This has become a scarce sight in Washington these days. Democrats and Republicans standing together, smiling even, as President Obama signed the Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge Act into law.
The STOCK Act bans members of Congress from insider trading. Obama said this was a necessary step to help restore the current “the deficit of trust” between American citizens and their representatives in Washington.
“The powerful shouldn’t get to create one set of rules for themselves and another set of rules for everybody else,” Obama said. The legislation echoes his campaign push for more economic fairness.
In another rarity, Massachusetts Senator Scott Brown out a press release touting today’s signing ceremony with President Obama.
His statement said, “I’m honored to receive these invitations from President Obama and I look forward to standing next to him as he signs these bills into law.” He first introduced the introduced the STOCK Act and crowdfunding legislation in the Senate.
Brown, a Republican in a very blue-leaning state, is trying to fend off his Democratic opponent, Elizabeth Warren, to keep his seat. That probably means more photo ops with the president, and less with likely GOP nominee Mitt Romney.
Obama invited eight lawmakers, including four Republicans, to the signing.
House Majority Leader Eric Cantor said the bipartisan support “shows that we can come together and deliver results for the American people.”
Sarah Muller