How this Republican is already 'creating a new headache for Speaker Mike Johnson': report

Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.) has already made a major announcement for a major legislative push as soon as members return to Washington D.C. after Labor Day.

Politico reported Tuesday that Luna is aiming to gather signatures for what's known as a "discharge petition" (a way of bypassing House leadership) to force a vote on banning members of Congress from trading stocks. The publication described Luna's push as something that is already "creating a new headache for Speaker Mike Johnson" during the month-long August recess.

The 2012 STOCK Act already prevents members of Congress from trading based on insider knowledge and requires lawmakers report all stock trades in their financial disclosure. But Luna is pushing for an outright ban, and reportedly has support from Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.)

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"It’ll happen as soon as we get back," Luna said of her petition.

The publication reported that an outright ban on stock trading is a concern for members on both sides of the aisle who have significant portfolios that would require immediate divestment and potentially large tax obligations. This could impact Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) who earlier this year bought between $21,000 and $315,000 worth of stock just before a major market raly.

More recently, Rep. Mike Kelly (R-Pa.) was recently in the spotlight after his wife bought shares in the Cleveland-Cliffs steel company after learning of an investigation that could make the company's shares more valuable due to tariffs imposed on imported steel. Kelly's wife bought the shares before news of the investigation went public.

If the Florida Republican manages to get 218 signatures, then the issue will get a full vote on the floor of the House of Representatives even if Johnson objects. Luna's discharge petition is only the latest problem for Johnson, as Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) is also planning to gather signatures for a discharge petition to compel the Department of Justice to release all remaining evidence from its 2019 investigation into convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

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Click here to read Politico's full report (subscription required).