If Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) and Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) can find common ground, maybe we shouldn’t give up on Washington just yet.
The two formed an unusual alliance over efforts to pass legislation that would ban former lawmakers from lobbying—for life. Their offices are even holding staff-level meetings about it.
In an interview with The Young Turks's Rebel HQ published Thursday, Ocasio-Cortez opened up about that effort.
“It’s super bizarre, really weird, never thought in my life that one of my first pushes would be alongside Ted Cruz,” the democratic socialist said.
“I think it really shows what the true spirit of not being partisan is,” she added. “Bipartisanship doesn’t mean let’s come together to go to war and lower taxes on the rich, but bipartisanship means OK I will swallow all of my distaste in this situation because we have found a common interest.”
The common ground was discovered on Twitter when AOC said former members of Congress shouldn’t be able to “turn right around & leverage your service for a lobbyist check.”
Cruz replied: “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?”
“If you’re serious about a clean bill, then I’m down. Let’s make a deal," she answered.
If you are a member of Congress + leave, you shouldn’t be allowed to turn right around&leverage your service for a lobbyist check.
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) May 30, 2019
I don’t think it should be legal at ALL to become a corporate lobbyist if you’ve served in Congress.
At minimum there should be a long wait period. https://t.co/xMu9Mwmdm6
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? https://t.co/jPW0xkH2Yy
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) May 30, 2019
.@tedcruz if you’re serious about a clean bill, then I’m down.
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) May 30, 2019
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. https://t.co/AZTbmdSexv