"Politicians have used their positions and knowledge to line their pockets since the Stone Age. Some like Vice President Cheney have taken it to new heights.
The question also begs an answer for 'Should Congress be allowed to receive bribes, or contributions to insert already written sections from Lobbyists into legislation.' This is the ultimate form of insider trading, where the group that benefits drafts the legislation, and of course quietly let's themselves and friends position their investments to maximize financial gain long before the information is even before the legislature.
In 2005 we launched a media service for Hedge Funds and investment groups around the world to keep them appraised of decisions made in oversight committees and rule making bodies. Our framework was Open Source Intelligence. The reception was luke warm for many of the Hedge Funds had already representation to know the outcome long before we could monitor legitimate sources. Many of these 'Insider Sources' were retired Congressmen and Senators who had access to the floor, and could argue for their desired outcome and deposit Campaign Contributions at the same time.
Insider trading by any means should be illegal for any members of Government."
Email to ProCon.org, June 13, 2008
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