Sweeping Reform Bill Targets Lobbying, Stock Trading, and Term Limits: Congress and Supreme Court Face Major Overhaul

This resolution is essentially a massive "We Hear You" to the American public's frustration with Washington. It acknowledges that trust in government is in the basement – with nearly 70% of Americans distrusting the government since 2007 (and 59% wanting major changes in 2023) – and lays out a plan to shake things up.

Cleaning Up the Swamp?

The core idea is to overhaul how politicians operate, both during and after their time in office. Key changes include:

• No More PAC Money: Members of Congress and candidates would be banned from taking cash from political action committees and lobbyists. This directly addresses the 77% of the public who want to limit campaign donations.
• Lifetime Lobbying Ban: Former members of Congress would be permanently barred from lobbying. This goes further than what most Americans think; almost 1 in 3 believe former members of Congress should never be allowed to lobby, and 65% support at least a 5-year ban.
• Stock Trading Blackout: No more holding or trading individual stocks for members of Congress while in office. This tackles the widespread (over 80% support) bipartisan agreement that lawmakers shouldn't be playing the market with insider knowledge.
• Blind Trusts: Members of Congress, their spouses, and dependent children would have to put certain investments into a "qualified blind trust" – and they can't touch them until 180 days after leaving office.
• Term Limits: Representatives and Senators would be limited to 12 years total in Congress. The resolution notes that 5 out of 6 Americans are itching for a constitutional amendment to make this happen.

Supreme Court Gets a Makeover, Too

The resolution also tackles the Supreme Court, where public confidence hit a historic low of 25% in 2022.

• Code of Ethics: The Justices would finally get a binding code of ethics.
• 18-Year Terms: Supreme Court Justices would have 18-year term limits, with regular appointments to keep things fresh. This lines up with the 68% of Americans who want term limits for Justices.

Real-World Impact – Who Feels It?

• Everyday Voters: The aim is to restore faith in government, making it more responsive to regular people instead of special interests.
• Challengers to Incumbents: Term limits and campaign finance restrictions could level the playing field.
• Members of Congress: They'd face tighter rules on their finances, lobbying, and how long they can serve.
• Lobbyists: Their influence would be significantly curtailed, especially the "revolving door" between Congress and K Street.
• Supreme Court Justices: They'd face ethical rules and term limits, a major shift from the current lifetime appointments.

The Big "But"

While the goals are popular, the resolution doesn't spell out the how. Implementing and enforcing these changes would be a huge undertaking. There's also the question of whether these reforms, while addressing public concerns, might have unintended consequences. For example, the lobbying ban could be tough to enforce completely, and blind trusts aren't always foolproof. Term limits, while popular, could also mean losing experienced lawmakers. But, it is a clear signal that the public's demand for change is being heard, at least in principle.