New York Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said lawmakers should refuse to get paid during the partial government shutdown but she won’t say if that rule applies to her.
As the New York Post reports, when asked Thursday about receiving her congressional salary, the self-proclaimed Democratic socialist apparently had other things on her mind, bolting down a Capitol Hill hallway and telling the reporter, “I’ve gotta run!”
US Representative-elect Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) walks up to participate in drawing a lottery number for her new office on Capitol Hill Nov. 30, 2018 in Washington, DC. (Photo by BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images)
It was on social media in December that Ocasio-Cortez castigated members of Congress for accepting a salary when some members of the public have to do without.
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
“It’s completely unacceptable that members of Congress can force a government shutdown on partisan lines & then have Congressional salaries exempt from that decision,” Ocasio-Cortez insisted in a Dec. 22 post, when the partial shutdown began. “Have some integrity.”
The salary for a member of Congress is $174,000 a year.
Democratic congressional candidate Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez speaks at her midterm election night party in New York City, U.S. Nov. 6, 2018. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly.
Ocasio-Cortez’s partner, Riley Roberts, proclaimed the first day of the new Congress “a really incredible, day, really special” and said Washington was “great.” (RELATED: Leftist Darling Ocasio-Cortez Used To Be Adam Smith Capitalist)