ITHACA, NY (607NewsNow) – Congressman Josh Riley is targeting corruption in politics.
On June 10, Riley, along with Ohio Representative Greg Landsman, introduced the Drain the Swamp Act.
Citing “blatant corruption at the highest levels of government and unprecedented attacks on our democracy,” the bill seeks to hold politicians and officials accountable in an effort to restore trust in government.
“Growing up in Endicott, I saw firsthand what happens when politicians put corporate interests over the needs of working families,” said Riley. “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. 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.”
Bill Provisions
If passed, the Drain the Swamp Act would:
- ban the President, Vice President, members of Congress, and their immediate families from owning or trading stocks
- ban Supreme Court Justices and their immediate families from owning or trading stocks
- ban betting on political events and other government actions in prediction markets for: Members of Congress and their immediate families, the President and the Vice President, political appointees, judicial officials, high-ranking military personnel, and other government officials
- prohibit presidents, their immediate families, and their businesses from suing the federal government without bipartisan approval from Congress
- strengthen the emoluments clause of the Constitution to stop presidents and federal officials from illegally accepting bribes and gifts
- Establish 18-year term limits for the Supreme Court and Congress
- Suspend pay for members of Congress during government shutdowns or if the public debt limit is reached
- Revoke pensions for Congress, cabinet officials, and former presidents convicted of felonies
- Establish ethics rules for the Supreme Court
- Prevent abuse of the presidential pardon power
- Remove the statute of limitations for crimes committed by the President or Vice President
- overturn Citizens United
- ban partisan gerrymandering
- ban corporate PACs
- ban untraceable “dark” money in politics
- end voter suppression.
“The blatant corruption in Washington will only end when Congress steps up,” added Rep. Landsman “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.
You can read the full text of the bill here.
