Members of Congress get a number of generous benefits from their positions. They earn $174,000 annually (nearly three times the salary of the average American), they are provided with a sizable per diem for lodging and meals during their travels across the nation and abroad, they have the best health insurance that money can buy, and many will eventually benefit from a solid pension–among other benefits. However, an additional benefit has garnered the interest of and angered many Americans in recent years. It seems to be the case that many members of Congress trade stocks based on non-public information without repercussions.
A recent report by Unusual Whales, a platform tracking stock disclosures from lawmakers, found that at least 20 members of Congress had returns greater than Standard and Poor’s 500, at least five had returns of over 100%, an additional two members…
