Ocasio-Cortez Wins Over Some Conservatives With Congressional Suggestion During Gov't Shutdowns
They say even a broken clock is right two times a day. For some conservatives, this may be one of those times for Democratic Rep.-elect Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
The self-described Democratic socialist has been the focus of numerous memes on social media mocking her seeming lack of knowledge about the issues. However, a recent tweet sent out on her Twitter account makes a whole lot of sense to a whole lot of people, across the political playing field.
In the midst of all the government shutdown and border wall funding talk came the topic of how members of Congress still get paid during government shut downs.
Ocasio-Cortez shared a sentiment felt by many in regards to that little detail:
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 (@Ocasio2018) December 22, 2018
A number of conservatives and those who identify as Trump supporters in their Twitter bios supported her sentiment. She even got credit for her “Twitter game.”
I agree! Well said. Thank you.
— Rita Stacy 🇺🇸 (@ritastacy) December 23, 2018
Damn, she has a strong Twitter game. https://t.co/UtcT5n3Y8r
— Scott Adams (@ScottAdamsSays) December 23, 2018
There was some misunderstanding on social media as to what happens during a government shut down. Fox News on Saturday explained some of the finer points, noting that first and foremost, the entire government does not actually shut down.
Essential operations still run. The example given by Fox News includes those things “that are essential to national security and health, like (things) such as veterans’ hospitals, Social Security and the military.”
This is where the Ocasio-Cortez tweet really hit home for many. Not everyone who is affected by the shutdown is guaranteed to get back pay for their furloughed time.
Fox News explained that Congress has to actually pass a bill that will enable furloughed workers to collect back pay for their furloughed time. Additionally, those who are government contractors “most likely will not be paid.”
But member of Congress get paid regardless. So, they can literally afford a government shut down, in a financial sense.
While they can choose to forego their salaries, they don’t have to. If it goes on for days, weeks, or months, senators and representatives can still collect taxpayer money in order to pay their bills.
But Ocasio-Cortez didn’t stop there with her tweeting that made sense. Later in the day, she doubled down on her earlier statement, making yet another good point, and “being right twice in one day.”
(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 (@Ocasio2018) December 22, 2018
Members of Congress becoming millionaires while in office is a sore spot for many conservatives. The topic has made headlines with media on both sides of the political spectrum for years.
Meanwhile, according to Fox News, it is “forbidden for the president to be denied a salary during any time in office.” President Donald Trump does not accept his salary and instead donates it to various federal agencies.
While we await word as to which members of Congress will forego their salaries for this shutdown, back in January during a government shut down, The Daily Caller reported that at least nine senators committed to foregoing their pay. It was an almost even split between Republicans and Democrats doing so.
Astonishingly, back during the 2013 shutdown, almost 250 members of Congress opted to go without their pay, according to The Washington Post.
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