Rep. Katherine Clark (D-MA) Introduces Legislation To Stop Trump From Profiting Off The Presidency

[babylonsister]

http://crooksandliars.com/2016/11/rep-katherine-clark-d-ma-introduces

Rep. Katherine Clark (D-MA) Introduces Legislation To Stop Trump From Profiting Off The Presidency
By Sarah P


Trump is a grifter. A con man. A snake oil salesman.

snip//

To put it simply, Donald Trump has allowed the Office of the President to be put on the market for sale. He has failed at casinos, steaks, water and a litany of other products, but the United States is something that he absolutely can sell. And sell it, he will.

Katherine Clark, a Democratic representative from Massachusetts is not having any of it and this past week introduced legislation specifically crafted to put giant road blocks in front of Donald Trump and his carnival of sycophants and family members.

Here is her tweet:

Clark released the following press release on November 17th:

"Washington, D.C. -- Congresswoman Katherine Clark has introduced legislation to ensure that U.S. Presidents are required to resolve any conflicts of interest with regard to financial interests and official responsibilities. Current law prohibits federal office holders from engaging in government business when they stand to gain profit. The President and Vice President are currently exempt from this statute. Clark’s Presidential Accountability Act removes this exemption and requires the President and Vice President to place their assets in a certified blind trust or disclose to the Office of Government Ethics and the public when they make a decision that affects their personal finances. This issue has been elevated to greater importance as concerns of conflicts of interest have surfaced in the first week of the President-elect’s transition period. From the Trump Organization’s federal contract to operate the President-elect’s hotel in the Old Post Office Pavilion in Washington, D.C. to the scale of his debt to foreign banks, the President-elect’s business interests present an unprecedented level of conflict. Trump has also appointed his children to serve in leadership positions on both the President-elect’s transition team and his businesses. Clark’s Presidential Accountability Act prohibits the President from engaging in government responsibilities from which they or their families can benefit financially.

“The President of the United States has the power to affect how our tax dollars are spent, who the federal government does business with, and the integrity of America’s standing in a global economy,” said Clark. “Every recent president in modern history has taken steps to ensure his financial interests do not conflict with the needs of the American people. The American people need to be able to trust that the President’s decisions are based on the best interests of families at home, and not the President’s financial interests.”

Previous American presidents including Lyndon Johnson, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Obama have all used some form of blind trust or placed their assets in an investment vehicle over which they had no control."

snip//

This should cover most of the loopholes. Now let's see if it gets passed. You know, the GOP only likes to prevent pay for play for Democrats. Trump may get a pass. But this is solid legislation and a good first step and trying to remove the price tag from the White House before Trump even unpacks his gold plated toilet seats.

[malaise]

1. It's interesting because folks from all three branches of government

Last edited Sun Nov 20, 2016, 03:43 PM - Edit history (1)

have been enriching themselves for centuries - like everything else Don the Con's a glutton for wealth and just more vulgar about the acquisitions. Who is going to stop him - the turtle - trace his rise to wealth and his links to the moneyed folks.

[Sunny05]

7. I understand point, but ...

I understand your cynicism, but we still have to try, whether "we" be an elected offical pushung legislative measure or regular ol' people who show support for these efforts and spread the word about pro-active steps to take to fight this monster ... abd voter suppression, etc.

Yes, trump is more vulgar in his pursuit of wealth. Yes, other elected officials also take care of themselves with sweet deals, many under-handed. But trump is still unusually dangerous -- directly (for all obvious reasons) and indirectly (he is already being manipulated by band of scary types from more than one camp). One direct effect that I will single out here is trump's family-affair/family-business-affair is what really just got elected (or at least assigned more EVs). That won't break up over time like other political coalitions.

[malaise]

9. All true but who do you think will stop him

when they're all on the gravy train?

[Sunny05]

12. Good auestion. I don't

know, to tell you the truth. But I am having hard time just rollng over and not tryng something. Or at least I was. But maybe you are right. This is it. Just screw it. I am going back to wallowing around in depression.

[radical noodle]

2. I think this is great

but we have no clue what pies Trump has his fingers in and so far he's managed to hide a lot of it. We have to start somewhere and this is a excellent first step. The kids running his business will never be a blind trust and it's time everyone acknowledges that.

[smirkymonkey]

3. Good for her! She is a college friend of mine.

A very good woman and representative of my state. I completely support her in this.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

4. Remember when Republicans claimed Clinton was renting out the Lincoln bedroom?

Trump is likely to sell the Grand Canyon like it's just another real estate deal and act like he deserves a cut.

And the Republicans will act like it's just fine with them.

[mrmpa]

18. I'll fight anything, but touching National Parks..........

I will go to war to protect them.

[Cryptoad]

5. .....

[bigtree]

6. k&r

[Sunny05]

8. K&R.

Thank you for posting. We need this.

[Paladin]

10. Damn it to hell, THIS is what our Democratic legislators need to be doing!

Keep at it, Rep. Clark. Over and over, as many times as are necessary.

[secondwind]

11. good luck with that, with a GOP majority in the House.. I commend her for her efforts.

[TrekLuver]

13. They should want this...this will be a definite thing to dog is disgusting Presidency.

[louis c]

14. Katherine Clark is My Congresswoman

Classy, smart, accessible, effective.

I'm proud to be her constituent.

If she or Brooke reads this, Louis says, "great job, as usual."

[MineralMan]

15. No such legislation introduced by a Democrat has even

the slightest chance of becoming law in the interim period before the inauguration of Der Furor. (misspelling intentional)

It's a nice gesture but will go nowhere. In fact, no real legislation will be passed at all of any consequence. This interim period will be unproductive in the extreme.

[annabanana]

16. He's probably ALREADY billing us for the potential cabinet members visits to the NJ golf course . .

Or he will AT LEAST deduct "the cost" as a business expense..

[neverforget]

17. Drain the Swamp right into my wallet!

Suckers.