Public Citizen, a group dedicated to “taking on Trump,” published an article today that revealed nearly two-thirds of recently retired or defeated U.S. lawmakers now working outside politics have landed jobs influencing federal policy, providing further evidence that members of Congress continue to spin through Washington’s revolving door at astonishing rates.
In a new analysis, Public Citizen examined the post-Congress employment activities of the 115th Congress, which started in 2017 and concluded on Jan. 3 of this year.
According to the leftist group, over the past two decades, concern has been building about members of Congress who flock to lobbying firms or trade groups after retiring or losing their seats. These revolving-door lawmakers cash in on their connections by representing wealthy special interests who can afford to pay top dollar for insider influence.
Public Citizen tweeted:
BREAKING: Nearly 60% of former members of the 115th Congress who have taken jobs outside of politics are now lobbying or have other jobs influencing federal policy. https://t.co/6QktNtuDy1 pic.twitter.com/7hisu0vCL5
— Public Citizen (@Public_Citizen) May 30, 2019
Socialist Congressgirl Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez retweeted the leftist group’s article, saying: 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.
Senator Ted Cruz noticed her tweet and responded by saying:
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?
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
To which AOC responded: @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.
Before everyone on the left starts giving AOC credit for coming up with the idea, Chuck Ross of the Daily Caller reminded everyone that such a bill has already been proposed. According to Ross, the BLAST Act was proposed by a House Republican and two Senate Republicans.
Ted Cruz and AOC agree to work together on legislation to ban lawmakers from becoming lobbyists.
(A bill on this — the BLAST Act — has already been proposed by a House Republican and two Senate Republicans) https://t.co/Y6ndyrxSUP
— Chuck Ross (@ChuckRossDC) May 30, 2019
We’ll see how serious AOC is about getting behind a bill proposed by Republican lawmakers.