For 12 years, Sen. Jeff Merkley has pushed for a ban on congressional stock trading, calling the practice “corrupt,” “unacceptable” and “wrong.” Could this be the time it finally makes it across the finish line? Via Raw Story: Now, Merkley is confident an amended version of the Ending Trading and Holdings in Congressional Stocks (ETHICS) Act has enough bipartisan support that it will come out of a markup meeting with the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs on Wednesday with the votes necessary to present the amendment for a vote. “As the discussion has proceeded, members have been coming around to the recognition that this damages the integrity of our institution.