YAKYM OP-ED: Why I’ve Never Traded a Stock in Congress, as Promised

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congressman Rudy Yakym (IN-02) published an op-ed in the Times-Union titled “Why I’ve Never Traded a Stock in Congress, as Promised.” Yakym makes the case for banning members of Congress from trading individual stocks. He highlights his own commitment to Hoosiers and calls out the 198 House Democrats who voted against the Stop Insider Trading Act.

Read excerpts below, and the full op-ed HERE.

“When the folks of Indiana’s Second District sent me to Washington, I made a commitment. I would never trade stocks as a member of Congress. And I’ve kept it. Because serving you comes before playing the market.”

“Members of Congress sit through classified briefings. They attend committee markups. They know which bills are moving, which industries are about to be regulated, and which contracts are about to be awarded, long before Hoosiers do. You don’t need a finance degree to see the problem.”

“So while I’ve kept my promise, that’s not enough. It should be the law. And I fought to make it one… Because at the end of the day, this isn’t about left or right. It’s about right and wrong.”

BACKGROUND:

• Since taking office, Congressman Yakym has never bought, sold, or traded an individual stock.
• Congressman Yakym was an original cosponsor of the Stop Insider Trading Act (H.R. 7008), led by Rep. Bryan Steil (R-Wis.).
• The bill passed the House with Yakym’s support, while 198 House Democrats voted against it, and on September 30, every single Senate Democrat voted against it.