalize all insider trading.

[sjg007]

What about public disclosure of their stock holdings?

[tertius]

They are disclosed, but offline.

[knowaveragejoe]

For staff only, for the actual congresspersons they are online:

http://clerk.house.gov/public_disc/financial.aspx

[chii]

what does offline mean here?

I agree that public disclosure of their trades is viable, because if they decide to trade based on information they have, the public (whom they _serve_!) should also get the same opportunity.

[sjg007]

So can you do a FOIA? Or go to an office in DC?

[tertius]

Legislative Resource Center 135 Cannon House Office Building Washington DC, 20515-6612 Phone: [phone] Office Hours: 9:00 am - 6:00 pm

You can go here and make copies.