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Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) spoke out on Tuesday about her support for pay raises for members of Congress. (Photo: Getty Images)
'Not a Popular Position,' But a Consistent One: To Fight Corruption on Capitol Hill, Ocasio-Cortez Backs Pay Raise for Congress
"Voting against cost of living increases for members of Congress may sound nice, but doing so only increases pressure on them to keep dark money loopholes open."
Jun 11, 2019
Calling for cost-of-living increases for all workers including those who serve in Congress, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on Tuesday decried House Democratic leaders' decision to table a spending bill that would include a small pay raise for senators and representatives.
Keeping elected officials' pay stagnant year after year is an invitation for representatives to enrich themselves through "loopholes and other forms of self-dealing," the progressive New York Democrat tweeted.
\u201cYep. Voting against cost of living increases for members of Congress may sound nice, but doing so only increases pressure on them to keep dark money loopholes open.\n\nThis makes campaign finance reform *harder.*\n\nALL workers deserve cost of living increases, incl min wage workers.\u201d— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez) 1560252175
After several Democratic members from swing districts expressed concern that they'd face backlash from voters if the party approved a bill with a cost-of-living increase, amounting to an addition $4,500 per year for members of Congress, leaders postponed consideration of the proposal.
"Nobody wants to vote to give themselves a raise," freshman Rep. Katie Hill (D-Calif.) told Politico. "There's nothing good about that."
Ocasio-Cortez vehemently disagreed, explaining on Twitter that one benefit of extending cost-of-living adjustments to members of Congress is avoiding incentives for representatives and senators to accept cash from lobbyists and approve tax cuts for their wealthy donors like those included in the $1.5 trillion Republican tax law of 2017.
\u201cWhat this does is punish members who rely on a straight salary, and reward those who rely on money loopholes and other forms of self-dealing.\n\nFor example, it incentivizes the horrible kinds of legislative looting we saw in the GOP tax scam bill.\u201d— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez) 1560252175
Members have made $174,000 per year since 2009, when Congress froze pay increases in light of the financial meltdown and recession. The average cost of living in the U.S. has risen by 14 percent in just the past three years, and Washington, D.C. is frequently ranked as one of the most expensive cities in the United States.
Fighting for a cost-of-living increase is not a popular position, Ocasio-Cortez said, but she argued it is consistent with her goal of reforming campaign finance, ending corruption in Washington, and fighting for fair wages for all workers.
\u201cIt\u2019s not a fun or politically popular position to take. But consistency is important.\n\nALL workers should get cost of living increases. That\u2019s why minimum wage should be pegged to inflation, too.\n\nVoting against cost of living increases is 1 reason why dark $ loopholes stay open.\u201d— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez) 1560252175
Open Markets Institute fellow Matt Stoller agreed, writing, "You get what you pay for and if you cut the pay of public servants for a decade you get bribery and corruption."
\u201cThis is just so stupid. You get what you pay for and if you cut the pay of public servants for a decade you get bribery and corruption. https://t.co/qWOfT3knQy\u201d— Matt Stoller (@Matt Stoller) 1560211680
Ocasio-Cortez and her supporters also argued that keeping public servants' compensation at the same level indefinitely keeps jobs on Capitol Hill out of reach for many Americans.
"If you don't want only millionaires to be in Congress, you have to treat it like a real job--and you have to treat members like professionals," wrote Benjamin Wittes, editor in chief of Lawfare.
\u201cI am with @AOC on this. If you don't want only millionaires to be in Congress, you have to treat it like a real job--and you have to treat members like professionals.\u201d— Benjamin Wittes (@Benjamin Wittes) 1560265032
Stagnant salaries for representatives have trickled down to staffers, Ocasio-Cortez added, making internships and positions in congressional offices feasible only for a richest young workers.
\u201cYep, it\u2019s not just about cost of living adjustments, we\u2019re also fighting for a living wage for interns + for strong staffer salaries, too.\n\nDC is teeming w staffers whose parents subsidized their low-wage (or no wage) jobs.\n\nThat\u2019s partly why many policies are out of touch.\u201d— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez) 1560273101
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Calling for cost-of-living increases for all workers including those who serve in Congress, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on Tuesday decried House Democratic leaders' decision to table a spending bill that would include a small pay raise for senators and representatives.
Keeping elected officials' pay stagnant year after year is an invitation for representatives to enrich themselves through "loopholes and other forms of self-dealing," the progressive New York Democrat tweeted.
\u201cYep. Voting against cost of living increases for members of Congress may sound nice, but doing so only increases pressure on them to keep dark money loopholes open.\n\nThis makes campaign finance reform *harder.*\n\nALL workers deserve cost of living increases, incl min wage workers.\u201d— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez) 1560252175
After several Democratic members from swing districts expressed concern that they'd face backlash from voters if the party approved a bill with a cost-of-living increase, amounting to an addition $4,500 per year for members of Congress, leaders postponed consideration of the proposal.
"Nobody wants to vote to give themselves a raise," freshman Rep. Katie Hill (D-Calif.) told Politico. "There's nothing good about that."
Ocasio-Cortez vehemently disagreed, explaining on Twitter that one benefit of extending cost-of-living adjustments to members of Congress is avoiding incentives for representatives and senators to accept cash from lobbyists and approve tax cuts for their wealthy donors like those included in the $1.5 trillion Republican tax law of 2017.
\u201cWhat this does is punish members who rely on a straight salary, and reward those who rely on money loopholes and other forms of self-dealing.\n\nFor example, it incentivizes the horrible kinds of legislative looting we saw in the GOP tax scam bill.\u201d— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez) 1560252175
Members have made $174,000 per year since 2009, when Congress froze pay increases in light of the financial meltdown and recession. The average cost of living in the U.S. has risen by 14 percent in just the past three years, and Washington, D.C. is frequently ranked as one of the most expensive cities in the United States.
