Latest news with #CincinnatiCityHall
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Landsman: It's time to ban stock trading in Congress and rebuild public trust
My wife and I just sold every single one of our individual stocks. We did so because we know that public trust is essential, and yet so many no longer trust their government. This is the same reason I advocated for the establishment of the first-ever Office of Good Government at Cincinnati City Hall several years ago. Public trust in government has been low for years, with only 22% of Americans agreeing elected officials are working in their best interest. But few issues unite people like this one − more than 80% of Americans think members of Congress shouldn't be trading stocks. 'It was a mistake': What to know about U.S. Rep. Greg Landsman stock trades Some lawmakers have used insider information to gain financially and have been convicted in the past. It's wrong, and with reforms, we can fix this and begin to rebuild trust. In Congress, I'm leading this effort by cosponsoring the bipartisan Transparent Representation Upholding Service and Trust (TRUST) in Congress Act. The TRUST in Congress Act is designed to end insider trading and requires members of Congress, as well as their spouses and dependent children, to either divest from individual stocks or place their investments in an arrangement where they have no knowledge of or control over how the assets are managed. While the Trust in Congress Act is not yet law, I made the decision to become fully compliant with the legislation because of how important this is. Earlier this year, my wife and I started the long process of selling every single one of our individual stocks and reinvesting them in mutual and exchange-traded funds that we do not control. I'm likely one of the first members of Congress to do this, but hopefully others follow our lead. It was an expensive process, but the right thing to do. I know Americans see a system that's broken, and I'm determined to be part of the generation that fixes it. Opinion: Landsman needs to explain why he failed to disclose stock trades There's been renewed momentum this year around banning stock trading in Congress, but the bill has not been voted on yet. Instead, Congress has been focused almost entirely on a budget bill that gives tax breaks to the super wealthy and big corporate investors at the expense of everyone else. More than 14 million Americans will lose health care, and millions more will lose food assistance. Plus, this budget would add trillions to the deficit. This kind of budget bill could be a reason why nearly 80% of Americans lack trust in their government. Members of Congress continuing to trade stocks doesn't help. I do believe we can restore faith in politics and government by making it clear we only work for you. Getting members of Congress out of the stock-trading business − and free from the influence of big money interests − will be a big part of the solution. I want every one of my constituents to know that my focus is entirely on serving them. That's why I'm not only leading on these reforms but practicing what I preach. I want other members of Congress to see what we did and follow our lead − and to join me in passing the Trust in Congress Act. U.S. Rep. Greg Landsman, a Democrat, represents Ohio's 1st Congressional House District and is a former Cincinnati councilman. He has traveled to Israel and the Middle East over a dozen times, including four times in his first term as a member of Congress. Landsman also worked in Israel from 2015 to 2020, before becoming a member of Congress, supporting philanthropic efforts. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Trust in Congress Act would ban stock trading in Congress | Opinion
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Hi! I'm Scott Wartman. Here's why I'm excited to cover City Hall
Hello! Scott Wartman here, the new Cincinnati City Hall reporter. I'm not new to reporting or the city. I've been with The Enquirer since 2005. It's my hometown paper. I'm excited for my new beat. I love my hometown and appreciate the opportunity to tell the stories of the city and its 52 neighborhoods. I also look forward to holding those in power accountable. So who am I? So glad you asked. I grew up on Cincinnati's West Side, as my German last name and Elder diploma (Class of '98) can attest. For the past seven years, I've covered Hamilton County and the local congressional delegation. That meant when a controversial issue came out of the White House or the Capitol, I'd be the one calling our local members of Congress, who often didn't want to talk with the press. I don't know if you've been following the news out of Washington, D.C. but there's a lot of it of late. So this has kept me busy. I've also covered Hamilton County government and all the drama between the Bengals and county commissioners. I'll be trading in that drama for the drama at City Hall. So far, the mayor's race hasn't disappointed. I have big shoes to fill, replacing reporting powerhouse Sherry Coolidge. I would love to hear from you and what you think I should be covering. I'll be introducing myself throughout the city in the coming months at coffee shops. Stay tuned and follow me at for more information on when and where. Look forward to meeting you. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Meet Scott Wartman, the new Cincinnati City Hall reporter
