It's an unlikely pairing: a self-described democratic socialist and a Republican who once mocked her logic. Yet New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz found common ground Thursday, agreeing to put their heads together on a bill that would impose a lifetime ban on former members of Congress becoming lobbyists. "Here's something I don't say often … I AGREE WITH AOC," Cruz tweeted Thursday in response to Ocasio-Cortez's tweet that "I don't think it should be legal at ALL to become a corporate lobbyist if you've served in Congress." She linked to a Public Citizen report that found "nearly two-thirds of recently retired or defeated US lawmakers now working outside politics have landed jobs influencing federal policy."
Ocasio-Cortez soon jumped on Cruz's suggestion of "bipartisan cooperation." "If we can agree on a bill with no partisan snuck-in clauses … then I'll co-lead the bill with you," she wrote, getting a "You're on" from Cruz. Though Republican Sens. Mike Braun and Rick Scott introduced such a bill in February, with GOP Rep. Trey Hollingsworth adding a companion bill in the House, per Politico, Ocasio-Cortez and Cruz may start from scratch. They've already secured co-sponsors, with Democratic Sen. Brian Schatz agreeing to work with Cruz and Republican Rep. Chip Roy partnering with Ocasio-Cortez, reports NBC News. "Politics doesn't make much odder couples than this," the outlet adds, noting the pair previously battled over minimum wage. (Read more Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez stories.)
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