A Republican congressman offered sympathy to an incoming Democratic colleague while taking a shot at the media for what he said was differing coverage of members of the two parties.
Rep. Sean Duffy, R-Wis., told incoming New York congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez he understands her financial struggles.
“I hope your orientation in DC is going ok. I had 6 kids and was out of work for 8 months before I came to Congress so I understand the struggle,” he tweeted Thursday, with a link to a story about the freshman Democrat saying she can’t afford an apartment in the nation’s capital until her $174,000 congressional salary kicks in.
Hmm which headlines and article does media give to GOP and which to a Dem? ? pic.twitter.com/ZgyluofWFY
— Sean Duffy (@RepSeanDuffy) November 15, 2018
Duffy then compared headlines about Ocasio-Cortez’s financial plight with those stemming from comments he made in 2011 about finding it difficult to make ends meet on his congressional salary.
“Hmm which headlines and article does media give to GOP and which to a Dem?” he tweeted.
A former star of MTV’s “Real World” reality show, Duffy had resigned from his job as Ashland County district attorney in June 2010 to focus on his run for the House in 2011, which he claimed Saturday left him without a salary for eight months.
In March 2011, just a few months after taking office, Duffy made headlines and earned widespread criticism for saying at a town hall meeting with constituents he struggled to pay his bills.
“With 6 kids, I still pay off my student loans. I still pay my mortgage. I drive a used minivan. If you think I’m living high off the hog, I’ve got one paycheck. So I struggle to meet my bills right now,” he said at the time.
At the time, it was reported that Duffy was one of many House members who slept in his Capitol Hill office rather than maintain a residence in D.C.
