Beth Davidson Releases “Trust & Transparency Agenda ” to Combat Corruption & Conflicts of Interest

Rockland County Legislator and Democratic candidate for Congress Beth Davidson released her “Trust and Transparency Agenda” to root out self-dealing and conflicts of interest in Washington and ensure Congress works for the people, not the rich and powerful. Davidson’s plan comes amid growing signs of corruption in New York’s 17th Congressional District, from Rep. Mike Lawler to candidate Cait Conley.

According to Davidson's campaign, Last week, Cait Conley was caught stalling her personal financial disclosure form, which then revealed that she’s not only continued but expanded her work with two AI companies that support Donald Trump’s DHS and ICE. Conley’s PFD reveals that since January 2025, she has been paid more than $325,000 in salary and consulting fees by these companies.

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And the week prior, the New York Times revealed that Mike Lawler has a history of self-dealing, funneling his campaign dollars to his personal consulting company.

“The corruption and cronyism that have completely eroded voters’ trust in Congress is also happening right here in our district,” said Davidson. “Mike Lawler is funneling campaign dollars to the company he co-founded. Cait Conley tried to hide her financial disclosures and is making hundreds of thousands of dollars from AI companies working with Palantir to fuel Trump’s out-of-control ICE. This isn't normal nor is it acceptable. Hudson Valley voters deserve trust in and transparency from those who want to serve in Congress.”

Davidson continued, "At a time when the American people are clamoring for guardrails on AI and an end to the corrupting money in politics, voters deserve representatives in Congress who will put their interests ahead of Big Tech and other corporate oligarchs. My Trust and Transparency Agenda will ensure that's exactly what they get."

Davidson says her “Trust and Transparency Agenda” recognizes that corruption doesn't happen all at once. It happens before candidates take office, while they're serving, and after they leave. The plan empowers voters, shines a light on potential conflicts of interest, and closes the revolving door:

1. Require Public Financial Disclosures to Be Filed Before Elections

Candidates who filed for office in the prior year can currently delay their financial disclosure filings past a primary election, meaning voters head to the polls without a true understanding of every candidate's current financial interests. Davidson supports requiring all federal candidates to file public financial disclosures at least 30 days before any election, with no extensions that push filings past that deadline.

2. Ban Candidates from Working for Federal Contractors

Davidson supports prohibiting federal candidates from simultaneously working for companies that hold federal contracts, closing a current loophole that creates clear conflicts of interest before a candidate even takes office.

3. Get Dark Money Out of Politics

Dark money groups can spend unlimited amounts to influence elections without ever disclosing who is behind them. Davidson supports requiring all political advertisers to publicly disclose their donors, full transparency in campaign spending, and broader financial disclosure for all federal candidates. Davidson also supports overturning Citizens United, the Supreme Court decision that opened the floodgates to unlimited dark money in the first place.

4. Prohibit Financial Interests in Federal Contractors for Sitting Members

Members of Congress should be working for their constituents, not profiting off federal contracts. Davidson supports prohibiting any active financial interests in federal contractors while serving in Congress.

5. Require Conflict of Interest Disclosures and Recusals Before Key Votes

Davidson supports requiring any member of Congress who has worked for a federal contractor to file a formal conflict of interest disclosure with the House clerk and recuse themselves from any votes that could financially benefit their former employer.

6. Require Members to Disclose Any Business Ties to Committee Witnesses

Congressional committees are meant to be a check on corporate power. Davidson’s Truth and Transparency Plan would require members to publicly disclose any prior business relationships with companies or executives appearing before a committee they sit on.

7. Ban Congressional Stock Trading

Members of Congress write the laws that govern publicly traded companies and receive confidential briefings that can move markets, then turn around and trade stocks in the very companies about which they're making decisions. Davidson supports a full ban on individual stock trading by members of the legislative and executive branch and their immediate families.

8. Prohibit Lobbying Federal Agencies on Behalf of Former Employers

Davidson supports prohibiting any member of Congress from contacting a federal agency to advocate on behalf of contracts or programs that benefit a company for whom they previously worked.

9. Enact a Lifetime Ban on Lobbying by Former Members of Congress

Too many members of Congress treat public service as a stepping stone to a lobbying career. Davidson supports a lifetime ban on lobbying Congress after serving as a member.

Beth Davidson, a former Nyack School Board Vice President, is currently a Rockland County Legislator. As a local elected official, Beth has worked on issues from gun safety to clean water, open-space preservation and tax relief. A cancer survivor and IVF mom, she has fought firsthand for affordable healthcare and understands the real costs families face. She and her husband, Jeff, moved 20 years ago to Nyack, where they are raising their two children.

New York’s 17th Congressional District includes all of Rockland and Putnam Counties, northern Westchester County, and part of Dutchess County.

Additional information is available at bethdavidsonforcongress.com