FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE — October 7, 2026
Poll: Major bipartisan support for NEPA insider trading ban inspired by federal scandals ahead of November vote
Northeast Pennsylvania — A new poll finds that 84% of likely voters surveyed in Lackawanna and Luzerne counties support the insider-trading charter amendment questions on the November 3rd ballot. Support includes 89% of Democrats, 76% of Republicans, and 90% of independents.
A yes vote would prohibit county employees from making individual stock trades or prediction-market bets based on nonpublic information obtained through county service. It would also require an annual county report on ethics complaints and stock trades by elected officials.
“This poll shows that voters across party lines want stronger ethics rules. From Rep. Bresnahan trading data center stocks while promoting the industry to Sen. Fetterman violating the STOCK Act, NEPA voters are fed up with politicians trading while in office,” Alisha Hoffman-Mirilovich of Action Together NEPA said: “Tens of thousands of people across the political spectrum in Lackawanna and Luzerne signed a petition to put these questions on the ballot. Now they have a chance to say clearly that public trust comes before personal profit.”
The ballot initiative grew out of a wave of public frustration with elected officials at all levels who use non-public information to enrich themselves while their constituents struggle with rising costs. While efforts to pass federal bans on congressional stock trading have repeatedly stalled, this grassroots campaign aims to establish Lackawanna and Luzerne Counties as a model for transparency and integrity.
Northeastern Pennsylvania residents have unique perspective on the scale and scandal of their elected officials at the federal level trading stocks amid conflicts of interest:
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NEPA Congressman Rob Bresnahan has been labeled the "top day trader" in Congress, reportedly executing over 600 trades worth $14.11 million since taking office despite campaigning against the practice – the most trades of any member of the Pennsylvania delegation this term. He faced specific allegations for dumping Medicaid-related stocks immediately before voting for a $1 trillion cut to the program, as well as trading AI stocks while pushing for data center expansion. Bresnahan has admitted to being actively involved in his portfolio and consulting with advisors about trades.
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Both of NEPA’s U.S. Senators have been called out for suspicious stock trading in conflict with their official duties. Senator Dave McCormick is among the most active and wealthy stock traders in Congress. Despite being worth more than $175 million, McCormick continued to trade stocks, bonds and crypto while in office. McCormick was criticized for having millions in crypto trades while voting on legislation to help the industry. Senator John Fetterman was recently criticized for trading tech stocks like Micron while voting and championing investments in the tech industry. Fetterman also violated the STOCK Act by reporting investments in a bank late.
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NEPA Congressman Dan Meuser has an estimated net worth of nearly $70 million but continues to trade millions in stocks while serving in Congress. Insider-trading critics have scrutinized him for buying and selling stocks in Big Tech companies like Nvidia while the federal government considered and acted on policies that would affect their bottom line. Meuser also violated the STOCK Act by failing to disclose the trades in a timely manner as required.
Media Contact:
Jessica Brittain, jessica@actiontogethernepa.org
J.J. Abbott, hey@jjabbott.com