AOC and MAGA Have Something They Want to Work On Together? The old saw that politics makes strange bedfellows is apparent in this situation. Two outspoken and extreme politicians from opposite ends of the political spectrum are teaming up for some badly needed legislation. Republican Matt Gaetz and Democrat Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez have a new bill up for consideration. It has to do with the propensity of congressional members to trade stocks based on insider political information. This so-called political intelligence can boost the pocketbooks of lawmakers from both parties. Critics say this practice is a dangerous way to govern that puts monetary gain and greed in front of prudent and ethical government.
Extreme Lawmakers Reach Across the Aisle
Gaetz and AOC, including Representatives Raja Krishnamoorthi, a Democrat, and Brian Fitzpatrick, a Republican, sponsored the Bipartisan Restoring Faith in Government Act.
This bill would put a kibosh on stock trading by members of Congress and their spouses and children. Previous legislation similar to the measure have not emerged from committee, or gone to the floor for a full vote, but this latest bill may have stronger legs due to its early support from both parties.
More Details About the Bill
The idea is to keep members from profiting off votes or decisions that can move the stock price of certain equities. Legislators who buy or sell securities can profit when they know political intelligence about the financial markets. They buy low and sell high depending on the way the political winds blow in Congress.
The Bipartisan Restoring Faith in Government Act sponsors believe this legislation is a good example of when rival political factions can come together for a common cause.
“The fact that Members of the Progressive Caucus, the Freedom Caucus, and the Bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus, reflecting the entirety of the political spectrum, can find common ground on key issues like this should send a powerful message to America,” Fitzpatrick said in a statement.
AOC said the bill restores people’s trust in Congress and that law makers should not be making money trading on inside political information.
Insider Trading During the Pandemic
In recent years, the FBI has looked at reports that members profited from actions the government conducted during the Covid-19 pandemic. Legislators knew about shutdown mandates and vaccine development and were able to buy and sell stocks when their price fluctuated due to government decisions.
The Bipartisan Restoring Faith in Government Act also bans the ownership of securities related to natural resources and commodities such as oil and agriculture. These investments could fluctuate in price depending on how Congress voted on given measures.
AOC and Gaetz Are the Subject of Satire
As for Gaetz and AOC, the political pundit class noted that the pair are unlikely allies. Snark meister and Fox News personality Greg Gutfeld led the way with crassness on the program “The Five.”
“I smell a romantic comedy,” Gutfeld said.
“They come together to fight one of the most corrupt practices in politics, and they fall in love,” he continued. “They can’t help themselves. She’s got a French poodle. He’s got a strange hairline. But somehow they’re going to make it work.”
The jovial comments likely made both extremist lawmakers blush. Gaetz was especially perturbed. The Florida congressman pointed out that he and AOC were trying to improve ethics in government. Gaetz said his efforts would lead to governance that is “more honest and more ethical without that type of, I think, very childish and immature commentary.”
He even defended AOC for being “oversexualized.”
Gaetz makes a good point and he and AOC, in addition to the other bill’s sponsors, should be given credit for taking on an important problem in Congress. No one likes elites who trade on inside information that is not available to the public.
Plus, this is such a rare bipartisan act that Gaetz and AOC should not be criticized for some kind of budding relationship. AOC is engaged and Gaetz is married. Their personal privacy should be respected, and they should be judged on their legislative actions and intent, however humorous the chattering class is about them on talk shows.
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Author Expertise and Experience: Serving as 19FortyFive’s Defense and National Security Editor, Dr. Brent M. Eastwood is the author of Humans, Machines, and Data: Future Trends in Warfare. He is an Emerging Threats expert and former U.S. Army Infantry officer. You can follow him on Twitter @BMEastwood. He holds a Ph.D. in Political Science and Foreign Policy/ International Relations.
