From 2019 to 2021, during the time of the pandemic — 183 current senators or representatives reported a trade of a stock or another financial asset by themselves or an immediate family member while more than half of them, 97, sat on congressional committees that potentially gave them insight into the companies whose shares they reported buying or selling, according to an analysis published last week in the New York Times.
Ten of them with potential conflicts are ours — six from Tennessee, two from Georgia and two from Alabama. All but one of the “ours” on this sad and disgusting list are Republicans.
Among Tennessee’s contributions are U.S. Rep. Chuck Fleischman, R-Ooltewah, and Tennessee Sen. Bill Hagerty, as well as House Reps. John Rose, of Cookeville; Mark Green, of Clarksville; Diana Harshbarger, of Kingsport; and Steve Cohen, a Memphis Democrat.
From Georgia are U.S. Reps. Rick Allen, of Augusta, and Austin Scott, of Tifton. No — Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Rome, is not on the list. Nor are the Peach State’s Democratic Sens. Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock.
Hailing from North Alabama is Rep. Mo Brooks, of Huntsville, and Sen. Tommy Tuberville, of Auburn.