Ocasio-Cortez to Cruz: ‘Let’s make a deal’ – The Hill

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-CortezAlexandria Ocasio-CortezOcasio-Cortez compares climate scientists to viral clip of Ohio weatherman Ocasio-Cortez responds to Mueller statement: Mueller is playing ‘a game of Taboo’ with Congress NYT’s Haberman says it’s unfortunate criticism has become ‘extremely personal’ MORE (D-N.Y.) has a message for Sen. Ted CruzRafael (Ted) Edward CruzDallas mayor backs Joe Biden for 2020 over two Texan candidates 2020 Democrats look to retool campaigns as Biden lead widens HBO documentary shows Beto O’Rourke apologizing to staffers for being a ‘giant a—hole’ MORE: “Let’s make a deal.”

The freshman congresswoman was responding to a tweet Thursday from the Texas Republican in which he said he agreed with her that it should be illegal for former members of Congress to become corporate lobbyists.

“If you’re serious about a clean bill, then I’m down. Let’s make a deal,” Ocasio-Cortez, one of the most prominent members of her party’s progressive wing, tweeted in response to the conservative senator.

“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,” she added.

.@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

“I have long called for a LIFETIME BAN on former Members of Congress becoming lobbyists,” Cruz had tweeted earlier Thursday. “The Swamp would hate it, but perhaps a chance for some bipartisan cooperation?”

Later that day he replied to Ocasio-Cortez with two words: “You’re on.”

You’re on. https://t.co/S3TBfNeO3Q

— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) May 30, 2019

Sen. Michael BennetMichael Farrand BennetThe Hill’s Morning Report – 2020 Dems make last dash for debate stage The top 10 Democrats in the 2020 race Whip list: Who’s clinched a spot in the 2020 Democratic debates MORE (D-Colo.), who is running for president, also voiced his support for the idea. He invited the two to sign onto his legislation banning members of Congress from becoming lobbyists, saying it would “slam the revolving door shut once and for all.”

“It’s not every day you see the three of us on the same page,” he wrote.

It’s not every day you see the three of us on the same page.

Hey @AOC and @TedCruz, let’s make it official. Want to sign on to my bill to ban Members of Congress from ever becoming lobbyists so we can finally slam the revolving door shut once and for all? https://t.co/OvFQwMQM7b

— Michael Bennet (@MichaelBennet) May 30, 2019

Bennet had gone viral in January for a Senate floor speech during the partial government shutdown in which he accused Cruz of having “crocodile tears” for first responders going without paychecks during the shutdown.

Cruz hit back earlier this month after Bennet announced his presidential bid, saying the Colorado Democrat had mounted “a campaign about nothing.”