They say politics makes strange bedfellows. Exhibit A: Republican Senator Ted Cruz and Democratic Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio Cortez formed an unholy alliance to drain the swamp by calling for a lifetime ban on former members of Congress becoming lobbyists.
Cruz tweeted: “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?”
Ted Cruz to Ocasio Cortez: ‘You’re on!’
Cruz was reacting to AOC’s previous tweet saying members of Congress who leave should be banned from getting paid to lobby.
AOC tweeted: “If you are a member of Congress and leave, you shouldn’t be allowed to turn right around and 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. At minimum there should be a long wait period.”
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
Shortly afterward, Cruz and Ocasio Cortez solidified their alliance by agreeing to pass a bill that would ban former members from becoming lobbyists after they leave Capitol Hill.
“If you’re serious about a clean bill, then I’m down. Let’s make a deal,” AOC suggested.
“You’re on,” Cruz replied.
You’re on. https://t.co/S3TBfNeO3Q
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) May 30, 2019
.@tedcruz 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. https://t.co/AZTbmdSexv
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) May 30, 2019
Both Cruz and AOC have repeatedly slammed lobbyists in the past, citing their undue influence to promulgate self-serving laws that pad their wallets while undermining the interests of the American public.
In 2015, Cruz said there should be “No more government of the lobbyists, by the lobbyists, and for the lobbyists.”
Twitter reacted by giving props to Cruz and Ocasio Cortez for putting aside their differences for a common good.
I think I would actually pay money to watch AOC and Ted Cruz forge a partnership to pass legislation https://t.co/ETudd65gBX
— Michael Tracey (@mtracey) May 30, 2019
Their unlikely alliance seemed to catch on as others joined:
Okay, with @brianschatz + @tedcruz we’ve got at least one D-R team in the Senate to ban members becoming lobbyists, & myself w/ @chiproytx makes at least one D-R team in the House.
And that’s just in a few hours – there will surely be more from both parties to sign on.
Nice 👍🏽 https://t.co/52r8cL7RBR
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) May 30, 2019
In 2017, Trump set lifetime ban on foreign lobbying
Meanwhile, it’s nice to see that Alexandria Ocasio Cortez has finally come around to embracing some of President Trump’s ideas.
Trump ran on “draining the swamp” of corrupt politicians like Hillary Clinton, who use their political offices to become multi-millionaires by selling out the United States.
To this end, in January 2017 — one week after he took office — President Trump signed an executive order that imposed a lifetime ban on administration officials lobbying for foreign governments, and a five-year ban for other lobbying.
Reminder: AOC is a tax deadbeat
Meanwhile, if Ocasio Cortez really wants to drain the swamp of hypocritical, self-dealing politicians, she should start by paying her taxes.
As BizPac Review reported, AOC ignored a July 2017 tax warrant from New York State demanding payment of her delinquent taxes.
A book company AOC founded in 2012 to publish children’s books in the Bronx still owes New York State over $1,870 in corporate taxes, according to public records.
The state dissolved her company, Brook Avenue Press, in October 2016, presumably due to its failure to pay corporate taxes or file a tax return. In typical socialist fashion, Ocasio-Cortez’s little “book-publishing company” got cheap office space as part of a city-subsidized program.
However, there are no records of Brook Avenue Press ever having published a single book.
Military vets storm out on AOC: ‘She knocks the country, she knocks the president!’
https://twitter.com/LaylaAlisha11/status/1104799399258083329
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Samantha Chang is a senior staff writer for BizPac Review. She is a financial editor and lawyer based in New York City.
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