House Democrats backed away from a proposed pay raise for members of Congress due to optics, while Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez complained that the amount wasn’t really that big of a deal.
As the Political Insider reported last week, spending leaders in the House were voicing support for 2020 funding bills that would no longer block cost-of-living adjustments which had been frozen since 2009. Congressional salaries were held at $174,000 annually at the time.
Democrats described the possible $4,500 raises as “modest” and suggested there was “bi-partisan support” for Congress to reward themselves.
Fox News reports that in reality, lack of Republican support would have made Democrats look foolish if they voted themselves a hike in salary.
“Vulnerable swing-state Democrats, concerned how the proposed $4,500 pay hike would look if it didn’t also have Republican support, had signed onto amendments rejecting the measure,” Fox relayed.
BREAKING: House Democrats are postponing consideration of a bill to give themselves a pay raise after facing backlash
— Ryan Saavedra (@RealSaavedra) June 10, 2019
Ocasio-Cortez Complains – It’s Not Even a Real Raise
Ocasio-Cortez dismissed the pay raise as not being a raise at all, turning her nose up at the thought of a mere $4,500 for her 5 months of hard work.
“It’s not even like a raise,” the New York socialist claimed.
Hmm, I’m not too sure about everyone else out there but if my boss added $4,500 to my salary I’d certainly view it as an increase in pay.
Ocasio-Cortez added that opposition to the pay increase was “superficial” and that lawmakers are so strapped for cash that they are driven to “turn to lobbying firms and to cash in on member service after” they leave Congress.
.@AOC defends a $4,500 pay raise for herself: “It’s not even like a raise.” pic.twitter.com/ugFaZuSm7c
— Molly Prince (@mollyfprince) June 11, 2019
We know that, despite it being her major in college, economics isn’t her strong point, but the darling of the Democrat party really doesn’t seem to understand that lobbying is a separate issue unto its own and that giving lawmakers a pay raise isn’t going to suddenly convince them to stop lining their pockets when their career comes to an end.
She Deserves More
This isn’t the first time the former bartender has complained about being strapped for cash.
Ocasio-Cortez famously complained that she couldn’t afford to rent an apartment, complained that she used to eat well but had to switch to fast food once she took office, and chastised people for noting she got a “face mask while financially stressed” before being sworn in.
I’m taking a few days to take care of myself before what is sure to be an eventful term.
For working people, immigrants, & the poor, self-care is political – not because we want it to be, but bc of the inevitable shaming of someone doing a face mask while financially stressed./1 https://t.co/EWdWFmPwet
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) December 17, 2018
More recently, she whined that her luxury apartment in D.C. was no better than public housing.
“I move into this building, and it’s marketed as a ‘luxury’ building in D.C.,” Ocasio-Cortez said. “It’s an efficient building, it’s clean, it has public space, it has a rooftop garden—y’all watching my Instagram—it has clean air, it has clean water.”
“And I think about this and I’m like, ‘Hm, this is what a luxury building is like,'” she lamented.
Oh to be rich and famous like a socialist playing with other people’s money.