Senator Saxby Chambliss of Georgia’s response to my question related to S. 1871, the "STOCK Act":
“Dear Mr. Gregory:
Thank you for contacting me about legislation to ensure Members of Congress are not profiting on insider information. It is good to hear from you.
I have always believed the American people should have complete faith in who they choose to send to Congress and I have been eager to see more reforms for elected government like the Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge Act (Stock Act).
While the Securities and Exchange Commission has stated they do believe they have the authority to prosecute members of Congress and their staff, some legal scholars and insider trading experts question this, stating that Congress is exempt from prosecution for insider trading cases. In order to ensure that insider trading by members of Congress is explicitly illegal I became a co-sponsor of S. 1871, the "STOCK Act", which would prohibit federal lawmakers, their staffs and executive branch employees from using nonpublic information obtained through public service for any attempt at personal financial gain.
On February 2, 2011, the Senate passed the STOCK Act by a wide margin. Along with 95 other Senators I voted in favor of this legislation. The House of Representatives passed a modified version of the STOCK Act on February 9th. The House and Senate must now resolve the differences in the respective bills. It is my hope that this will be accomplished quickly, and that the bill will soon be sent to the President for his signature.
Currently, like all members of Congress, I annually file a publicly available financial disclosure form that details all of my personal financial activity. The purpose of this filing is to provide transparency and accountability for all members of Congress and to ensure the integrity of our financial decisions and actions.
If you would like to receive timely email alerts regarding the latest congressional actions and my weekly e-newsletter, please sign up via my web site at: www.chambliss.senate.gov. Please let me know whenever you believe I may be of assistance to you.”
Senator Saxby Chambliss,
The response to my question on this subject matter is just repeating what you already provided, rather than answering the specific question or concern. My wife and I have always voted for you since we moved to Georgia and my wife, Valerie, obtained her citizenship here, giving up her British citizenship to become a "proud American Citizen" who probably knows more about American Government than I do.
Val attended Citizenship classes in California while I was serving in Vietnam, and it was here in Georgia she stood before a judge and answered questions and was sworn in while I was stationed at Ft. Gordon, in Augusta, so that I could regain my Security Access and we were sent to Ethiopia where we had an ASA Field Stationed, located in Asmara. She sacrificed a lot for me to continue in the field I served in (ASA, then INSCOM) and was what I would call the "perfect soldier's wife" who contributed more than most over the 20 years of military service I am proud to have provided the country I love so much.
But I must tell you Sir, I am a little disappointed that my questioned was not answered but only reflected what frustrates so many when they ask an elected member of either the House or Senate a simple question. All I wanted to know is how does S. 1871, the "STOCK Act" impact not by those who should be held to the same standard of those who believed in them, enough to elect them to the office they serve, their constituents, but members of their (Congressmen and Senators) families both immediate and extended, as well as their friends. What language in S.1871 prevents our elected leaders who serve in Congress from providing their privileged knowledge to members of their family to be used for personal gain, therefore lining the pockets of our trusted officials in question by proxy?
I am a simple minded 100% disabled Vietnam Veteran who like many others, are losing faith and trust in those we once fully supported and held to a higher standard, apparently higher than those we elected. Please forgive me if in any way this communication is or appears to be disrespectful, that is not my intention, but rather my duty as a Citizen of not only the Country I love, but the State of Georgia, my chosen State (I was Born in California) but have been a citizen of Georgia since 1982.
I wore my uniform for over 20 years, shed blood on foreign soil as so many others did, many giving far more than I, and lived in countries where sacrifice was not only mine, but my family, by choice, to ensure that we remain a "Republic" rather than the "Socialistic" direction my Government is taking us. I cannot express the pain of what is happening to "We the People" who believe in what our "Forefathers" gave us, trusted in us to preserve, the gift of our "Constitution" that protects us from the very Government who freely spends the hard earned money of a people who had faith in not only those who Govern, but each other.
We, those who elected the very people of whom I speak, share in the responsibility, for we are the people who elected those holding office, be it the House, the Senate, or the Oval Office, but we did so in "Good Faith" as our "Forefathers" entrusted us, we entrusted you. My health is not very good at this point in time, and I may be lucky enough not to see my America disappear into memory of free men, one day to be a footnote in history. My father (33 years of military service), one of my brothers (26 years of military service), another brother (22 years of military service), another brother (18 years of military service), my son (16 years of military service) and I (20 plus years of military service), a total of over 135 years of military service, all with honor, all serving to keep our great nation a free "Republic" never to fall to "Socialism" or "Communism". Now, the certainty of that are only a hope and a prayer, as those in Congress fail to hold those in the White House accountable, but then they are failing to hold themselves accountable and the treasures of our country squandered, and spent as if "We the People" do not matter. My father mattered, now buried at Arlington Cemetery along with my mother. My brother mattered, now buried at Arlington Cemetery. And all my brothers and son matter as they now live their lives, as I do, in prayer for a once great nation, slowly turning into what "we" all had disdain for, and still do, any governance of our America other than the one our Forefathers intended. My son continues to serve, only as a civilian now, as a contractor for our high.
Forgive me Senator Chambliss for going on more than I intended, but time is running out, and although I will do my part, as my wife and son will, when it comes to letting our voice be heard through our votes, but I fear that we who truly care will be outnumbered by those who fail to see what is happening to our America, and vote for more slick talk, more lies, more promises not kept, and less understanding of the price to be paid for getting it wrong in November. If I can't get a simple answer to my one question, by a man I respect and believe in, how can I expect anything more from the rest, from those I have no respect for, no faith in, no trust. I want to live long enough to cast my vote, but if we fail, then I guess I won't mind should my creator call me home sooner than I would like to go. To lose the country our "Forefathers" entrusted to us, watch our "Constitution" decay by being ignored, is more than I can accept. All I ask is that you do your part, and if I am wrong about you’re not answering my question, then I beg your forgiveness and offer my sincere apology.
Sincerely,
Milton F Gregory (MSG, U.S. Army, Retired)
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