“True it is,” wrote Charles Dudley Warner in 1850, “that politics makes strange bedfellows.”
Indeed!
It follows, then, of course, that politicians make strange bedfellows. The oddity is magnified when two politicians find themselves in the same bed. And, if those politicians represent the extreme opposite ends of the ideological spectrum, then the dalliance is off-the-charts weird!
So it is with Ted Cruz and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, arguably the most conservative and liberal members of Congress, respectively. Despite being the least likely confederates in Washington, the two are teaming up to co-sponsor a bill prohibiting members of Congress from becoming lobbyists after leaving Capitol Hill.
In a tweet she may come to regret one day, AOC bemoaned the pipeline from Capitol Hill to K Street. “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.”
Ted Cruz, long an advocate of derailing the gravy train from Capitol Hill to K Street, welcomed Ocasio-Cortez’s anti-lobbyist position.
“Here’s something I don’t say often,” declared Canadian Cruz. “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?”
Cortez followed up, “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.”
“You’re on,” replied Cruz.
It may only be a one-night stand, but whatever it takes to drain the swamp, right? I don’t think we should look a gift horse in the mouth…. so to speak.
Stay tuned for the sequel, “A Cuban And A Puerto Rican Walk Into A Bar”
H/T BizPac Review
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
You will probably be as successful as getting members of Congress to vote term limits on themselves, which was the only provision of Newt's Contract With America that was voted down by Congress. Go figure, huh?
— Thomas Madison…. I follow back! (@tmadison200) May 31, 2019
You ARE the swamp.
— first name, middle name (@YeeHawWeh) 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
You’re on. https://t.co/S3TBfNeO3Q
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) May 30, 2019
So, you've been in Congress four months and you're asking for a raise already? Do you know what % of Americans make as much as you? https://t.co/XtaMB7yxmS
— Thomas Madison…. I follow back! (@tmadison200) May 31, 2019
You can rent a decent apartment in DC for under $2K a month. If you want something REALLY nice, pony up $3K of We the Peoples' money. That will still leave you with nearly $140K a year to live on. Cry me a river for being forced to live on $174K a year. https://t.co/c4Nk2eDpE6
— Thomas Madison…. I follow back! (@tmadison200) May 31, 2019
Awesome! Git 'r done! When you finish prohibiting you and your colleagues from the gravy train that runs from Capitol Hill to K Street, then please vote term limits on yourselves. Fat chance!
— Thomas Madison…. I follow back! (@tmadison200) May 31, 2019