U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY-14), who previously called for a furlough of Congressional salaries in response to the partial shutdown of the federal shutdown, apparently has not followed through and has even ducked a reporter’s question about it.
The New York Post reported on Thursday that Oscasio-Cortez ran away when asked about her salary:
“I’ve gotta run!” Ocasio-Cortez told The Post when asked the question Thursday on Capitol Hill.
She then scampered down a crowded hallway to get in line for her mock swearing-in with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
Her response stands in stark contrast with U.S. Rep. Dr. Mark Green (R-TN-07), who on Friday sent a letter U.S. House of Representative’s Chief Administrative Officer, Philip Kiko, requesting his salary be suspended until a deal is reached and the partial government shutdown ends, as The Tennessee Star reported.
On Dec. 22, Ocasio-Cortez tweeted:
Next time we have a gov shutdown, Congressional salaries should be furloughed as well.
It’s completely unacceptable that members of Congress can force a government shutdown on partisan lines & then have Congressional salaries exempt from that decision.
Have some integrity. https://t.co/BgueNNjf0f
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) December 22, 2018
On another Twitter post Dec. 22, in response to another tweet, she called herself a “working class member-elect”:
(Spoiler alert: most members of Congress are already wealthy!)
Speaking as a working class member-elect, I think it’s only fair.
It would also cause members who actually depend on their salary to think twice about leadership and take a shutdown vote more seriously. https://t.co/fSAcPAj0Xf
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) December 22, 2018
The Star has emailed Ocasio-Cortez’s staff to ask if she will give up her salary for the term of the shutdown. If a response is received, it will be reported.
The Post on Dec. 31 said Ocasio-Cortez’s spokesman failed to respond to numerous emails, texts and calls about the matter.
The Hill reported Saturday on 37 lawmakers in Congress – both Republicans and Democrats – who, like Green, have refused salaries and/or are donating their pay to charities.
Ocasio-Cortez’s name was not on the list compiled by The Hill.
These New York members of Congress are giving up their pay for the shutdown, The Hill said:
U.S. Rep. Adriano Espaillat (D-NY-13); U.S. Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney (D-NY-18); U.S. Rep. Max Rose (D-NY-11), who will donate any pay during the time; U.S. Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-NY-01); and U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY-21).
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Jason M. Reynolds has more than 20 years’ experience as a journalist at outlets of all sizes.
Photo “Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez” by Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
Photo “Mark Green” by Mark Green.
