Sen. Ted Cruz said he agrees with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez that the federal government should pass a lifetime ban on former members of Congress becoming lobbyists.
“Here’s something I don’t say often: on this point, I AGREE with @AOC,” the Texas senator said Thursday on Twitter. “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?”
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
Ocasio-Cortez tweeted earlier in the day that members of Congress who leave should be banned from getting paid to lobby.
“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. At minimum there should be a long wait period,” Ocasio-Cortez said.
The New York freshman Democrat has been a frequent critic of lobbyists.
In December, she expressed concern that lobbyists were allowed at congressional orientation, including former congressional members.
“Whoah – looks like our Congressional orientation had a lot more lobbyists than we thought. This is not okay. Lobbyists are not impartial – they are employed to influence legislation. 60+ incoming members were listening to panelists without knowing which were hired lobbyists,” Ocasio-Cortez said in reference to a Washington Post piece that pointed out former congressional members gave talks at the orientation without disclosing the fact they were lobbyists.
Cruz also has a history of bashing lobbyists. In 2015, Cruz called for “No more government of the lobbyists, by the lobbyists, and for the lobbyists.” Cruz has also claimed lobbyists were in union with “a cartel of career politicians in both parties.” c
