I get the other side's point that it can look bad. But I just don't think a ban is the answer. People should be allowed to invest, and lawmakers are people too.

The practical thing is a ban just pushes money into blind trusts or relatives accounts, so it might not change much anyway. My opponent makes a fair point about conflicts. I just feel people should be able to invest, and I'm not sure how to argue past that.

Did you know Congress already has a disclosure system where trades get reported, just late? So rules exist. My opponent makes a fair point about conflicts, I admit. I just think a full ban goes too far, and I can't argue it better than that.