fbpx

Odd Couple: Ted Cruz and AOC Tag Team on Lobbying Bill

BY May 30, 2019

Ted Cruz is one of the more right-wing members of the United States Congress. Newcomer Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez may be the most left-wing members of the house. But still, that doesn’t make it impossible that the duo could agree on something.

Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

On Thursday, the duo both found issue with house members who become lobbyists following their political career. Ocasio-Cortez and Cruz then agreed to partner on a bill that would ban lawmakers from doing so.

The idea for the bill not only came together quickly, it came together over Twitter. AOC began by tweeting, “If you are a member of Congress + leave, you shouldn’t be allowed to turn right around&leverage your service for a lobbyist check. I don’t think it should be legal at ALL to become a corporate lobbyist if you’ve served in Congress.”

To his own surprise, the Texas senator agreed with her. Cruz wrote, “Here’s something I don’t say often: on this point, I AGREE with AOC. Indeed, I have long called for a LIFETIME BAN on former Members of Congress becoming lobbyists. The Swamp would hate it, but perhaps a chance for some bipartisan cooperation?

Following Cruz’s reply, Ocasio-Cortez set forth a number of stipulations. She tweeted to the senator, “Ted Cruz, if you’re serious about a clean bill, then I’m down. Let’s make a deal. If we can agree on a bill with no partisan snuck-in clauses, no poison pills, etc – just a straight, clean ban on members of Congress becoming paid lobbyists – then I’ll co-lead the bill with you.”

Cruz simply replied, “You’re on.”



Follow Us On: Facebook and Twitter