Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., agreed to work on a bipartisan bill to ban former members of Congress from becoming paid lobbyists.
In a series of tweets Thursday, the prominent Republican and freshman Democrat said former congressional members who leave public service and immediately become paid lobbyists is a problem. Ocasio-Cortez said there should be a long waiting period.
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. https://t.co/xMu9Mwmdm6
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) May 30, 2019
In response, Cruz said, “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,” and asked her to work together on crafting legislation for the ban.
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
“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,” Ocasio-Cortez replied.
“You’re on,” Cruz said.
Cruz and Ocasio-Cortez each have a history of being outspoken against lobbyists in general, but especially those who were members of Congress.
