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Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) criticized Speaker Mike Johnson’s (R-La.) attack on Democrats over a failed House vote, arguing Republican leadership could have banned congressional stock trading immediately without tying it to a voter ID provision.

Johnson Slams Democrats Over Vote

On Tuesday, Massie pushed back against Johnson’s criticism of Democrats after the House voted down legislation that combined a ban on congressional stock trading with a voter ID requirement for federal elections.

In a post on X, Johnson wrote, “Nearly 200 Democrats voted to ALLOW Members of Congress to participate in shady stock trading and voted AGAINST requiring voter ID at the polls.”

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He added, “These things prevent corruption and are COMMON SENSE.”

He further said, “Democrats are on the wrong side EVERY SINGLE TIME.”

Massie Calls Voter ID A ‘Poison Pill’

Massie disputed Johnson’s characterization of the vote, arguing that House leadership unnecessarily paired two separate issues.

“You could ban stock trading by U.S. Representatives tomorrow with a simple change to House rules. It wouldn’t even have to go through the Senate or be signed by the President,” he wrote on X.

He added, “Instead you put this political gimmick up for a vote which had a poison pill for Dems in it — Voter ID.”

You could ban stock trading by U.S. Representatives tomorrow with a simple change to House rules. It wouldn’t even have to go through the Senate or be signed by the President.

Instead you put this political gimmick up for a vote which had a poison pill for Dems in it – Voter ID.

— Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) July 28, 2026

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Lawmakers Clash Over Congressional Stock Trading Ban Bill

Lawmakers clashed over the Stop Insider Trading Act after the House passed the bill 232-198.

Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) and other Democrats criticized the legislation for not fully banning congressional stock trading, arguing it allowed lawmakers to keep and sell existing holdings and failed to include the president.

Rep. Joseph Morelle (D-N.Y.) accused Republicans of weakening the proposal by attaching the SAVE America Act’s voter-ID language.

Rep. Jim McGovern (D-Mass.) said the bill created a loophole by preventing only new stock purchases but allowing sales.

Reps. James Clyburn (D-S.C.) and Sean Casten (D-Ill.) also criticized the bill for excluding President Donald Trump, arguing stock trading restrictions should apply to the president as well.

Supporters, including Sen. Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), defended the measure, saying it introduced stricter rules while allowing business leaders to serve in Congress.

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