On Monday, Florida Representative Matt Gaetz spoke at a forum organized by Arizona Rep. Andy Biggs. Some House Republicans met to discuss changes ahead for the next congress, including a list of rules proposed by Gaetz for the 118th Congress, set to begin in January. Matt Gaetz called for Democrats and Republicans to work together to reform the next congress.

 Gaetz said he has Democrats ready to support his new proposals and said he hoped to make the following changes:

1. No campaign donations from federal lobbyists or PACs

Gaetz said he would advocate for a rule that prevents federal lobbyists and political action committees from donating to individual candidate campaigns noting,

“That money all has strings attached to it, and anybody who tries to tell you otherwise is lying.”

“When members take hundreds of thousands of dollars from lobbyists and PACs, they work for them more than they work for their constituents.”

2. Ban on Congress members becoming lobbyists

Regarding Congressional members becoming lobbyists, Gaetz asked, “Why is it so hard to say that you should choose on one side or the other to be on?” He continued, “You’re either in the law-making game or you’re in the influence-peddling game.”

3. Ban on Congress members trading individual stocks

Gaetz noted that members of congress have an ability through their votes to affect stock prices and that when they participate in the market, it “dilutes trust” both for government officials and potential market tampering.

4. Bills should include only one subject

Gaetz recalled a time as an incoming representative when he had to vote on a farm bill that also included authorizing war in Yemen. “The notion that we lash all these things together does not serve our constituents and the American people,” Gaetz remarked.

Another change being proposed for the 118th Congress is who will lead the Republican party. Arizona Representative Andy Biggs told Newsmax Monday that he was challenging House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy for the GOP nomination for Speaker of the House when the caucus votes Tuesday.

Biggs said, “We have a new paradigm here, and I think the country wants a different direction from the House of Representatives. And it’s a new world. And yes, I’m going to be nominated tomorrow to the position of Speaker of the House. We’ll see if we can get the job done with the votes. It’s going to be tough.”

He went on, ” I mean, Kevin has raised a lot of money and done a lot of things, but this is not just about Kevin. I think it’s about, uh, institutional direction and trajectory, and that’s where we’re where we’re going to see if we have enough people who agree that we need to change the trajectory of this place and open it up.”
Biggs is a member of the conservative House Freedom Caucus.
Gaetz clarified that he stands with Biggs regarding replacing the old guard in the GOP, tweeting MCarthy, McConnell, McDaniel – McFailure

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