Fighting for a cost-of-living increase is not a popular position, Ocasio-Cortez said, but she argued it is consistent with her goal of reforming campaign finance, ending corruption in Washington, and fighting for fair wages for all workers.
\u201cIt\u2019s not a fun or politically popular position to take. But consistency is important.\n\nALL workers should get cost of living increases. That\u2019s why minimum wage should be pegged to inflation, too.\n\nVoting against cost of living increases is 1 reason why dark $ loopholes stay open.\u201d— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez) 1560252175
Open Markets Institute fellow Matt Stoller agreed, writing, "You get what you pay for and if you cut the pay of public servants for a decade you get bribery and corruption."
\u201cThis is just so stupid. You get what you pay for and if you cut the pay of public servants for a decade you get bribery and corruption. https://t.co/qWOfT3knQy\u201d— Matt Stoller (@Matt Stoller) 1560211680
Ocasio-Cortez and her supporters also argued that keeping public servants' compensation at the same level indefinitely keeps jobs on Capitol Hill out of reach for many Americans.
"If you don't want only millionaires to be in Congress, you have to treat it like a real job--and you have to treat members like professionals," wrote Benjamin Wittes, editor in chief of Lawfare.
\u201cI am with @AOC on this. If you don't want only millionaires to be in Congress, you have to treat it like a real job--and you have to treat members like professionals.\u201d— Benjamin Wittes (@Benjamin Wittes) 1560265032
Stagnant salaries for representatives have trickled down to staffers, Ocasio-Cortez added, making internships and positions in congressional offices feasible only for a richest young workers.
\u201cYep, it\u2019s not just about cost of living adjustments, we\u2019re also fighting for a living wage for interns + for strong staffer salaries, too.\n\nDC is teeming w staffers whose parents subsidized their low-wage (or no wage) jobs.\n\nThat\u2019s partly why many policies are out of touch.\u201d— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez) 1560273101
Calling for cost-of-living increases for all workers including those who serve in Congress, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on Tuesday decried House Democratic leaders' decision to table a spending bill that would include a small pay raise for senators and representatives.
Keeping elected officials' pay stagnant year after year is an invitation for representatives to enrich themselves through "loopholes and other forms of self-dealing," the progressive New York Democrat tweeted.
\u201cYep. Voting against cost of living increases for members of Congress may sound nice, but doing so only increases pressure on them to keep dark money loopholes open.\n\nThis makes campaign finance reform *harder.*\n\nALL workers deserve cost of living increases, incl min wage workers.\u201d— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez) 1560252175
After several Democratic members from swing districts expressed concern that they'd face backlash from voters if the party approved a bill with a cost-of-living increase, amounting to an addition $4,500 per year for members of Congress, leaders postponed consideration of the proposal.
"Nobody wants to vote to give themselves a raise," freshman Rep. Katie Hill (D-Calif.) told Politico. "There's nothing good about that."
Ocasio-Cortez vehemently disagreed, explaining on Twitter that one benefit of extending cost-of-living adjustments to members of Congress is avoiding incentives for representatives and senators to accept cash from lobbyists and approve tax cuts for their wealthy donors like those included in the $1.5 trillion Republican tax law of 2017.
\u201cWhat this does is punish members who rely on a straight salary, and reward those who rely on money loopholes and other forms of self-dealing.\n\nFor example, it incentivizes the horrible kinds of legislative looting we saw in the GOP tax scam bill.\u201d— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez) 1560252175
Members have made $174,000 per year since 2009, when Congress froze pay increases in light of the financial meltdown and recession. The average cost of living in the U.S. has risen by 14 percent in just the past three years, and Washington, D.C. is frequently ranked as one of the most expensive cities in the United States.
Fighting for a cost-of-living increase is not a popular position, Ocasio-Cortez said, but she argued it is consistent with her goal of reforming campaign finance, ending corruption in Washington, and fighting for fair wages for all workers.
\u201cIt\u2019s not a fun or politically popular position to take. But consistency is important.\n\nALL workers should get cost of living increases. That\u2019s why minimum wage should be pegged to inflation, too.\n\nVoting against cost of living increases is 1 reason why dark $ loopholes stay open.\u201d— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez) 1560252175
Open Markets Institute fellow Matt Stoller agreed, writing, "You get what you pay for and if you cut the pay of public servants for a decade you get bribery and corruption."
\u201cThis is just so stupid. You get what you pay for and if you cut the pay of public servants for a decade you get bribery and corruption. https://t.co/qWOfT3knQy\u201d— Matt Stoller (@Matt Stoller) 1560211680
Ocasio-Cortez and her supporters also argued that keeping public servants' compensation at the same level indefinitely keeps jobs on Capitol Hill out of reach for many Americans.
"If you don't want only millionaires to be in Congress, you have to treat it like a real job--and you have to treat members like professionals," wrote Benjamin Wittes, editor in chief of Lawfare.
\u201cI am with @AOC on this. If you don't want only millionaires to be in Congress, you have to treat it like a real job--and you have to treat members like professionals.\u201d— Benjamin Wittes (@Benjamin Wittes) 1560265032
Stagnant salaries for representatives have trickled down to staffers, Ocasio-Cortez added, making internships and positions in congressional offices feasible only for a richest young workers.
\u201cYep, it\u2019s not just about cost of living adjustments, we\u2019re also fighting for a living wage for interns + for strong staffer salaries, too.\n\nDC is teeming w staffers whose parents subsidized their low-wage (or no wage) jobs.\n\nThat\u2019s partly why many policies are out of touch.\u201d— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez) 1560273101
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