Sens. Josh Hawley and Rick Scott (Photo: Screen capture)
Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) got into it with Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL) on Wednesday during a hearing in the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
At issue is Hawley's demand to pass legislation that would ban lawmakers from trading stocks. In the past, there have been accusations that lawmakers have inside information that enables them to profit from the purchase or sale of stocks.
Punchbowl News reporter Max Cohen relayed the "wild" exchange between Hawley and a number of GOP members who ganged up on him.
"Let's be honest, this is a publicity show," claimed Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-OH).
"I practice what I preach," claimed Hawley. "I don't have individual stocks. I don't trade in stocks. I'm not a billionaire, unlike others on this committee."
While Hawley made the comments in an exchange with Sen. James Lankford (R-OK), he was seated next to Scott, one of the wealthiest members of the U.S. Senate.
Scott smiled to himself. He ultimately called the bill "disgusting."
Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) takes issue with the bill because it excludes staff working for lawmakers, those in the executive branch, and judicial members. He noted that if a judge were to make a key ruling that determined something about a company, they could also be trading stocks involving that company using their own inside information.
Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) criticized GOP members who argued that the bill didn't do enough, and said it should be opposed. She called it an important start.
Business Insider reporter Bryan Metzger cited Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) calling the bill to ban the stock trading "legislative demagoguery."
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